Valerie L. Patten, Esq.

Valerie L. Patten, Esq. Family Law - About

Valerie L. Patten attorney / lawyer 

 
 
 

About

Before founding the Law Office of Valerie L. Patten in 1996, I worked for two small law firms (one in Washington, D.C., and one in San Jose, California) and for Legal Advocates for Children and Youth. My practice is currently devoted to Family Law and associated disciplines. I have broad experience in all aspects of family law, from representation of children and public interest work to handling complex custody matters and representation of clients in high asset cases involving substantial community and separate property. I have experience with high conflict divorces proceeding to Trial. I have also utilized ADR and have worked with private judges, mediators, and JAMS with very positive results. In addition, I am experienced in Family Law Mediation and have fulfilled the educational requirements for a mediation practice.

 
 
 
 
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Education

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
JD, 1992

SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
MFA, 1981

STANFORD UNIVERSITY
AB, 1972

 
 
 
 

Bar Association Memberships:

California State Bar, American Bar Association, San Mateo County Bar Association, Santa Clara County Bar Association (& membership in Family Law Sections).

 

Court Admissions:

Admitted to the California State Bar in December 1992; Supreme Court of
California, Federal District Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

 

Work Experience:

Law Office of Valerie L. Patten, 1996 - present

Associate Attorney, Hoover & Associates, San Jose, California, 1993-1996

Staff Attorney, Legal Advocates for Children and Youth, San Jose, California, 1992-1993

Law Clerk, Garfinkle and Associates, Washington, D.C., 1990-1992

Legal Intern, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, 1990

 

Volunteer Court Activities and Affiliations:

Santa Clara County Superior Court: Settlement Officer Conferences, handling the Default calendar, assisting the Court with Mandatory Settlement Conferences. I have been appointed to represent children in high conflict cases. 

San Mateo County Superior Court: assisting the Facilitator’s Office, Community Law Night participation

 

Seminars, Speaking, and Teaching: 

NBI “Child Custody and Visitation in California,” presenter in January 2003, April 2006, and June 2007 (San Jose, California). 

Presented lectures on Copyright and Contracts for Artists by invitation at San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, and California Lawyers for the Arts (at the Fort Mason Center and in Oakland), 1993-1995. 

Designed and taught a Continuing Education course at San Jose State entitled, “Legal Aspects of Career Development for Artists,” 1993. 

 

Pro Bono Contributions: Volunteer Attorney:

Pro Bono Panel Member, San Jose, CA 2002-2004; Guardianship Panel, Legal Advocates for Children and Youth, 1993-2000. 

 

Written Contributions and Publications:

“Making Your Way Through Small Claims Court,” Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, D.C.; model “Artist-Gallery Contract” used by Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (1991); chapters and research for the Guardianship Manual for Legal Advocates for Children and Youth, 1993. 

 

Honors at Georgetown University Law Center:

Recipient: American Jurisprudence Award, Family Law, 1991; Dean’s List 1990-1992; Best Paper, Psychiatry and the Law, 1992; Best Paper, Gender and the Law, 1991; Law Review, Journal of Law and Technology

 

Community Activities and Past Board Memberships:

Young Audiences of San Jose/Silicon Valley (Secretary in 2000); DanceVisions (Palo Alto); Friends of San Pedro Valley Park, Pacifica, CA (President in 2007, assisted in obtaining nonprofit status); Head Registrar/MC, annual awards ceremony, John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, 2002 – 2014.