Elizabeth Shivell
Paralegal Toll Free: (866) 973-2336
Local: (408) 280-1220
111 West Saint John Street
Suite 1140
San Jose, California 95113
Elizabeth Shivell was admitted to practice in 1981 and became a Certified Family Law Specialist in 1988. She has practiced in San Jose since 1982 in the fields of Family Law Juvenile Dependency, and now in Unlawful Detainers.
Elizabeth has been a frequent speaker on Family Law for the California Psychological Association, the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the Norton Family Law Seminars, the National Association for Counsel for Children, and the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Symposium, and state commissions dealing with high conflict families,.
Elizabeth was in private practice from 1981 through 1999. From 1999 until 2004, Elizabeth was the Supervising Attorney for Family Law and the Domestic Violence Project at the Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County. She returned to private practice in 2004.
During her career, Elizabeth has served as a member or officer on the boards of several community based organizations in the field including WOMA (now Next Door), SAVE (Shelters Against Violent Environments), WATCH (Women and their Children’s Housing), the Bill Wilson Center, the Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County, and both the Domestic Violence Council and Child Abuse Council of Santa Clara County.
Education
J.D., Golden Gate University, 1981
B.A., History from Lebanon Valley College, 1975
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
Admitted to State Bar of California
Member Since: 1981
Certified as Family Law Specialist by State Bar of California
Member Since: 1988
No longer licensed to practice law effective May, 2010
Professional History
- 2009- present
Senior Paralegal, BJ Fadem and Associates, APC. Working under the supervision of attorneys in planning and execution of discovery in divorces and related civil litigation and appeals, training of law clerks and support staff in court procedures, interviewing and preparing declarations for clients and witnesses, legal research , preparation of pleadings, discovery, correspondence, and trial briefs, assisting attorneys in trial preparation.
- 2004- 2009
Solo practitioner Family Law litigation and related Juvenile Dependency and civil cases in Superior Court, California Appellate Courts, Federal Court and administrative proceedings throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Representation of neglected and abused children in Family and Civil Court. Supervision of clerical and paralegal staff.
- 1999- 2004
Supervising attorney for Family Law Unit and Criminal Conflicts Contempt Panel of the Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County. Development of Family Law Unit including initial planning, developing budgets and grant writing, presentations for initial funding and measuring outcomes; implementation of agency policies. Development of initial unit and new Domestic Violence Unit. Supervision of attorneys, case workers and paralegal staff. Representation of low income Santa Clara County residents in Family Law litigation and related Juvenile Dependency and civil cases in Superior Courts, California Appellate Courts, Federal Courts and administrative proceedings.. Representation of neglected and abused children in Family Court.
- 1981-1999
Solo practitioner in Family Law litigation and related Juvenile Dependency and civil cases in Superior Courts, California Appellate Courts, Federal Courts and administrative proceedings throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Representation of neglected and abused children in Family Court. Supervision of clerical and paralegal staff.
Professional Recognition
1992 Recipient of the Gretchen Burford-Dernetz Service Award for commitment, dedication and service to Juvenile and Family Law practice.
Professional and Community Service
- 2001-to present
Member, Child Abuse Council of Santa Clara County Chair, 2005-2006
- 2007-2009
Treasurer, Board of Directors, Center for Healthy Development.
- 2005-2007, 2009
Santa Clara County representative, Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Council.
- 2000-2006
Member, Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council.
- 2000-2001
Member, Santa Clara County Superior Court Self Service Center Committee
- 1997-2000
Member, Board of Directors, First Unitarian Church of San Jose. Board Vice President 1999-2000.
- 1991-1998
Member, Board of Directors, Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County. Board President 1997-1998.
- 1990-1992
Member, Board of Trustees, Santa Clara County Bar Association.
- 1988-1989
Member of the Human Rights Committee of the City of San Jose
- 1987-1990
Member of the Board of Directors, Bill Wilson Center.
- 1987-1990
Member of the Board of Directors, SAVE (Shelters Against Violent Environments). Board Vice President 1989-1990.
- 1988-1989
Member, Board of Directors, WATCH (Women and Their Children’s Housing)
- 1983-1986
Member, Board of Directors, WOMA (now Next Door)
Professional Panels and Presentations
- 2007
“Preparing for Trial in Family Court”
National Business Institute
“What Family Court Judges Want You to Know”
National Business Institute
“Three in One Professional Ethics Training”
Santa Clara County Bar Assn.
- 2006-2007
“Preparing Your Case for Trial”
Pro Bono Project Annual Family Law Training
- 2006
“Cross Cultural Issues in Family Law Litigation”
18th Annual Santa Clara County Child Abuse Symposium.
- 2005
“Interviewing and Preparing Declarations in Domestic Violence Custody Disputes”
Santa Clara County Bar Association.
- 2001
“The Green Book and Other Developments in Addressing Violent Families”
National Association of Children’s Counsel Annual Meeting.
- 2000
“Domestic Violence in Family Court”
8th Annual Domestic Violence Conference, sponsored by the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.
- 1999
“Legal Services Available for Domestic Violence Clients” Domestic Violence Certification Training for Santa Clara County Superior Court’s Family Court Services mediators and evaluators.
“New Legal Services in Family Law and Education Law”
Santa Clara County Bar Association’s Family Law Brownbag Seminars
- 1997
“When Tragedy Strikes: Preparing for the Unexpected as a Solo Practitioner”
Santa Clara County Bar Association Family Law Section’s Brown Bag Seminars
- 1996
“Diversity and the Legal Profession”
Santa Clara County Bar Association
“Juvenile Court and the Family Law Litigator”
Santa Clara County Bar Association.
- 1988
“Child Abuse Issues in Family Court” and
“Representing Minors in Family Court”
Norton Family Law Systems Annual Seminar