Legal Aid of Napa Valley Announces New Executive Director
Monday, February 27, 2006
- Organization: Legal Aid of Napa Valley
LEGAL AID OF NAPA VALLEY
Diana Dorame has been named Executive Director of Legal Aid of Napa Valley, effective March 1, 2006. She succeeds Karen Stevenson, who will become a member of Legal Aid's Board of Directors.
Ms. Dorame has been Legal Aid's Supervising Attorney since July 2005, overseeing the agency's senior, immigrant and low-income legal services programs. Under her direction, those programs have grown rapidly, providing legal advice to more than 700 clients in 2005. A resident of Napa who is fluent in Spanish, Ms. Dorame has practiced law for 20 years, and has a deep commitment to free legal services.
"With Diana as Executive Director and with our strong and active Board, we are certain this will be a smooth transition," said Board Chairman and President Michael Holman. "While we will miss Karen's leadership, which has been so important to rebuilding Legal Aid of Napa Valley in 2005, the Board is excited to have Diana in this new role, and we look forward to continued success in 2006 and beyond."
Ms. Dorame was formerly a senior attorney with the Napa County Department of Child Support where she handled a variety of child support cases. An experienced family law practitioner, she has been Chair of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of California.
Prior to moving to Napa 13 years ago, Ms. Dorame practiced law in Southern California, handling family law, immigration, civil litigation, personal injury and transactional matters.
A graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law, Ms. Dorame was previously an officer and trustee of the Los Angeles Mexican Bar Association and an extern with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Ms. Dorame and her husband live in Napa with their two children.
Ms. Stevenson is returning to Knight Ridder, the nation's second largest newspaper publisher, as chief legal officer and assistant to the chairman. She previously served as Knight Ridder's general counsel. As a member of Legal Aid's Board of Directors, Ms. Stevenson will continue to provide guidance to the agency and will take an active role in fundraising.
Legal Aid of Napa Valley is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide free legal assistance to seniors, immigrants and low-income residents of Napa County. Legal Aid represents clients before courts and agencies, helps them obtain benefits, and protects their rights through advocacy, consultation, education and referrals.
