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Kathleen A. Hunt
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Kathleen A. Hunt
Unique Law
6002 Barrett Avenue
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Phone: (510) 289-2288
http://www.uniquelaw.com
Illuminating Solutions
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
I prefer to work with individuals, families, and small businesses.
Sub-Categories
Wills, Trusts & Estates
- Nolo Document Review
- Charitable Trusts
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
I prefer to work with individuals, families, and small businesses.
Sub-Categories
Business Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Business Successions
- Buying & Selling
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporations
- Joint Ventures
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Nonprofits & Tax-Exempt Corporations
- Partnerships
- Professional Corporations
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Employment Contracts
- Non-Compete Contracts
- Art
- Communication & Media
- Internet
- Music
- Computer Crimes
- Computer Law
- Domain Names
- Identity Theft
- Spam
Bar Admissions
CA, Jun 2004
Bar Number: 230678
Other Court Admissions
• All courts in California
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Association Memberships
• State Bar of California
• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of San Francisco
• Alameda County Bar Association
• Solo Section of the Alameda County Bar Association
• BBB (Better Business Bureau) Auto line
• The Trusts and Estates Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association
• Rotary Club of El Cerrito
• El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce, Certified Arbitrator
Continuing Education
I regularly attend estate planning, business law, ethics seminars, and more.
Papers and Publications
• ADR Guidebook, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Office of the Circuit Executive (June 2003)
• Guarding the Schoolhouse Gate, National Center for Science Education (November 2001)
Example Cases
All of my cases, and clients, are significant. I have worked with singles, couples, and families of every conceivable description to craft estate plans that are the right fit for each situation, as well as helping to facilitate stepparent adoption and resolve guardianship issues. I represent business organizations as diverse as the Center for Sex and Culture (sex education, San Francisco), Clairvoyant Designs International, LLC (reliability testing and prediction, Half Moon Bay), and Synaesthetic Productions (nonprofit orchestral music organization, Guerneville).
Education
Degree:
B.A.
School:
University of California, Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1990
Focus and Accomplishments:
English.
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Hastings College of Law
City:
San Francisco
State:
CA
Year:
2003
Focus and Accomplishments:
Editor-in-Chief, Hastings Communication & Entertainment Law Journal.
Degree:
M.S.
School:
California State University
City:
Hayward
State:
CA
Year:
1993
Focus and Accomplishments:
Education; also single-subject and multiple-subject teaching credentials; Certificate in Children's Literature.
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
My practice is devoted to helping people find solutions in their lives. I love the idea of the "family lawyer" one goes to whenever there's a problem or a question in any area. Sometimes, the solutions don't require a lawyer's intervention, and that's OK, too; that's why we're called "counselors" in addition to being attorneys.
Previous Employment Summary
My legal experience includes work with the California Anti-Slapp Project, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the National Center for Science Education, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, along with many others. Before becoming a lawyer, I was a teacher for seven years. My employment background also includes areas as diverse as the comic book industry, the world of credit information bureaus, the improvisational street theater of living history, and more.
Activities and Awards
• Certified Arbitrator
• Better Business Bureau Auto Line
• Contra Costa County Certified Green
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
Educated clients are in a much better position to explain their needs and help me create appropriate solutions for them. Clients can often save money by doing some research on their own, so that they can come to me with a better understanding of the issues before we even begin work.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I'm more than happy to go over your documents with you. Sometimes, all you need is a little tweaking; other times, a full rewrite might be necessary. The only way to know is to ask.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Whether I'm willing to coach a client in self-representation depends on the area of law involved. This is such a fact-specific situation!
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
The law is always interesting and constantly changing. There's never a dull moment, and the people I meet are the absolute highlight. What's not to like?
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
My experience as a teacher taught me the value of listening, as well as the talking that lawyers are famous for. My experience in business gives me insight into the challenges faced by start-ups and new organizations these days. Of course, theater experience allows me to adapt quickly to the changing face of the law.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
To tell the truth, I think it chose me. While I was still in law school, I would find myself exhorting fellow parents and others to ensure that they had wills, trusts, or something else in place to protect their families and their assets. It wasn't long before I realized that I had to practice estate planning law. I had already learned that I enjoyed business law from my interest and excitement during my first-year Contracts class and upper-level Corporations seminar.
What do you like best about your career?
I like the ability to help people, to continue to teach in this new arena, and to make a positive impact on the lives of my clients and their families. I like knowing that a family is protected in case of emergency. I like helping a new business get off the ground and thrive. I like the example this career sets for my son, that education and caring about people can really make a difference.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am self-employed as a solo practitioner, which allows me to be very responsive and available to my clients.
What are your strengths and style?
I'm a single parent and a former teacher; this lets me really focus on the needs of the family. I grew up straddling the poverty line, so I have a clear understanding of the way the real world works for most of us.
I'm fairly informal, unless there's a specific need otherwise. You'd never find me in jeans anywhere near a courtroom, but I'm rarely in a suit when I'm meeting with clients. I'm very professional, and extremely organized; I like to make an entire plan and timeline for projects right at the outset, where possible. On the other hand, I'm pretty flexible when circumstances demand it.
Personal Interests:
My son is my number-one personal interest. Other than that, I am a voracious reader, an enthusiastic (though clumsy) beginning skater, a racing fan, a music lover, and an avid Francophile.
Office Hours
Flexible - As a parent, I recognize the necessity for evening/weekend hours sometimes. After all, I'm here to help you, not make additional stress in your life!
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
I will work with translators when needed.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
• Basic estate-planning package: $1000 per person
• Formation of California LLC: $500 plus costs
• Formation of California Corporation: $1,000 plus costs
• Trademark Registration Application: $550 plus costs
Hourly Rates
$175 per hour.
WillMaker Document Review:
I will charge at an hourly rate of $175 for review documents, with a one-hour minimum.
Free Initial Consultation?
An initial consultation is free for up to one hour.
Typical Retainer
Our typical retainer depends on the services requested. In general, it costs between $500 and $2,000.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
