news Archives - Susan Feder Mediation

Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

As I write this month’s president’s message, the election has not yet happened. However, election day will have come and gone by the time you read this. So many questions challenge me now. How will we be feeling on the morning of Nov. 4? What will the vote count be, and how will the electoral college map look? Since 1797, every president has peacefully handed over power to the next. Fearing a loss, the current president has consistently raised the specter of a disputed election. What might happen if he refuses to accept the results?

Voting Rights: Let All Our Voices Be Heard

Last month, our nation celebrated the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. The 19th Amendment boldly proclaims that, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The road to this amendment was long and difficult. The organized movement began in 1848 at the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. While the faces of the many courageous women who fought for its passage were diverse, the new law did not benefit all women. Black women and other women of color had to wait another 45 years until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to be able to exercise their right to vote.

The Power of Getting Into Good Trouble: Lessons From History

On July 17, our country laid to rest an icon of the Civil Rights Movement: Congressman John Lewis. At his funeral, numerous dignitaries, including three former U.S. Presidents, honored his lifetime of contributions to our country. Lewis served in Congress for 33 years, dedicating his life to the fight for equality and justice. And fight he did. Arrested over 40 times, beaten on numerous occasions, he is known to have counseled others to, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”

Celebrating Our Independent Judiciary on This Independence Day

Hello fellow Marin Bar members! We are now in the full swing of summer, with Independence Day around the corner as of this writing. While we are unfortunately still in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of new cases spiking dramatically, the month of June did bring some positive news in the form of several actions by the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court that came with varying degrees of surprise to many observers.

President’s Message for April Marin Lawyer

At MCBA, we have been very busy since the “Shelter in Place” orders took effect. While we currently are unable to come together as a group and experience the camaraderie and community that we value, we are working on virtual options to keep you, our members, engaged and informed.

President’s Message for March Marin Lawyer

As a profession, we suffer from some of the highest levels of substance abuse and stress related ailments in the working population. This month’s Marin Lawyer focuses on small office management and offers tips and advice for keeping your business running effectively.

President’s Message for February Marin Lawyer

As a new lawyer, I conducted my first trial with Bank of America as my client. I needed to prove that the loan officer had no knowledge of a prospective borrower’s prior loan applications. In the absence of both the loan officer or any other direct evidence, this was challenging, and it became clear to me that without evidence, I simply would not be able to prove up my client’s defense. Evidence is, of course, at the heart of our trial process. In fact, we learned this in Trial Practice 101.

Unique Challenges and Opportunities of Virtual Mediations: Tips and Best Practices From the Trenches

As virtual mediations become the current norm, our panelists will address the differences in preparing for and conducting mediations remotely.

President’s Message for MCBA

Welcome to a new year with MCBA! I am Susan Feder, your new MCBA President, and I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible during the course of the year. Allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am a full time mediator with a varied civil mediation practice.

President’s Message for May Marin Lawyer

Now that a new month is upon us, we are all beginning to look to the future, wondering what our “new normal” will look like through the summer months and into fall. At MCBA, we are busy putting together a roster of programs with an eye towards the future.