Attorney at Law
CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST
State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization
(714) KINDLAW
E-mail: KINDLAW@AOL.COM
24 HR. EMERGENCY NUMBER: 714-913-3242
SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1976
RESUME
ATTORNEY AT LAW - LAW OFFICES OF GERALD L. KLEIN (1976 to Present.)
General Family Law practice emphasizing child visitation, custody and alienation, domestic violence and child abuse issues. Implemented a divorce mediation model.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LAW (Family Law) (2008 to Present.)
Irvine University College of Law, Cerritos, California.
CONTINUING EDUCATION PRESENTER (2002 - 2003)
Presented programs throughout California on “Parental Alienation,” “Divorce Mediation” and “Family Law from A-Z” as part of a mandatory continuing education program required for Evidence Code Section 730 Child Custody Evaluators .
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (1995 to Present.)
Founder and Executive Director (pro bono) of “Kids First”, a non-profit interactive education program for parents and kids going through divorce.
"RELATIONSHIPS" COLUMNIST ( 1994 -1995.)
Write weekly "Relationships" article on Timeslink (The former Los Angeles Times online weekly newspaper) in collaboration with a Marriage and Family Counselor.
CONSULTANT - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (1992-1993.)
Developed and implemented a clinical program to assist victims of Domestic Violence utilizing volunteer law students and attorneys for Western State University College of Law.
JUVENILE COURT REFEREE (Part Time) (1986.)
Orange County Superior Court - Juvenile Court
INSTRUCTOR U.C. IRVINE (1984.)
Developed curriculum and taught "Divorce Mediation Theory and
Practice" to attorneys and mental health professionals.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (1974 to 1976.)
Orange County Welfare Coalition, Inc.. Founded, developed and directed this non-profit legal advocacy program which represented individuals at Federal and State Administrative hearings, as a volunteer.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Western State University College of Law [BSL & JD] Law 1975
Temple University [Cert.: Acctg. (90 units towards BS] Accounting 1965
Other: (Various ongoing professional law and business management seminars.)
Early Law Practice and Prior Professional Experience
Law: Criminal, Personal Injury, Business, Probate, Conservatorship, Immigration, Welfare, Disability, Unemployment, Bankruptcy and other Civil Law experience.
Other: Accountant, Controller, Accounting Systems Designer, Systems Manager.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
American College of Forensic Psychology:
- Parental Alienation, the 730 Evaluator and the Law: An Attorney’s Perspective.
April, 2006 - San Francisco, California.
- Family Law, from Abiosis to Zooid: A Primer for Mental Health Professionals.
May, 2007 - Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mandatory Continuing Education Programs for Mental Health Professionals;
- Continuing Education Presenter to qualify Calif. Evid. Code Section 730 Child Custody Evaluators. Lectured on Parental Alienation, Divorce Mediation and Family Law for Mental Health Professionals. 2002 - 2003, presented throughout California.
Kids First: Parental Alienation Symposium:
- Panel Moderator, Chapman University.
April, 2002 - Orange, California.
Orange County Chapter CAMFT:
- Family Law for Mental Health Professionals.
May, 2002 - Orange, California.
- Parental Alienation, an Overview.
December, 2002 - Orange, California.
Divorce Mediation Symposium:
- Panel Member, U. C. Irvine.
1988 - Irvine, California.
Kids First:
- Presenter: Family Law, Parental Alienation and Family in Transition issues.
1996 to present. Kids First, Chapman University, Orange, California.
OTHER PRESENTATIONS
- Orange County News Channel: Child Custody Interventions, The Kids First Program.
- Cable Talk Show Guest: Domestic Violence.
- KIK F.M. Radio Station Public Affairs Program: Expert Panelist-Stalking.
- Past Guest Lecturer, Divorce Mediation: California State University Fullerton, Chapman College.
- Past Lecturer Western State University Domestic Violence Program (State Bar Continuing Legal Education Credit Certified.)
