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Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers are recognized for excellence in family law. Less than 1600 family law attorneys in the United States have met the stringent admission requirements of the AAML and are generally recognized by judges and attorneys as preeminent family law practitioners with a high level of knowledge, skill and integrity.
The AAML mission statement is, “To encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the course of matrimonial law, to the end that the welfare of the family and society be preserved.” From 2008-2009, Mr. Wolfrum served the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as a member of its Law Journal Editorial Board, Best Practices Committee, 50th Anniversary Committee, Parliamentarian, and Counsel (Northern California Chapter). Since 2008, Mr. Wolfrum has served on the AAML Foundation Board of Directors. Representing individuals in family law matters requires knowledge of the law, ability to understand the client’s needs, ability to persuade others to meet the client’s need, and ability to negotiate and present cases in the courtroom. A competent family law attorney must know the California Family Code and appellate cases, be an effective negotiator and appear regularly in the courts in the jurisdiction in which he or she practices. Family law has a greater enduring impact on client lives than any other area of law. Representation by an AAML Fellow is representation by one of the most qualified family law attorneys in the country. AAML Fellows handle complex and less complex cases effectively. Their experience and concentration in family law allow AAML Fellows to manage their law practices very efficiently and to charge reasonable and competitive fees while providing the highest quality of legal representation. For 33 years as an attorney Thomas Wolfrum has emphasized traditional client representation and litigation in Family Law matters primarily in Contra Costa County, but also in Alameda and other Counties.
Mr. Wolfrum maintains a low volume practice in which he and his paralegal staff of three work closely with a few clients to provide maximum support and optimum results. Mr. Wolfrum is admitted to California State Bar, all California state courts (since 1972), the Federal District Court (Northern (1972) and Eastern (2005) Districts in California), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1972), and the United States Supreme Court (1993). Mr. Wolfrum also served on the State Bar of California Family Law Advisory Commission from 2007-2009. Mr. Wolfrum frequently served as Judge Pro Tempore in the Contra Costa County Family Law Division of the Superior Court from 1993 until 2006 when “pro tem” judges were limited to conducting settlement conferences and no longer presided over family law trials. Mr. Wolfrum is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Law Journal and served on the Academy’s Commission on ALI Principles of Family Law. He has been a director of the AAML Foundation since 2008. Mr.Wolfrum founded and co-leads the Contra Costa County Mentoring Program for new family law attorneys. In 1993 he founded the Contra Costa County Superior Court Pro Per Clinic that continues to provide legal assistance in family law matters to all persons, regardless of income, representing themselves in family law matters. He has served on the Contra Costa County Bar Associations Family Law Section’s Continuing Legal Education Committee. Mr. Wolfrum is co-author of a collaborative law primer, Divorce: A Problem to Be Solved, Not a Battle to be Fought. Mr. Wolfrum has been a First Appellate District, Court of Appeal mediator since 2003. For the past 17 years, Kathleen has been helping our clients prioritize their legal needs. Almost all our clients remark about her calming influence. Kathleen works with clients from their initial telephone call to assisting with trial preparation. Kathleen’s hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. She can be contacted at Extension 202 to help prioritize issues. Kathleen also manages the office. Kathleen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989 and her Paralegal Certificate in 1991from California State University at Hayward. Since joining the firm in 2000, Patti Engle has managed the firm’s calendar, files, and production of documents and writings such as Orders to Show Cause, Notices of Motion, declarations and settlement agreements. Patti works directly with our regular clients to schedule appointments and complete the forms required for filing motions with the public court. Since joining the firm as a paralegal in 2003, Julie has been an integral part of our litigation team with primary responsibility for obtaining and organizing discovery and, since its inception in January 2006, compliance with the Contra Costa County Superior Court Family Law Division’s Trial Setting Order. Julie works directly with our clients to complete the myriad forms required in family law actions. Julie oversees compliance with the subpoenas and other discovery requests. She assists our clients in complying with the statutory disclosure statues and assists Mr. Wolfrum in preparing the documentation necessary to resolve issues by negotiation. Julie also oversees physical compliance with and produces most of the documents requred to comply with the Conta Costa County’s Trial Setting Order, a formidable task. |
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