Kirsten Keith

California

Since 1993

Attorney

Law Offices of Kirsten Keith

1994 - Current

I have a private criminal defense practice and am a member of the San Mateo County Private Defender Program, representing people accused of misdemeanors and felonies. I speak Spanish fluently.

Law Clerk

The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County

1992 - 1993

Legal Aid relies on close to 400 pro bono volunteers to help disadvantaged residents improve their lives through equal access to justice.

DAs Office, Domestic Violence Unit, Law Clerk

City and County of San Francisco

1991 - 1992

This unit specializes in stalking and relationship based domestic violence cases. They attempt to contact every reported victim for follow up and services.

Temporary Restraining Order Clinic, Volunteer

Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County

1989 - 1990

The mission of the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is to provide high-quality legal services in order to ensure that low-income persons and seniors have access to the civil justice system in times of crisis – to secure safe, habitable shelter, adequate income, and protection from domestic violence and elder abuse.

Golden Gate University School of Law

J.D. (1993) | Public Interest Law

1990 - 1993

Activities: San Francisco District Attorney's Office, Internship Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Internship Family/Domestic Violence Prevention Fund, Internship; Public Interest Law Foundation Award; Mock Trial Competition, Member; Public Interest Law Foundation, Past President

University of California - Santa Barbara

B.A. (1989) | Political Sience

1986 - 1989

Activities: Legal Aid Society, Santa Barbara County, Volunteer; Amnesty International Washington, D.C., Internship; Cambridge University, Student Exchange Program; National Organization of Women (NOW), Member; U.C.S.B. Political Science Student Committee, Member; Women's Center of Santa Barbara, Volunteer; Planned Parenthood, Volunteer; Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Member

Drucilla Stender Ramey Public Interest Achievement Award

Golden Gate University School of Law Public Interest Law Foundation

2013

The Golden Gate University School of Law Public Interest Law Foundation has selected GGU Law Alumna Kirsten Keith (JD 94), City Council Member and former Mayor of Menlo Park as its second recipient of the Drucilla Stender Ramey Public Interest Achievement Award. The award, named in honor of GGU Law’s former dean and public interest champion, honors individuals in the GGU community whose outstanding work has advanced justice and social change in the lives of vulnerable populations.

Bay Area Water Supply And Conservation Agency

Board of Directors

2013 - Current

Activities: BAWSCA represents the interests of 24 cities and water districts, and two private utilities, that purchase water wholesale from the San Francisco regional water system. These entities provide water to 1.7 million people, businesses and community organizations in Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Service League of San Mateo County

Board Member, Finance Committee

2012 - Current

Activities: The Service League of San Mateo County is a non-profit agency that develops, coordinates, and delivers in-custody programs, services, and other activities within all San Mateo County jails. The agency delivers after-release programs and services at five program sites in the community.

CORA - Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse

Advisory Board Member

2011 - Current

Activities: CORA is the only agency in San Mateo County, California with the sole purpose of serving victims of domestic violence and abuse. The agency provides free and confidential emergency, intervention and prevention services, including the countyâs only emergency shelter and transitional housing for victims. All services are available in English and Spanish.

JobTrain

Technical Advisory Committee Member

2011 - Current

Activities: The primary role of this advisory committee is to provide guidance about strategic issues pertaining to JobTrain's Project Build Construction program.

City of Menlo Park

City Council Member, 2012 Mayor

2010 - Current

Activities: The City Council is the City's governing body. In general municipal elections, its members are elected at-large to four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem (vice mayor) are selected to one-year terms by the Council at its first meeting in December of each year.

The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County

Luncheon Committee Member

1997 - Current

Activities: The San Mateo County Legal Aid Luncheon Committee diligently raises money to help people obtain legal services, who otherwise could not, in our County.

California State Bar  # 169548

Member

1993 - Current

City of Menlo Park

Planning Commissioner, 2007 Chair

2004 - 2010

Activities: The Planning Commission is responsible for coordinating the enforcement of the City's Zoning Ordinance and related policies concerning applications for residential, commercial, and industrial development projects. The Commission also leads the development of studies concerning land use issues.

National Women's Political Caucus, San Mateo County

Member, President 2004

2003 - 2006

Activities: The National Women's Political Caucus is a multipartisan, multicultural, grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women's participation in politics and creating a power base designed to achieve equality for all women.

Bar Association of San Mateo County

Committee Delegate

2001 - 2006

Activities: The mission of the San Mateo County Bar Association is to promote the honor and dignity of the legal profession, to educate its members, to foster the highest professional standards, to encourage collegiality and to maintain cooperation between its members and the judiciary, to furnish excellent indigent criminal defense, to assist the public in accessing legal services, to provide and recognize public service as it relates to this mission, and to advance the fair and effective administration of justice for all.

League of Women Voters, South San Mateo County

Board Member

2002 - 2005

Activities: League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization for women and men which encourages informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We do not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.

City of Menlo Park

Housing Commissioner

2003 - 2004

Activities: The Housing Commission is directed to review and recommend actions in reference to the BMR Housing Program, review housing production in reference to specific economic and social needs, review and recommend actions in reference to the Housing Element contained in the General Plan, and more.

San Mateo County

Commission on the Status of Women, Chair 2000-2002

1996 - 2004

Activities: The Commission on the Status of Women of San Mateo County is a non-partisan appointed body that advises the County Board of Supervisors. Established by the Board of Supervisors in 1982, they provide leadership in developing policies, programs and legislation that address the needs of women, girls and families.

City of Menlo Park

Community Mediation Services Committee Member

2001 - 2003

Activities: The Mediation Commission helped Menlo Park neighbors resolve their disputes. In 2002, the City Council chose to have Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center handle these issues.

Sor Juana Inez

Member, Board of Directors

1998 - 2001

Activities: Sor Juana Inez was the first battered women’s service agency in San Mateo County to serve the Spanish-speaking community. Sor Juana Inez was incorporated into CORA a number of years ago.

San Mateo County

Prenatal to Three Initiative, Adopt-A-Family Program Member

1998 - 1999

Activities: The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the Prenatal to Three Initiative created the Adopt-A-Family program and a System of Sharing.

O'Connor Tract Co-Op Water Company

Board Member

1997 - 1999

Activities: The OTCWC is a non-profit water co-operative that services single and multi-family residents in parts of Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. It is a small, rural water system that utilizes old agricultural wells, and operates completely independently form neighboring water purveyors.

FOCC - Fair Oaks Community Center

Immigrant Rights Volunteer

1993 - 1995

Activities: The Fair Oaks Community Center is a multi-service facility offering a variety of services to the broader Redwood City Community. Services are offered by a combination of City staff and representatives from public and private non-profit agencies.

Public Interest Law Foundation Member, President 1992

1991 - 1993

Activities: The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) is a non-partisan, student-run organization committed to fostering the careers of students who intend to dedicate themselves to providing assistance to those traditionally underrepresented in the legal system.

Family Violence Prevention Fund

Volunteer Victim Advocate

1991 - 1992

Activities: Everyone has the right to live free of violence. Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, works to prevent and end violence against women and children around the world.

Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center

Volunteer Rape Crisis Intervention Advocate

1988 - 1990

Activities: Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center has served over 10,000 survivors of sexual assault and their significant others in the last 35 years. They are dedicated and committed to ending sexual assault in our lifetime.