Beatrice Snider

The youngest of four children, Beatrice Larsson Snider came to the United States from Sweden with her family at the age of 10. The family first lived in Berkeley, California then moved to Westchester County, New York where she graduated from high school in 1967. Certain characteristics separated her from the other teens of her day and her natural instinct to protect the underdog and speak up for her beliefs forecasted her eventual career in law. Ms. Snider was offered a scholarship as an undergraduate to California Western University in San Diego, California. Halfway through her undergraduate degree in pre-medical studies, her influential philosophy professor encouraged her to study law and set her on her path and pursuit of justice. After completing her undergraduate program in two and a half years, she received a scholarship to California Western School of Law. One of eight women in a class of 423 she graduated in 1973 with a Juris Doctorate. In 1974 Ms. Snider opened a small office in University City practicing personal injury, criminal defense, civil and family law. During this period, Ms. Snider was one of the first attorneys to file a separate lawsuit against a spouse for assault and battery. The settlement was small but a precedent was set. In the 1970's, the Clerks and Librarians filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego alleging discriminatory pay practices. Ms. Snider, who was then chapter counsel for National Organization Women, was on the panel of attorneys offering their services to the librarians and clerks who were paid less than their counterparts who had equal or less education and experience. A settlement was reached, one of the first cases to recognize and implement the concept of equal pay for equal work under the Civil Rights Act. By the mid 70's, the Family Law Act of 1970 had created a seismic shift in family law creating the need for highly skilled lawyers. This fact, coupled with her desire to help clients in need, solidified her decision to specialize in Family Law. In 1980, Ms. Snider was one of twelve in the first class of attorneys to be board certified as a Certified Family Law Specialist in the State of California. Ms. Snider is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association and the San Diego Certified Family Law Specialists. Ms. Snider also serves as a Judge Pro Tem for the San Diego Superior Court Family Law Division, has written various articles and conducted speaking engagements on Family Law and Business Valuations in Divorce. She is also a Certified Mediator and trained in the Collaborative Divorce� process. As part on her involvement in the San Diego Certified Family Law Specialists, Ms. Snider chaired the subcommittee that promulgated the San Diego Local Rules for business valuations in dissolution actions that have now become part of Superior Court Rules. While Ms. Snider has built the largest Family Law firm south of Los Angeles, she credits the firm's success to her clients and the experienced, dynamic, caring team of lawyers and paralegals who share her vision of bringing order to the chaos of a family going through crisis.