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Education and Experience Collaborative Practice Family Law Collaborative Practice Statewide |
Education and ExperienceEducation, licensure and credentials
Employment historyAdministrative Hearing Officer, Santa Cruz Planning Department, 2007Primary responsibility: to preside over building permit violation public hearings; to take oaths, conduct hearings, question witnesses; to analyze the facts and apply them to the mandates of the relevant Municipal Code sections; and to issue written decisions. Administrative Hearing Officer, California Municipalities, 2001–2007Duties: organize public hearings pertaining to mobile home rent control and sales stabilization; conduct status conferences, preliminary hearings and public hearings, to research California law in interpreting applicable local municipal code to the facts of the case; hire financial experts to assist in my analysis and issuing extensive formal written decisions outlining the testimonial and evidentiary record as applied to the relevant regulatory scheme. Law Offices of Stephania Francone, 1986–2007Established, marketed and managed a San Mateo–based law practice for more than twelve years, representing individuals in litigation of various civil, administrative and criminal matters against government agencies and the insurance industry, and families in domestic relations. I have represented clients throughout every phase of litigation, including: preparation of complex legal memoranda and extraordinary writs; conducting administrative hearings, reviews, court and jury trials; and appellate work. I created and operated the Landlord/Tenant Hotline for Northern California, making access to legal assistance affordable, and sat as a San Mateo Superior Court Arbitrator. In 1999 I relocated to Santa Cruz County and continued to conduct civil, criminal, and administrative litigation. I have also continued and expanded my neutral work as a jurist, presiding over administrative hearings, arbitrations and mediations, routinely issuing formal written decisions as an Administrative Hearing Officer and a judge pro tem. Currently most of my work comprises mediation, collaborative practice, and administrative law as a hearing officer and counsel for California licensees. Gorgian and McCabe, San Francisco, 1983–1986: Litigation AssociateExtensive general practice experience in all phases of civil, criminal, business, real property and family litigation, probates and conservatorships. Tried and arbitrated family law dissolution and personal injury cases involving municipalities; petitioned and appeared before the probate court on behalf of beneficiaries and conservators. San Francisco Superior Court, 1980–1983: Staff Attorney/Law ClerkLaunched legal career as a staff attorney for the Superior Court Judges; assisted them in the disposition of their respective cases, including cases of first impression, injunctions and other applications, petitions and motions; conducted informal conferences with attorneys adjunct to reviewing their applications for extraordinary relief; reviewed, analyzed, and briefed the judges on difficult, and/or novel issues arising in submitted matters in the trial, probate, juvenile, domestic relations and appellate departments; and routinely prepared bench memoranda and preliminary judicial decisions. Appointments, public service and achievements
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