BASF is governed by an elected Board of Directors. In addition, BASF currently has 27 sections and six committees, each dedicated to either a particular, substantive area of the law or to issues such as access to justice and the administration of justice. BASF’s Barristers Club, the division serving attorneys with under ten years of experience, has its own board of directors.
Task Force Reports
BASF has produced a number of reports and publications on the legal workplace through various task forces. These include:
Diversity
BASF has established numerous diversity programs and initiatives within the organization. These include: * * *
The Diversity Pipeline
BASF has also focused its efforts on diversity in the profession by pumping up the "diversity pipeline." The diversity pipeline is an effort to respond to the lack of racial and ethnic diversity among lawyers by introducing minority children, teens, and college students to the legal profession. BASF's pipeline efforts include surveys, conferences, initiatives and programs that include: * * * * *
Marriage Fairness
In 2008 BASF organized a Marriage Fairness Task Force to respond to what it believes are the attempts being made to attack the Supreme Court and to rewrite the California constitution and deny Californians the marriage rights currently protected by the constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court.
Community Programs
BASF founded the Volunteer Legal Services Program in 1977. It began as a small pro bono project, but is now one of the largest nonprofit providers of free legal and social services to low income individuals and families. The work of the Justice & Diversity Center is focused through three programs: Pro Bono Legal Services, the Homeless Advocacy Project, and the Diversity Educational Programs. Justice & Diversity Center Pro Bono Legal Services programs include:
Family Law Project
Eviction Defense Project
Housing Negotiation Project
Community Organization Representation Project
Homeless Advocacy Project
Consumer Project
Tort Defense Project
Legal Advice and Referral Clinic
Interpreter Project
Family Law Assisted Self-Help Project
Social Services Project
The Homeless Advocacy Project, founded in 1988, is JDC's largest program. The Homeless Advocacy Project provides free legal and related social services to individuals and families who are homeless or at serious risk of becoming homeless. The most common legal issues addressed at HAP are federal disability benefits advocacy, eviction defense and immigration documentation. JDC’s Diversity Educational Programs are provided in partnership with BASF to increase the diversity of the legal profession. The programs are designed to inspire minority students to pursue a career in law by removing barriers to college and law school attendance. For minority law school students, JDC offers three-year scholarships to Bay Area law schools as well as mentoring and networking opportunities. Finally, BASF also established the in 1947. LRIS offers legal assistance to clients from a panel of experienced lawyers.
