Diane Michelsen

    A.  Education:

    • BA (Social Science), University of California, Berkeley, CA.
    • MSW, San Francisco State University, San Francisco,  CA.
    • JD, Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, CA.

    B.  Experience:

    • ATTORNEY (practice limited to family formation matters)
      Adoptions (since 1980); Assisted Reproduction (since 1986)
    • THERAPIST (family systems, specializing in adoption and surrogacy related issues)
    • ADOPTIONS AND FOSTER CARE CONSULTANT State of California
      Department of Social Services
    • SOCIAL WORKER/ADOPTION WORKER, State of California
      International and Independent Adoptions
    • ADOPTION SOCIAL WORKER, Los Angeles County, Agency Adoptions

    C.  Organizational Memberships:

    • State of Hawaii Bar Association
    • State of California Bar Association
    • Contra Costa County Bar Association
    • Academy of California Adoption Lawyers,  President May 1987 – June 1993
    • PACER (Post Adoption Center for Education and Research), Chairman of the Board  1990 – 1992
    • American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, President 1997, Vice President 1995; Board Member 1990, 1991, 1994, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Chairman of Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee, 2000
    • RESOLVE of Northern California, Chairman of the Board 2006-2007
    • Open Path, formerly known as Resolve of No. CA, Chairman of the Board, 2007-2008

    D.  Articles Published

    • “The Attorney and Independent Adoption in California”, Barrister Magazine (co-authored with Elizabeth Rice) Bar Association of San Francisco, Dec l988.
    • “The Role of An Adoption Attorney”,  Fair Magazine, l992.
    • “Choosing Your Adoption Attorney”,  Conceive Magazine, San Ramon, CA.
    • “Choosing an Attorney-What to Ask”, Adoptive Families of  America’s Guide to Adoption, Minneapolis, MN l995.
    • “The Four Stages of Adoption” Resolve Seminar, (co-authored with Maryl Walling Millard), l987.
    • “Divorce During Adoption” Pact Press, (co-authored with Colleen Winchester), San Francisco, Spring, l993.
    • Numerous articles from 1993-2010.

    E. Seminars Given–Adoption, Gamete  Donation And/Or  Surrogacy

    • RESOLVE of Northern CA Seminars, biannually 1988 – 2007
    • CA State Bar 1992, 1994, 2003
    • Academy of CA Adoption Lawyers, yearly 1995 – 2006, Assisted Reproduction 2007,   2008, Assisted Reproduction and Adoption 2009, 2010
    • American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1990, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005

    F. Awards Received

    • Congressional Angels in Adoption Award, 2006