Biography
Richard Zitrin is Lecturer Emeritus at UC College of Law San Francisco, where he taught legal ethics from 1994 to 2019. He is lead author of the widely adopted legal ethics textbook Legal Ethics in the Practice of Law (5th ed.) and Legal Ethics: Rules, Statutes and Comparisons (2023 ed.). He is also: certified specialist in Legal Malpractice Law; past Chair of the California State Bar’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct; 2019 recipient of the California State Bar’s Sondheim Award for outstanding long-term contribution to the advancement of attorney professional standards; and legal ethics instructor, University of San Francisco, 1977-2005.
As a trial lawyer Richard tried over 50 cases to verdict, and taught Trial Practice at USF. His fourth book, Trial Lawyer: A Life Representing People Against Power (2022) describes his trial work. Richard is the recipient of the ABA’s Pro Bono Publico Award in 2006. He continues to consult pro bono with many civil and criminal legal assistance organizations. His current practice focuses primarily on advising high-end plaintiffs’ law firms on ethical issues related to class actions, mass actions, and mass arbitrations.
SECRECY: He is principal drafter of CA CCP §1001, which prevents secrecy in cases of sexual assault or harassment, and of SB The Public Right to Know Act, SB 1149 (2022), among other bills. He has written two book chapters and a dozen articles, including three law review pieces, on anti-secrecy. See all writings at www.richardzitrin.com.
