Sections
Barristers
Upcoming Programs and Events
Get to Know the Local Bar: Emily L. Dahm
Current Developments in the Law: Resolving Conflicts Between Religious Freedoms and LGBTQ Rights
New events are added regularly. Visit the ACBA calendar for more upcoming ACBA events. To view past programming on demand, please visit acbanet.prolearn.io/home.
Executive Committee Meetings
The ACBA Barristers Executive Committee shapes the educational and social programming for the section. They meet every second Thursday at 6pm to discuss business and recently have started inviting special guests to talk about their careers and professional journeys. Please contact Barristers Chair Jason Leong for information on how to join these meetings. Check out our playlist of past meetings and interviews below.
Annual Barristers Golf Classic
Whether you’re a new golfer wanting to spend an afternoon networking with other attorneys and judges or an experienced golfer looking for a chance to get your name engraved on the President’s Cup, you’re welcome at the annual ACBA Barristers Golf Classic, typically held in early August! Check out the photos from our 2019 event here. We hope to hold another tournament in August 2023.
Section Listserv
Did you know you can create and send posts to your section community directly from your email inbox? With our Groupvine platform, you can communicate with your section about new updates in your practice area, questions about your practice, changes in laws, discussion about past MCLE programs, and more! Learn more
Barristers Mentorship Program
The Barristers Mentorship Program was created to link new attorneys (mentees) with seasoned attorneys (mentors) in Alameda County so that mentees may gain support and guidance as they embark on their professional legal careers. For mentors, participation in the program is an opportunity to give back and support the profession of law, and help shape its future by coaching the mentees and sharing their experiences and life lessons. Please check out the program guidelines for more information. Submit a mentor application or a mentee application at any time!
Jason Leong
Law Offices of Jason Leong
4123 Broadway #708
Oakland, CA 94611
jasonleonglawoffices@gmail.com
510-421-3327
Jason practices criminal defense and also handles post-conviction writs, petitions, and appeals. Jason has been a long-time resident of Alameda County, going to high school in the East Bay, and graduating from UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law. After more than two years as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of California and a Deputy District Attorney in Madera County, he’s excited to be back home serving the Bay Area. Jason is a former member of the Earl Warren and Kennedy Inns of Court and enjoys staying at the cutting edges of the law.
Sophia Ahmad
Sophia Ahmad Law, APC
39055 Hastings Street, Ste 211
Fremont, CA 94538
sophia@sophiaahmadlaw.com
510-421-6188
Sophia Ahmad was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. After being intern to the executive team for the grand opening of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Sophia attended Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. She was a Student Attorney and Clinic Chief at the SMU Federal Taxpayers Clinic and with the Small Business/Self-Employed Division of the IRS. She worked for her family’s CPA firm before opening her own practice. Sophia Ahmad Law, A.P.C. focuses in tax, corporate, and immigration law. Sophia is a huge foodie, loves to travel, and is currently learning to box!
Ryan Knutson
Knutson Law Offices (KLO)
125 12th Street, Suite 100-BALI
Oakland, CA 94607
ryan@klolawfirm.com
408-634-9850
Ryan Knutson opened Knutson Law Offices in 2019, focusing in the areas of conservatorship and estate litigation, civil litigation including civil rights, and landlord/tenant law in federal and state courts. Since opening Knutson Law Offices, Mr. Knutson's firm has expanded into a nationally recognized civil litigation and estate law firm with offices around the Bay Area and serving clients throughout the state. In 2022, Mr. Knutson was named a Top 40 Under 40 National Trial Lawyer for Civil Plaintiff litigation, and to the Super Lawyer, Rising Stars list in both 2022 and 2023. Before opening Knutson Law Offices, Mr. Knutson worked as an attorney in insurance litigation. He began his legal career with La Raza Centro Legal in San Francisco as program coordinator and attorney in the Legal Services for the Elderly program, serving low-income Spanish-speaking clients in landlord-tenant and social security litigation. Mr. Knutson is a graduate of Golden Gate Law School and Sonoma State University, where he graduated cum laude.
Norah Alyami
DIY Family Law
P.O. Box 8240
Berkeley, CA 94707
Norah@diyfamily.law
www.diyfamily.law
Patrick Bears
WookSun (Phil) Hong
Law Offices of WookSun Hong
125 12th Street, Ste. 100-BALI,
Oakland, CA 94607
modulegal@gmail.com
(510) 368-8538
WookSun is part of the Bay Area Legal Incubator, a group of attorneys that provide legal services for mid to low income communities. Their practice areas cover employment, immigration, estate planning, real estate, business/corporate law, prisoners’ rights and more. WookSun personally handles real estate, landlord-tenant, business law and estate planning. WookSun graduated from Seoul National University with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. He pursued a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry before switching to law. He is the recipient of the ACBA’s 2019 Distinguished Service Award for Barrister. He is a 2019 and 2020 extraordinary VLSC volunteer and a member of ACBA LRS Governing Committee. He was also selected to 2020 Rising Starts by Super Lawyers. He enjoys cycling and wants to travel to as many countries as possible in the future.