David H. Baum — Personal History
David Baum graduated from Brandeis University (B. A. with high academic honors) in 1975. He received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1978. He was admitted to the Bar of the State of California in November of that year. In addition, Mr. Baum is admitted to practice law before the United States Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts for Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central California. Since 1985, Mr. Baum has served from time to time as a volunteer Judge Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles Municipal and Superior Courts. In addition Mr. Baum is regularly appointed by Judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court to represent minors and others in guardianship, conservatorship and probate proceedings.
Mr. Baum just concluded his 16th year/term as President of the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers and his 8th year/term as President of the Academy of California Family Formation Lawyers making him the President of those organizations who served both organizations as President the longest in the history of ACAL and ACFFL. He is now the Immediate Past President of both of those organizations. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and has been so for more than a decade. He is also a founding Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys as well. Last year he was made a member of the Adoption Attorneys of America.
A longstanding and active member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Mr. Baum is also a member of the Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, San Fernando Valley, and American Bar Associations. In addition, Mr. Baum has served on the State Bar of California’s Southern California Standing Committee on Adoptions. In 2004 Mr. Baum was selected by Congressman Henry Waxman as an Angel In Adoption and awarded that honor by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute at a gala in Washington D. C. making him one of three Angels In Adoption from the state of California. Mr. Baum continues to serve as a Continuing Education Speaker and author on adoption law and practice. Mr. Baum has been named as a California Super Lawyer every year from 2007 to the present and his profile was featured in the New York Times Magazine and in Los Angeles Magazine each of those years.
Mr. Baum’s legal competence has been given the highest rating by the national lawyer rating organization Martindale-Hubbell. He has been accorded the highest rating of “A” for his legal ability. He has likewise attained the highest rating of “V” for his faithful adherence to ethical standards, professional reliability and diligence. Mr. Baum is qualified to be included in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers–an honor bestowed on less than five percent (5%) of all law firms in the United States.
His published articles include:
“Adoption With A Heart, Selecting the Right Adoption Attorney”, Counsel, A Law Quarterly, 1990
“Ethical Payment of Birth Mother Expenses”, Counsel, Adoption Law Update, 1991
“Why Birthmothers Prefer Independent Adoption Over Agency Adoption”, Counsel, Adoption Law Update, 1999
“Practice Administration Under the 1999 Probate Code”, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Continuing Education Syllabus, 1999
“Adoption Options in California: An Overview”, National Business Institute Continuing Education Syllabus, 2009
“The Role of the Practice Administrator in Post Mortem Management of a Deceased Lawyer’s Law Practice”, Academy of California Family Formation Lawyers Continuing Education Syllabus, 2004
“Whose File Is It Anyway?” Academy of California Family Formation Lawyers and Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Continuing Education Syllabus 2009 and 2010
He is also a contributing author to Loving Journeys Guide To Adoption, 1992.
Mr. Baum has been a featured speaker at continuing education programs for the State Bar of California, the California Board of Behavioral Health Sciences, Southwest Adoption Nexus, for RESOLVE for Greater Los Angeles and for RESOLVE of Orange County. In addition he has spoken for the National Law Institute continuing education program on the subject of adoption law. Mr. Baum is also a proud member of the Warner Center Estate and Tax Planning Council.
An active participant in the community, Mr. Baum served for four years as Co-Chairperson of the Tarzana Regional Medical Center Adoptions Support and Information Group of Los Angeles. For more than a decade, he and his wife chaired the Adoption Support and Information Group — a non profit free support group for adoptive parents in Southern California. He has served as a member of the Camp Committee which operates the Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps in Malibu, California and on the Board of Directors of the West Valley Symphony Orchestra. For many years Mr. Baum also volunteered as a big brother through the Los Angeles Jewish Big Brother Organization.
