Kirsten Keith

Badges

Claimed Lawyer Profile

Practice Area

Criminal Law
Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

California
Since 1993

Languages

English: Spoken, Written
Spanish: Spoken, Written

Professional Experience

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.

Education

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

Awards

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.

Professional Associations

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.

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Websites & Blogs

Website: Website

Videos

Kirsten Keith Presented with the Public Interest Achievement Award

Peter Keane and Drucilla Ramey present Kirsten Keith with the 2013 Public Interest Achievement Award

25th year anniversary of the Clock Tower

Over the years, the Menlo Park Clock Tower has become one of the "icons" of the city for the benefit of city government, local non-profit organizations and businesses.