Kelvin K Lee
Principal Attorney
KLee509@hotmail.com
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T: 626.524.5038
F: 626.577.9129
Office 1455 San Marino Avenue, Suite D
San Marino, California 91108
United States
Bio
Profile
Experienced in administrative proceedings as both a Staff Counsel and Administrative Law Judge on behalf of the California Department of Social Services and other departments. Strong ability to proactively avoid and solve problems, with excellent mediation, conflict resolution, risk management, negotiation, oral advocacy, research, and writing skills. Extensive experience in handling and conducting administrative hearings regarding occupational licensing, employee discipline and public assistance benefits. Effective interpersonal, communication, and public-speaking abilities. Recognized for integrity and level-headedness in chaotic situations. Skilled at delivering practical and creative legal advice to program staff and achieving goals within established guidelines and under stringent deadlines. Superior capacity to quickly research and interpret state and federal statutes concerning any issue. Admitted to State Bar of California, June 1990
Legal Experience
Law Offices of Kelvin K. Lee
Attorney at Law, January 2013-Present
§ Represent clients in fair hearings on appeal under programs administered by the Department of Social Services and Department of Health Services, primarily Medi-Cal cases involving Long Term Care.
§ Represent clients in proceedings before the Social Security Administration for Supplementary Security Income and Disability Insurance Benefits.
§ Prepare clients to present testimony so that pertinent and necessary evidence is presented and hearings are conducted in a timely fashion.
§ Prepare hearing briefs and statements of position to instruct State of California and Social Security Administrations ALJs as to the facts, relevant law, statutes and regulations that are necessary to determine the outcome of a case.
California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division
Administrative Law Judge, September 2007-December 2012
§ Conduct hearings and render decisions on appeal under programs administered by the Department of Social Services and Department of Health Services.
§ Review requests for hearing by applicants and recipients and position statements of the agency issuing public benefits.
§ Identify and clarify issues of contention between parties and have parties’ present testimony under oath.
§ Guide hearings so that pertinent and necessary evidence is presented and hearings are conducted in a timely fashion.
§ Write decisions and summarize facts that are necessary to determine the outcome of a case.
§ Research as needed to ensure that relevant law and statutes are included in decisions.
California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Enforcement Division
Staff Counsel, June 2011-March 2012
§ Presents cases in administrative hearings before Administrative Law Judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) concerning license denials, suspensions and revocations for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, Adult Day Care Homes, Child Day Care Home, and Foster Family Homes.
§ Drafts pleadings and conducts pre-hearing discovery with Respondent applicants and licensees and opposing counsel.
§ Negotiates settlement of cases and drafts stipulations for final disposition when appropriate.
§ Provide professional legal advice for Departmental program personnel in the Community Care Licensing Division.
Coordinate litigation with the Attorney General’s office on major cases impacting policy and substantive law affecting Community Care Licensing.
California Department of Corrections, Legal Affairs Division, Employment Advocacy and Protection Team
Staff Counsel/Vertical Advocate, October 2006-August 2007, June 2008-June 2009
§ Coordinated investigations with special agents from the Office of Internal Affairs.
§ Provided advice to management as requested.
§ Prepared witnesses for State Personnel Board hearings.
§ Conducted interrogations of identified subjects for possible disciplinary actions, as well as administration litigation before the State Personnel Board.
California Department of Real Estate
Real Estate Counsel II/III, May 2004–September 2006
Present cases in administrative hearings before Administrative Law Judges concerning license denials, suspensions, and revocation for real estate salespeople, brokers, real estate schools, rental listing services, and other licensees.
§ Drafted pleadings and conducted pre-hearing discovery as required.
§ Provided professional legal advice for department personnel. Supervised other real estate counsel when required.
§ Received a promotion to Real Estate Counsel III in October 2005 and a permanent appointment in July 2006.
California Department of Motor Vehicles
Staff Counsel, October 2000–April 2004
Presented cases before Administrative Law Judges concerning the denial, suspension, and revocation of Department of Motor Vehicle licensees.
§ Prepared Department investigators, inspectors, and other staff as witnesses for hearings as necessary.
§ Provided legal advice for Department personnel, including negotiating settlement agreements.
§ Made recommendations regarding the final disposition of proposed decisions from Administrative Law Judges.
United States Social Security Administration
Attorney Advisor/Senior Attorney, June 1994–September 2000
Supervised attorney advisors and paralegal specialists.
§ Provided legal advice and drafted decisions for Administrative Law Judges on medical disability and Medicare cases.
§ Adjudicated cases granting payment of Social Security benefits when warranted.
California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
Staff Counsel Range A and B. April 1992-June 1994
Served as in-house counsel for CDSS, overseeing division covering public assistance programs
§ Provided legal advice and drafted legislation and regulations for CDSS program staff involving the cash assistance and Food Stamp programs.
§ Provided recommendations to the CDSS director regarding appeals of Administrative Law Judge decisions regarding public assistance benefits.
§ Coordinated litigation with Deputy Attorney Generals from the California Department of Justice regarding major class action cases involving CDSS programs.