- Past Guest Lecturer, Child Abuse: Chapman College.
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
- Recipient of the Orange County Bar Association Family Law Section “GEORGE BAILEY” Award, 2008. [Named after George Bailey of “It’s a Wonderful Life”] for service to the community as Founder and Executive Director of the Kids First program.
- Recipient of the 2000 DISTINGUISHED HONORARY MEMBER Award, California
Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
- Orange County Bar Association Annual "LIBERTY BELL" Award for community service -1988.
- State Bar "PRESIDENT`S PRO-BONO SERVICE" Award District 8 -1985.
- CSP Domestic Violence Assistance Program.
- Orange County Bar Foundation Shortstop Program.
- State Bar "Board of Governors" Awards for Pro-Bono and Low Fee Services.
- Amicus Publico Volunteer Services Awards.
- Orange County Bar Association Legal Education Program recognition.
- Orange County Bar Association "Pro-Bono Publico Service Award."
- Orange County Bar Association "Award of Merit for Service to the Legal Profession and the Community.”
PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES
- “Keeping Kids First”
- “Kids Who Reject A Divorcing Parent”
- “Unwed Dads: Rights and Obligations”
- “When Parents Learn a Child is Gay”
- “Plan Now for Stress Free Holidays”
- “Surviving ‘Yuppie’ Burn-Out”
- “A Lawyer’s Confessions”
- “Sex and the Singles Scene”
- “Husband is Accused of a Sex Crime”
- “The Mediation Partnership”
- “A Divorce After 30 Years”
- “When Prenuptial Agreements Help”
- “Teen Hides Her Drinking Problems”
- “When Our Partner Cheats”
- “Grandparents Raising Grandkids”
- “Choosing the ‘Right Divorce’”
- “‘Contracts’ With Your Lover”
- “When They Take Your Kids Away”
- “Options in Seeking Divorce”
- “Deciding to Split Up”
- “The ‘Perfect’ Relationship”
- “Parent-Child Alienation”
- “Blending New Families From Old”
- “Gender Bias in Child Custody”
- “Spousal Abuse or Process Abuse?"
- “Spouse’s Behavior Was the Clue”
- “‘No Fault’ Divorce”
- “Father’s Legal Rights”
- “Escaping Domestic Violence”
- “Headed Back to Divorce Court”
- “Cyberdating: Pros and Cons”
- “False Child-Abuse Charges”
- “Deadbeat Dads”
- ‘Marriage Made in Heaven”
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- Founder and Board President of the Orange County Welfare Coalition, Inc., the non-profit agency that sponsored various programs, including, currently, Kids First.
- Volunteer, Orange County Bar Association "Shortstop" Juvenile Offender Intervention Program.
- Past President West Orange County Bar Association.
- Past President, F.A.C.E.S. (Family Assessment, Counseling and EducationServices), a non-profit corporation.
- Past Volunteer Attorney, Victim Witness Domestic Violence Program and Victim Witness Attorney Advisory Board.
- Past President, COPES, Abused Children`s Shelter.
- Past Member, Board of Directors, Orange County Legal Aid Society.
- Past Charter Board Member, Women`s Transitional Living Center, Battered Women`s Shelter.
- Past Volunteer Team Coach and Judge, Constitutional Rights Foundation, Mock Trial Program.
- Past Volunteer, Santa Ana Unified School District Youth Motivation Task Force (Stop Drop-Out Program).
- Past Co-Chair Orange County CAMFT Attorney-Therapist Network.
- Past Member, City of Huntington Beach Housing and Community Development Citizens` Advisory Board.
- Past Member, Advisory Board, Family Crisis Center.
- Past Member, Board of Directors, Pilgrimage Family Therapy Center.
- Past Mock Trial Judge Annual Orange County Bar Association Family Law Section Training Program for new Attorneys.
- Interviewee on Domestic Violence. [Professional production for broadcast, produced by the American Association of University Women.]