Committees

Our Fellow service on committees both within our local chapter and committees of the AAML Nationals organization. Some of our local committees include the following:

Amicus Liaison: David Youngsmith

• The amicus committee monitors important cases pending before the various courts. The committee considers requests that the chapter becomes involved in amicus positions with respect to important issues and makes recommendations to the board of managers.

Awards: Chair, David Erb

• The awards committee considers candidates for various awards given by the chapter and makes recommendations to the board of managers regarding recipients of such awards.

Board of Admissions: Chair, Geniveve Ruskus

• The board of examiners is made up of the voting members of the board of managers. This board reviews applications for Fellowship to the Northern California chapter and makes recommendations to the national board of examiners. Note that the national board is the body that makes the final decisions regarding membership.

Chapter Retreat: Co-Chairs, Greg Abel, Michele Bissada, Rebekah Frye

• The Chapter Retreat committee has been established this year to plan and execute the next Chapter retreat to take place at a date to be determined.

Charitable Contributions: Chair, Tanya Prioste

• The charitable contributions committee considers applications for charitable contributions and recommends how funds available for charitable contributions shall be distributed. The committee also reviews scholarship applications for the Symposium and Trial Practicum and makes recommendations for scholarship awards.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion: Co-Chairs, Nancy Encarnacion Mass, Lexi Mussallem

• The Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee hopes to provide education and bring more inclusion to our organization. This committee is in its infancy, so we will be using the first part of this year to create a mission statement and goals and then will reach out to Fellows to join.

Legislative Liaison: Lorie Nachlis

• The legislative liaison's tasks include ongoing dialogue with ACFLS regarding pending legislation, monitoring significant pending litigation, and keeping fellows informed, and polling our membership to determine if the chapter wishes to propose legislation or take positions regarding significant pending litigation.

Membership: Chair, Lydia Hsu

• The membership development committee oversees new member recruitment with special attention to increasing the geographic diversity of members and other factors, oversees new member announcements and implements the "buddy system" and overall mentorship to new fellows, and increases chapter participation in our activities.

Mentoring: Co-Chairs, Jennifer Crum, Gretchen Rubel

• The mentoring committee administers the mentoring program in many Bay Area counties, which matches experienced AAML fellows with groups of 20-30 younger family law attorneys for regular meetings typically over a two year term for the purpose of educating, mentoring, and facilitating networking for those younger attorneys. At any given time, different mentor groups may meet in Marin County, San Francisco, the East Bay, the South Bay, and other geographic areas.

Nominating (Past Presidents Only):

• The Nominating Committee is comprised of the 5 most recent past presidents and convenes once a year in August or September to discuss the nomination of officers and board of managers for the following year proposed by the President-Elect.

Pro Bono Court Resources: Chair, Yasmine Mehmet

• The Pro Bono Committee was created to address various ways the AAML could serve the Court, potential litigants, or even other Fellows. Some of the tasks undertaken have included the following: compiling and updating a referral list of low-fee or pro bono organizations that offer family-law-related services; assisting the Court in locating Judge Pro Tems or gathering volunteers to help with Court-specific needs such as Judgment review or lawyer of the day programs; and creating a History Project to ensure the legacy of our Fellows is not lost to time.

Symposium: Co-Chairs, Rodrigo Dias, Ashley Rodet

• The Symposium committee plans, organizes, and presents our chapter's annual Symposium.

Trial Practicum: Co-Chairs, Lexi Mussallem, Vanessa Wills

• The Trial Practicum Committee hosts a week-long educational program every even-numbered year to equip young lawyers with the skills necessary to manage a trial from start to finish. The next Practicum will take place in October 2026.

Website: Chair, Kimberly Madigan

• The Website Committee reviews, updates and improves the Chapter Website, including both content and appearance.