San Mateo County Bar Association

PROMOTE THE HONOR AND DIGNITY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, TO EDUCATE ITS MEMBERS, (CONTINUED ON SCH O)

THE PRIVATE DEFENDER PROGRAM (PDP) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1968. THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO (THE COUNTY) DOES NOT HAVE A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND SO THE COUNTY HAS CONTRACTED WITH THE ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE INDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENSE. THE PDP DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS OTHERWISE UNABLE TO HIRE COUNSEL AND IT DOES SO AT SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYERS OF SAN MATEO COUNTY. PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THEIR OWN ATTORNEY IN ADULT CRIMINAL, MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD DEPENDENCY,AND JUVENILE CRIMINAL MATTERS.

PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (MCLE) AND NETWORKING. OFFERS A VARIETY OF MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH VARIOUS LOCAL BUSINESSES. MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A RANGE OF MEMBER BENEFITS WHICH PRODUCE REVENUE FOR THE ASSOCIATION. THE MOST POPULAR BENEFIT IS THE COURT CARD KEY. ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR AT LEAST TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS ARE ELIGIBLE, FOR A NOMINAL FEE, TO APPLY FOR CARD KEY ACCESS TO THE SAN MATEO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO BYPASS THE SECURITY SCREENING BY USING THE EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)MEMBERS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE ACCOUNTS OPENED BY THE ASSOCIATION TO GAIN EVEN LARGER DISCOUNTS WITH COMPANIES SUCH AS OFFICE DEPOT AND FEDERAL EXPRESS.

THE ASSOCIATION'S LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE (LRS) IS A STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED PROGRAM (CERTIFICATE NO. 0039). FOR A NOMINAL FEE OF $35, THE LRS WILL PROVIDE CALLERS WITH THE NAME OF AN ATTORNEY WHO WILL PROVIDE UP TO A 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION. THE CONSULTATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROSPECTIVE CLIENT TO EXPLAIN THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE LEGAL PROBLEM AND FOR THE ATTORNEY TO EXPLAIN HIS OR HER FEE STRUCTURE AND DETERMINE IF THE CASE IS ONE HE OR SHE WISHES TO PURSUE. ONCE THE ATTORNEY TAKES A CASE, THE ATTORNEY WILL PAY THE SMCBA 15% OF ALL PROCEEDS RECEIVED FROM THE CLIENTS IN EXCESS OF $100. THE SERVICE ALSO PROVIDES WILLS AT NO COSTS TO SENIOR CITIZENS, FREE WORKERS' COMPENSATION REFERRALS TO ATTORNEYS WHO CAN ASSIST LOW INCOME CLIENTS WITH FAMILY LAW AND CRIMINAL LAW MATTERS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND FEE WAIVERS FOR THE PUBLIC IN ACCESSING LEGAL SERVICES, TO PROVIDE AND RECONGNIZE PUBLIC SERVICE AS IT RELATES TO THE THIS MISSION, AND TO ADVANCE THE FAIR AND EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FOR ALL.