Richard A. Lewis

Curriculum Vitae

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Attorney (1990- Present)
Law Offices of Richard A. Lewis

General Practice
Family Law
Probate
Conservatorships & Guardianships
Wills and Trusts
Civil Litigation
Bankruptcy
Incorporations

Attorney (1989-1990)
Law Offices of Samuel L. Hart
Associate Attorney in general law office

MEMBERSHIPS

American Bar Association
California Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
San Fernando Valley Bar Association
Law Practice Management Section, American Bar Association
Family Law Section, L.A. County Bar Association
Probate & Trust Section, L.A. County Bar Association
Family Law Section, San Fernando Valley Bar Association
Lawyer Referral Service, San Fernando Valley Bar Association
John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International
The Rotary Club
The Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce

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PRO BONO SERVICES

Past Volunteer, Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law (Pro Bono Family Law Project of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles)
Past Volunteer, Maynard Toll Center for Family Law
Past volunteer, Family Law Center, San Fernando Neighborhood Legal Services

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SERVICE TO BAR AND COMMUNITY

Trustee, Los Angeles County Bar Association

Past President, San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Past Secretary, San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Past Treasurer, San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Representative, Multi-Cultural Bar Alliance

Past Trustee, San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Past Treasurer, Valley Community Legal Foundation

Director, Valley Community Legal Foundation

Past Director, San Fernando Valley Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

Past member, Legal Services Managing Committee, Bet Tzedek Legal Services

Judge Pro Tem, Van Nuys Superior Court

Former Judge Pro Tem, San Fernando Superior Court

Chair, Diversity Committe, San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Member , Diversity Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association

Member, Executive Committee, Family Law Section, SFVBA

Past Chair, Pro Bono Legal Services to Military Committee, SFVBA

Co-Chair, SFVBA Lawyer Referral and Information Service Managing Committee

Member LACBA Lawyer Referral and Information Service Managing Committee

Member, SFVBA Long-Range Planning Committee

Speaker for Bridging-the-Gap program in the area of Family Law 1996-1998

Speaker for the Law Day Ask-a-Lawyer program

Family Law Mediator, Van Nuys Superior Court

Guest Panelist, San Fernando Valley Bar Association Lawyer Referral & Information Service Cable TV Program on Divorce
Law Day Community Consultations
Law Day Education Program for Elementary Schools

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EDUCATION

Southwestern University School of Law
Los Angeles, CA
Juris Doctorate- May, 1988

California State University at Los Angeles
Masters of Arts in Education, 1979
Elementary Education Credential, 1978
Graduate studies, Political Science and Political Philosophy, 1977
Bachelors of Arts in Political Science, 1971

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HONORS

Exceptional Achievement Award (Future Interests)
Alternate Finalist,
Second Year Moot Court Competition
Proclamation from City of Los Angeles

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CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

Management and Marketing of a Family Law Practice
Fundamentals of Family Law Practice
Dividing Property on Dissolution of Marriage
Representing Clients in Custody and Visitation Matters
Negotiating and Drafting Marital Settlement, Prenuptial, and Cohabitation Agreements
Fundamentals of Civil Trial Practice
Fundamentals of Civil Litigation Before Trial
Compelling, Opposing, and Enforcing Discovery in State Court
Preparing for, Taking, and Using Depositions
Preparing a Case for Trial:
The Last 100 Days
Developing Basic Trial Skills:
Demonstration and Workshop
Fundamentals of Estate Administration
Fundamental of Estate Planning
Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates
Generation-Skipping Transfers in Estate Planning
Advising Individual Fiduciaries

Using California Trusts:
Planning, Implementing, Administering and Terminating
Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Practice
Pension Valuations & Real Property Valuations
Recent Developments in Tax and Accountancy for Family Law
Philosophies & Approaches to Custody Evaluation
Move Away Cases:
Legislation and Practices
When Probate Meets Family Law:
Cross Over Issues
Process and Procedure for the PACT Program: An Evaluator's Perspective on Parent Education
How to Analyze a Custody Evaluation Report
Punitive Damages
Ethical Lawyering
Effective Legal Negotiations
The Bankruptcy Reform Act and Its Effect on Family Law
Practice Under the New Local Family Law Rules Adopted January 1, 1995
Elder Law Practice
Family Law Rules and Policies in the Central District and Branch Courts

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OTHER EXPERIENCES

Classroom Teacher, Grades 3 through 6 (1978 - 1989)
Los Angeles Unified School District
Taught multiple subjects to students; prepared and presented lessons; wrote and graded exams. Served as faculty chair, faculty treasurer, grade level chair, testing coordinator, and United Teachers of Los Angeles representative.

Lending Officer/Operations Supervisor (1971-1976)
Security Pacific National Bank
Supervised branch operations; supervised and trained branch staff; interviewed loan applicants; reviewed and evaluated loan applications, and made loan and credit approvals; evaluated and purchased loan contracts from auto dealers for branch office; handled loan collections; negotiated new terms for problem loans. As operations supervisor, received and processed legal documents regarding bankruptcy, death and garnishments. Dealt extensively with depositors, including individuals, small businesses and corporations.

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MILITARY EXPERIENCE

1972 - 1976 U.S. Army Reserve
1968 - 1969 U.S. Army (Republic of Viet Nam)
1964 - 1968 California National Guard

Rank: 1 Lt. Served with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, United States Army (Republic of Viet Nam); 18th Armored Cavalry Regiment, California National Guard

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INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES

Mr. Lewis' interests include theater and music, poetry, reading, chess, tennis, jazz and dance. He has traveled extensively, visiting four continents, the Caribbean and the South Pacific.

Mr. Lewis is a past member of the American Legion and various local community organizations, and is currently actively involved in Boy Scouts.

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