Education
University of California School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
Juris Doctor, December 1990
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Master of Arts, Urban Planning, June 1990
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Arts, Geography, cum laude, June 1986
Certifications
Completed training with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, January 2005
Completed National Judicial Council Training for Administrative Law Judges, October 2007
Memberships:
UCLA Alumni Association, San Gabriel Valley Bar Association and Southern California Chinese Lawyer's Association, San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce
Experienced in administrative proceedings as both a Staff Counsel and Administrative Law Judge on behalf of the California Department of Social Services and other departments. Strong ability to proactively avoid and solve problems, with excellent mediation, conflict resolution, risk management, negotiation, oral advocacy, research, and writing skills. Extensive experience in handling and conducting administrative hearings regarding occupational licensing, employee discipline and public assistance benefits. Effective interpersonal, communication, and public-speaking abilities. Recognized for integrity and level-headedness in chaotic situations. Skilled at delivering practical and creative legal advice to program staff and achieving goals within established guidelines and under stringent deadlines. Superior capacity to quickly research and interpret state and federal statutes concerning any issue. Admitted to State Bar of California, June 1990
Legal Experience
Law Offices of Kelvin K. Lee
Attorney at Law, January 2013-Present
§ Represent clients in fair hearings on appeal under programs administered by the Department of Social Services and Department of Health Services, primarily Medi-Cal cases involving Long Term Care.
§ Represent clients in proceedings before the Social Security Administration for Supplementary Security Income and Disability Insurance Benefits.
§ Prepare clients to present testimony so that pertinent and necessary evidence is presented and hearings are conducted in a timely fashion.
§ Prepare hearing briefs and statements of position to instruct State of California and Social Security Administrations ALJs as to the facts, relevant law, statutes and regulations that are necessary to determine the outcome of a case.
California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division
Administrative Law Judge, September 2007-December 2012
§ Conduct hearings and render decisions on appeal under programs administered by the Department of Social Services and Department of Health Services.
§ Review requests for hearing by applicants and recipients and position statements of the agency issuing public benefits.
§ Identify and clarify issues of contention between parties and have parties’ present testimony under oath.
§ Guide hearings so that pertinent and necessary evidence is presented and hearings are conducted in a timely fashion.
§ Write decisions and summarize facts that are necessary to determine the outcome of a case.
§ Research as needed to ensure that relevant law and statutes are included in decisions.
California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Enforcement Division
Staff Counsel, June 2011-March 2012
§ Presents cases in administrative hearings before Administrative Law Judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) concerning license denials, suspensions and revocations for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, Adult Day Care Homes, Child Day Care Home, and Foster Family Homes.
§ Drafts pleadings and conducts pre-hearing discovery with Respondent applicants and licensees and opposing counsel.
§ Negotiates settlement of cases and drafts stipulations for final disposition when appropriate.
§ Provide professional legal advice for Departmental program personnel in the Community Care Licensing Division.
Coordinate litigation with the Attorney General’s office on major cases impacting policy and substantive law affecting Community Care Licensing.
California Department of Corrections, Legal Affairs Division, Employment Advocacy and Protection Team
Staff Counsel/Vertical Advocate, October 2006-August 2007, June 2008-June 2009
§ Coordinated investigations with special agents from the Office of Internal Affairs.
§ Provided advice to management as requested.
§ Prepared witnesses for State Personnel Board hearings.
§ Conducted interrogations of identified subjects for possible disciplinary actions, as well as administration litigation before the State Personnel Board.
California Department of Real Estate
Real Estate Counsel II/III, May 2004–September 2006
Present cases in administrative hearings before Administrative Law Judges concerning license denials, suspensions, and revocation for real estate salespeople, brokers, real estate schools, rental listing services, and other licensees.
§ Drafted pleadings and conducted pre-hearing discovery as required.
§ Provided professional legal advice for department personnel. Supervised other real estate counsel when required.
§ Received a promotion to Real Estate Counsel III in October 2005 and a permanent appointment in July 2006.
California Department of Motor Vehicles
Staff Counsel, October 2000–April 2004
Presented cases before Administrative Law Judges concerning the denial, suspension, and revocation of Department of Motor Vehicle licensees.
§ Prepared Department investigators, inspectors, and other staff as witnesses for hearings as necessary.
§ Provided legal advice for Department personnel, including negotiating settlement agreements.
§ Made recommendations regarding the final disposition of proposed decisions from Administrative Law Judges.
United States Social Security Administration
Attorney Advisor/Senior Attorney, June 1994–September 2000
Supervised attorney advisors and paralegal specialists.
§ Provided legal advice and drafted decisions for Administrative Law Judges on medical disability and Medicare cases.
§ Adjudicated cases granting payment of Social Security benefits when warranted.
California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
Staff Counsel Range A and B. April 1992-June 1994
Served as in-house counsel for CDSS, overseeing division covering public assistance programs
§ Provided legal advice and drafted legislation and regulations for CDSS program staff involving the cash assistance and Food Stamp programs.
§ Provided recommendations to the CDSS director regarding appeals of Administrative Law Judge decisions regarding public assistance benefits.
§ Coordinated litigation with Deputy Attorney Generals from the California Department of Justice regarding major class action cases involving CDSS programs.
Education
University of California School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
Juris Doctor, December 1990
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Master of Arts, Urban Planning, June 1990
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Arts, Geography, cum laude, June 1986
Certifications
Completed training with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, January 2005
Completed National Judicial Council Training for Administrative Law Judges, October 2007
Memberships:
UCLA Alumni Association, San Gabriel Valley Bar Association and Southern California Chinese Lawyer's Association, San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce
Education
Juris Doctor, University of California, Los Angeles, 1990
Master in Urban Planning, University of California, Los Angeles, 1990
Bachelor of Arts, University of California, Los Angeles, 1986
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California, 1991Professional & Bar Association Memberships
San Gabriel Valley Bar Association
Member Since: 2013
Southern California Chinese Lawyer's Association
Member Since: 2013
San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce
Member Since: 2014