Mr Paul Lindsey Hoffman | Partner

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About Paul

Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, LLP  Venice, California March 1994 - Present

In November 1999 I became a partner in Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, LLP. Prior to that, on March 1, 1994, I established my own law firm. On May 1, 1997, the firm became Bostwick & Hoffman, LLP. My practice has been in the areas of constitutional and civil rights litigation, including First Amendment, discrimination and privacy litigation, and general business litigation; including copyright and trademark litigation. I also specialize in civil and criminal appeals. In October 1998, I was named one of the 100 most influential attorneys in California by the Daily Journal and in February 1999 one of the top trial lawyers in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Legal Director, ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. September 1984 - February 1994

I directed the legal program of the ACLU in Southern California which included the supervision of ten staff attorneys and more than 100 volunteer attorneys with a docket of approximately 150-200 pending cases in every area of civil liberties and civil rights practice. In addition, I litigated a full docket of civil liberties/civil rights cases myself. I specialized in cases involving First Amendment rights, police misconduct, privacy, AIDS discrimination, international human rights, criminal justice and the death penalty.

Volunteer Attorney - ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. October 1976 - Present

In the period from 1976 to 1984 I litigated more than 20 civil rights/civil liberties cases in the following areas: First Amendment rights, criminal law and procedure, rights of persons with disabilities, race and sex discrimination, voting rights, police misconduct, freedom of information and privacy. I was lead counsel in Coalition Against Police Abuse v. Board of Police Commissioners (the "police spying" cases) and in Wilkinson v. FBI (a challenge to the FBI's COINTELPRO operation against the National Committee To Abolish HUAC). In 1984, I received the Clarence Darrow Award for outstanding First Amendment advocacy for my work in the police spying cases. After leaving the ACLU in 1994, I was named "of Counsel" to the ACLU Foundation and a member of the ACLU Foundation Board. I continue to litigate ACLU cases.

Associate Attorney (Litigation Department) Loeb and Loeb, Los Angeles, California August 1976 - August 1981

I participated in the preparation and trial of matters in the following areas: securities regulation, bankruptcy, contracts, business torts, real estate, copyright, defamation and constitutional law. I also handled a number of appeals. I often had primary responsibility for the cases I handled and on several complex cases I supervised several other attorneys and numerous paralegals. I was also a member of several firm committees, including the recruitment committee.

Associate Professor, Southwestern University School of Law Los Angeles, California. August 1981 - July 1984

Courses: Criminal Law and Procedure, Federal Courts, Civil Rights Litigation Seminar, International Human Rights Law, Public International Law, Contracts. I was also the Co-Director (with Stanley Fleishman) of a clinical program on the rights of the disabled and elderly.

Experience

Legal Director

ACLU Foundation of Southern California

1984-1994

Los Angeles, California

Associate Attorney (Litigation Department)

Loeb and Loeb

1976-1981

Los Angeles, California

Admission

Verified California

1976

Verified Arizona

Education

The London School of Economics and Political Science

M.S. (Economics)

06/1973

The City College of the City University of New York

B.A. (International Relations)

06/1972

Recognitions & Achievements

Associations
  • California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, Member,
    2000
  • Los Angeles Copyright Society, Member,
    1997
  • Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Lawyer Reative, to
    present / 1989 / 1992
  • The State Bar of California, Member, Committee on Private Bar Involvement in Pro Bono Work, to
    1988 / 1991
  • ABA Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, Program Coordinator, International Human Rights Committee, to
    1984 / 1988
  • The State Bar of California, Committee on Human Rights, to
    1983 / 1986
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, Individual Rights and Responsibilities Law Section, Executive Committee, to
    1985 / 1987
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, International Law Section, Executive Committee, to
    1982 / 1986
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, Arbitrator (Legal Fee Disputes), to
    1980 / 1983
  • American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator, Commercial Panel, to
    1981 / 1985
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, Vice-Chair, Arbitration Committee, to
    1982 / 1983
  • Los Angeles Municipal Court, Judge Pro Tem, to
    1983 / 1984
  • Amnesty International, Member
  • Amnesty International - USA, Chair of the Board
  • International League for Human Rights, Member of Board
  • Center For Human Rights and Constitutional Law, Member of Board
  • International Human Rights Law Group, Member, Domestic Advisory Committee
Honors / Awards
  • Staff Member, Annual Survey of American Law
    1974-1975
  • Research Associate, International Law Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
    1975-1976
  • Law Clerk, Manhattan Legal Services (N.Y.U. Public Interest Clinic)
    1974-1975
  • RFK Fellow, Office of Congressman Jonathan Bingham, Washington, D.C.
    1974

Notable Work

Publications

"Security and Liberty: National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information,", (Co-Authored with Coliver, Fitzpatrick & Bowen),

1999


"International Human Rights Law and Police Reform," in Zero Tolerance: Quality of Life and the New Police Brutality in New York City", (Co-Author with Eds. A. McArdle and T. Erzen), NYU Press,

2001


"Using Immigration Law to Protect Human Rights: A Legislative Proposal,", ( Co-Author with William Aceves), 20 Mich. J. of Int'l L. 657,

1999


"Safeguarding Liberty: National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information: United States of America,", (Co-Author with Kate Martin), Secrecy and Liberty, Supra


"The Gag Order in the O.J. Simpson Civil Action: Lessons to be Learned?,", 17 Loyola Ent. L.J. 333,

1997


"The 'Blank Stare Phenomenon': Proving Customary International Law in U.S. Courts,", 25 Ga. J. Int'l and Comp. Law 181,

1996


"Enforcing International Human Rights Law in the United States," in Human Rights: An Agenda for the Next Century", (Co-Author with Nadine Strossen), American Society of International Law,

1994


"Double Jeopardy Wars: The Case for a Civil Rights 'Exception,", 41 UCLA L. Rev. 649,

1994


"The Feds, Lies and Videotape: The Need for an Effective Federal Role in Controlling Police Abuse in Urban America", 66 So. Cal. L. Rev. ,

1453 / 1993


"The Elimination of Torture: International and Domestic Developments" 9 International Lawyer , (Co-Author with Linda Brackins), Fall,

1351 / 1985


"Public Interest Lawyers: Three Success Stories,", Los Angeles Lawyer, December,

1984


Hannum, "Guide to International Human Rights Practice," and Meron, "Human Rights in International Law: Legal and Policy Issues," 18 International Lawyer 741, Summer,

1984


"The Police Spying Settlement: New Safeguards for Political Expression,", (Co-Author with Robert Newman), Los Angeles Lawyer, May,

1984


"The Application of International Human Rights Law in State Courts: A View from California," 18 The International Lawyer 59, Winter,

1984


"Trade Union Rights Under Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights," 5 Comparative Labor Law 149,

1982


"Assignment to Trial Department; Motions; Procedure in Chambers," in California Civil Procedure During Trial, (Co-Authored with Dale L. Gronemeier), C.E.B.,

1982


"Environmental Law/The Clean Air Act Amendments," /75 Annual Survey of American Law 641

1974


"The Right of Self-Determination in Very Small Places," 8 N.Y.U. Journal of International Law and Politics 331, (Co-Authored with Professor Thomas M. Franck),

1976


"The United Nations and the Death Penalty," in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights


United Nations and Amnesty International, (Co-Authored with Zazi Pope), AIUSA, Fall,

1988

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