How Beth Helps Clients

Beth J. Jay brings more than 35 years of experience at the California Supreme Court to her role providing analysis and strategy in complex appellate matters, particularly petitions for review to California’s high court. Clients also benefit from her years of federal appellate court insight and her state and federal litigation experience.

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After working for two associate justices as a research attorney, she served as Principal Attorney to three California Chief Justices, during the full terms of Chief Justices Malcolm M. Lucas and Ronald M. George, and from the beginning of Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye’s term in January 2011 until Beth fully retired from the court in 2015. Beth participated in the decision-making work of the court, drafting memoranda and opinions in cases in which review had been granted, consulting with and editing the work of other attorneys, and analyzing petitions seeking the court’s review.

Beth led and participated in numerous Supreme Court, Judicial Council, and State Bar Committees focusing on diverse issues including multi-jurisdictional practice, insurance legislation, judicial and attorney ethics, and court procedures. She also consulted with judicial system, executive branch, and legislative personnel on various legislative initiatives.

Since joining the firm in 2019, Beth has focused on analyzing and providing strategy for petitions for review to the California Supreme Court, and on structuring and editing briefs and motions at all appellate levels. She also serves on panels for moot courts for attorneys from Horvitz & Levy and other firms. Her in-depth experience with cases before the appellate courts has provided her with effective tools for assisting counsel in preparing for oral argument as well as in developing compelling and thorough briefing.

Beth has served as president of one of the oldest Inns of Courts in California and was selected by the District Court for the Northern District of California to serve as an attorney delegate to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. She received the State Bar’s highest honor, the Witkin Medal, awarded to an attorney “who has helped shape the legal landscape through an extraordinary body of work,” as well as OneJustice’s Access to Justice Award.

Education

• Stanford University Law School
  J.D., 1972
• Vassar College
  B.A., 1969

Clerkships

• Central Staff, U.S. Court of Appeals, for the Ninth Circuit 1977-1980
• Research Attorney to Associate Justice Frank Richardson (1980-1984)
• Research Attorney to Associate Justice Malcolm M. Lucas (1984-1987)
• Principal Attorney to three Chief Justices (1987-2015)

Bar Admissions

• California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Professional Associations

• Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court; Former President, Board Member
• San Francisco Bar Association
• Alameda County Bar Association

Awards

• Bernard E. Witkin Medal, the State Bar’s highest honor, for her lifetime body of work
• Daily Journal's 100 Most Influencial Lawyers in California 
• Access to Justice Award