The Board of Directors of The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) announced in December the hiring of its new executive director and general counsel, Yolanda Jackson, currently BASF's acting executive director, general counsel and diversity director.
The executive director leads both BASF and the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) in the implementation of projects furthering the mission of the two organizations including a commitment to diversity, the achievement of equal access to justice, leadership on social issues, attorney professionalism and pro bono service.
In announcing the board's decision, BASF President Stephanie Skaff, partner of Farella Braun + Martel, said, “We are so pleased and excited to announce that Yolanda Jackson will take the reins as our new executive director for BASF and JDC. Yolanda combines outstanding management experience with a proven commitment to the mission and values of both BASF and JDC. She has strong relationships with the legal community, with outside stakeholders, and with staff. And she possesses a commitment to fiscal discipline and efficiency that will benefit BASF/JDC operations and delivery of legal services for many years to come. I am confident that both organizations will thrive under her leadership.”
This announcement culminates a nationwide search process conducted by a search committee chaired by Teresa Johnson, partner at Arnold & Porter.
Ms. Jackson has been with BASF since 2007, when she became the organization’s first diversity director. In 2008, she was promoted to deputy executive director, where she also took on responsibility for managing membership, member benefits, continuing legal education, communications and marketing. She will continue to serve as diversity director for both BASF and JDC.
During the seven years Ms. Jackson has been with BASF, she has been involved with a number of critical, forward-looking projects for both BASF and JDC, including the launch of the Justice & Diversity Center, the growth of a nationally recognized diversity pipeline program, the establishment of an Online CLE program, the purchase of a building to permanently house the Homeless Advocacy Project, and the expansion of the Lawyer Referral and Information Service’s expansion into Marin County as well as their assistance to the U.S. Immigration Court by expanding immigration services to meet the critical needs of the Bay Area.
Prior to joining BASF, Ms. Jackson worked as a consultant and mediator/arbitrator for her own company - Jackson Alternative Dispute Resolution Group. She serves as an adjunct instructor at UC Hastings College of the Law and prior to that served as senior director at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA, her law degree from Empire School of Law in Santa Rosa and she also holds a certificate in Mediation from UC Berkeley.