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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Flagg Sees Diverse, Youthful Future For Valley Bar

Carrying with him a vision of continuity for a term of office that will last one year, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association’s (SFVBA) new president, Robert Flagg, believes there is something unique about the organization of which he has been a member for almost two decades. For one thing, Flagg said, contrary to his membership in the state bar, which is mandatory in order for him to practice law in California, his membership in the local bar is optional. “But ultimately, it’s more gratifying,” he told the Business Journal. “The Valley is where I live,” Flagg said. “My San Fernando Valley Bar Association membership is one that makes me feel like I’m connected to the community at large — and the community of lawyers. It’s always been that way for me.” Flagg noted there are an estimated 30,000 attorneys in Los Angeles County, and about 7,500 in the Valley. Meanwhile, SFVBA’s membership has held steady at about 2,000 since the current recession began last year. While the organization is not necessarily growing at the moment, Flagg and bar association CEO Elizabeth Post are satisfied that its roster has not shrunk during the past year. “That’s another way we’re unique, I think,” Post said. “Bob will be as good as his predecessor has been at leading us, and keeping our membership stable, in a continuingly challenging time.” Post’s confidence is echoed by outgoing president Tamila Jensen. “He will be a wonderful president; he’s a wonderful man,” Jensen said. According to her, the bar association’s organizational structure helps ensure the success of any incoming president. “We have a structure that is designed so that you start as treasurer and go through the chairs systematically,” Jensen said. “We’re in a good place to give us continuity in any event.” Fittingly to Jensen’s comments, Flagg’s stated goals are largely focused on maintaining the same level of service and continuation of the fundamental reasons he believes local attorneys join the SFVBA. “It goes back to the bar’s founding 83 years ago,” Flagg said. “It was just as annoying then to get over to downtown.” That, said Flagg, was the original impetus for the Valley’s bar association’s founding — convenience and community. Local bar associations generally attract members by providing add-on benefits to State Bar of California membership. Such offerings include local networking opportunities, referral services, and a voice in local politics and business. However, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association is also in the way it interacts with the courts, said Flagg. “There’s a unique relationship between the judicial officers in the Valley with the local bar,” he said. “When a judge is involved in a high profile media case, the judge, by the canon of ethics, cannot respond to criticism. But we can, and we do.” But it has been a long time since the association has had to defend a judge, save for a few cases in which media access has been restricted (think media-circus trials, a la Michael Jackson’s molestation trial, Robert Blake’s murder trial or any of the other celebrity legal proceedings for which the local courts are famous). Both Flagg and Jensen believe it will be crucial in 2010 for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association to continuing offering services such as networking events, referral services, and legal-research benefits. One that has been extremely popular is access to the popular FastCase online legal-research service at a cost that is significantly lower than individual attorneys or small firms can find on their own, according to Jensen. Flagg has been active in outreach to local schools. Among his favorite events in recent years was a mock trial in which Snow White won an apology from her arch nemesis. “That was part of Law Day at Maurice Sendak Elementary in North Hollywood,” Flagg said. “Snow White also won the right to sleep in the castle for a year.” Other outreach events to LAUSD youth include writing contests put on by the bar as well as talks with students about careers in law. “I believe you can treat kids like professionals and they will see things differently than if you talk down to them,” Flagg said. But the courthouse Children’s Waiting Room project is what is closest to Robert Flagg’s heart in terms of his work with the bar association. “We already have one opened at the Van Nuys Courthouse,” he said. “The other one will be at the San Fernando Courthouse. I think it’s important that kids don’t have to see their parents in shackles and jumpsuits.” The bar association’s Children’s Waiting Rooms come complete with a thoroughly vetted daycare provider, books, toys and a Wii entertainment system. “Our focus on youth is about the future,” Flagg said. “I think the better we do at acquainting local youth with our organization, the courts and the law as a career choice, the better job we will do at planting the seeds for more diversity. That way we won’t end up with too many middle-aged white guys like me.”

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