Education


University of California, Hastings College of the Law

San Francisco, CA, Juris Doctor, 1989   
 

University of California,  Berkeley

Berkeley, CA , Master of Social Welfare, 1989
 

University of California,  Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1983, Honors Society 


Accreditations


Admitted to the California State Bar, 1989


Professional Experience


David Sutton Mediation and Arbitration Services
San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara, California

  • Mediation, arbitration of divorce, including custody and property issues, parent/teen conflict, support and financial disputes. Family law private judge pro tem. Mediation of psychotherapeutic malpractice claims.   Family law custody co-parenting coordinator.

Private Law Practice
Psychotherapeutic liability risk assessment and license defense

  • Liability risk assessment for providers of psychotherapy and related clinical services.  Defense of clinical licenses before the california state licensing boards.

Private Psychotherapy Practice

  • Treatment of adolescents and  adults

Community activities

 

Superior Court of California
Volunteer bench bar settlement panelist for family law matters

Family and Children’s Law Center, San Rafael, California

  • Current president, board of directors
  • Volunteer family law attorney

Marin Legal Aid, San Rafael, California   

  • Current board member
  • Volunteer coordinator of family law clinic for low-income clients

Marin Interfaith Youth Outreach Teen Center, San Rafael, California

  • Member, board of directors

San Francisco Bar Association: Volunteer Legal Services Program

  • Volunteer legal services for low income San Francisco residents

Wiley Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services

State Bar of California, 1999


Seminars & Trainings Facilitated

  • Mediating family law disputes
  • Mediating and arbitrating financial/business disputes
  • Elder abuse: prevention and reporting obligations
  • Psychotherapeutic malpractice risk assessment
  • Psychotherapeutic license protection and defense
  • Confidentiality and ethical obligations of the psychotherapeutic relationship
  • Defusing the dangerous client

Psychotherapeutic Liability and License Defense and Mediation Training Sponsors/Contracts

  • California State University, Fresno

  • Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Fresno County Department of Social Services

  • National Association of Social Workers- San Francisco, Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Burbank regions.

  • Jewish Family and Children’s Services

  • Marin County Division on Aging

  • Veterans Administration Medical Center: Palo Alto, California