A frequent guest lecturer and adjunct professor, Ms. Cheng has trained lawyers and judges nationally and internationally. As part of the Rule of Law Initiative, she has had the privilege of training trial lawyers and judges in Mexico, Kosovo, and Macedonia. She has also collaborated and trained with civil practitioners in Singapore and Belfast. She regularly directs trial skills training programs for criminal prosecution offices in Scotland and throughout the Caribbean Basin.
Ms. Cheng is the Program Director of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s Western Region Advocacy Teacher Training Program. She is a past recipient of the Robert E. Keeton Award for outstanding service by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a past recipient of the University of San Francisco Professional Achievement Award. She is the inaugural recipient of the American Board of Trial Advocates’ Champion of Justice Award (2022).
Ms. Cheng is involved in local bar associations and community organizations. She was the 106th President of the Bar Association of San Francisco. She is a past President of the San Francisco Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, and Justice and Diversity Center. She is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocacy, and International Academy of Trial Lawyers. She serves on the Kaiser Arbitration Oversight Board and is a Board Trustee of the University of San Francisco.
She is a co-author of the eminent Rutter Group California Practice Guide on Personal Injury, and the trial practice guide, Mastering the Mechanics of Civil Jury Trials.
Following the induction of new Fellows of The American College of Trial Lawyers, Doris Cheng gave a speech to all the new inductees about being awarded such an elite honor.
TRIAL LAWYER ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
American Board of Trial Advocates
ABOTA National, Executive Committee Member, 2020, 2022
ABOTA National, Presidential Task Force, 2020, 2022
ABOTA National, Rapid Response Team, 2022, 2024
ABOTA National, Trial College Faculty, 2021, 2022
ABOTA National, International Issues Committee, 2021 – present
ABOTA National, COVID19 Task Force, 2020
Cal-ABOTA Board of Directors, Member 2019 – 2021
President (San Francisco Chapter), 2020
Vice President (San Francisco Chapter), 2019
Treasurer (San Francisco Chapter), 2018
Secretary (San Francisco Chapter), 2017
National Representative (San Francisco Chapter), 2015 – present
Executive Committee (San Francisco Chapter), 2015 – present
Foundation Board Member, 2017 – present
Chair, Civility Matters! Programs (Law School Division), 2012 – 2014
Member, 2011 – present
American College of Trial Lawyers
Member, 2015 – present
Admission to Fellowship Committee, 2015 – 2022
National Trial Competition Committee, 2015 – 2016
State Committee, 2015 – 2018
International Academy of Trial Lawyers
Rule of Law Education and Advocacy Program, 2022
Board of Directors, 2018 – present
Member, 2017 – present
San Francisco Bar Association and Justice & Diversity Center
President, 2019
Vice President, 2018
Treasurer, 2017
Secretary, 2016
Early Settlement Panelist, 2010 – 2012
Member, Board of Directors, 2009-2011
Conference of Delegates, 2009, 2012
Chair, Judiciary Committee, 2008
Judiciary Committee, Member, 2006-2008
Chair, Barrister Club Newsletter, 2003
Vice Chair, Barrister Club Newsletter, 2002
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
President, 2015
President-Elect, 2014
Vice President, 2013
Secretary, 2012
Treasurer, 2011
Parliamentarian, 2010
Finance Committee, 2009 – present
Committee on Directors, 2009 – present
Educational Programs, Chair 2006, 2009
Women’s Caucus, Chair 2004
Mock Trial Committee, 2003-2011
Board of Directors, 2003- present
California Lawyers Association
Chair, Task Force for the Future of the Profession, 2020-2021
National Judicial College Board of Visitors
Member, 2021 – present
Kaiser Arbitration Oversight Board
Board Member, 2010 – present
Litigation Counsel of America
Fellow, 2012 – present
National Trial Lawyers
Member, 2012 – present
National Association of Women Judges
Resource Board, 2007- 2016
American Inns of Court, USF Chapter
Executive Committee, 1999-2011
Counselor, 2009-2011
Secretary-Treasurer, 2002-2003
Program Chair, 2001-2002
Membership Chair, 2000-2001
LAW SCHOOL AND TEACHING AFFILIATIONS
University of San Francisco
Board of Trustees, 2022 – present
University of San Francisco School of Law
Intensive Advocacy Program, Program Director (Adjunct Professor), 2014 – present
Intensive Advocacy Program, Faculty, 1999 to present
Board of Counselors, 2011 – 2018
Board of Governors, 2003 – 2006
Coach, Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition (4 teams for USF), 2004
UC Berkeley School of Law
Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy Course, 2010-2011
Guest Speaker, Oral Advocacy for International LLM Students, 2013-2018, 2021-2024
Guest Speaker, Negotiations, 2019
UC Hastings College of Law
Guest Lecturer of Trial Advocacy Course, 2017, 2019, 2022
University of Notre Dame
Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (Adjunct Faculty), 2019, 2021, 2022
Emory University School of Law
Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program, Faculty 2003-2008, 2011
University of San Diego School of Law
Advocacy Training, Mexicali, Mexico (in connection with USAID grant), 2010
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Board of Trustees & Executive Committee, 2019 – present
Program Director, Teacher Training, 2011 – present
Program Director, Drills Bootcamp, 2016 – present
Program Director, Western Regional Advocacy Teacher Training
Program Director, International Advocacy Training (Kosovo, Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Scotland and the Caribbean Islands)
Faculty, Public and Private Advocacy Programs
PUBLICATIONS
Books/Book Chapter:
- Haning, Z., Flahavan, W., Wright, K., Cheng, D., California Practice Guide: Personal Injury, The Rutter Group (2015 – present))
- Draa, T., Cheng D., Bondonno, F., Harrington, M., Mastering the Mechanics of Civil Jury Trials, A Strategic Guide Outlining the Anatomy of a Trial, Balcony 7 Publishing © 2015.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, California Uninsured Motorist Practice, August 2005 (contributing editor)
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
American Board of Trial Advocates Inaugural Champion of Justice Award, 2022
San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association Outstanding Female Trial Lawyer Award, 2021
Consumer Attorneys of California Robert E. Cartwright, Sr. Award, 2019
LawDragon 500 Leading Lawyers, 2019 – present
Top 10 Lawyers in Northern California, 2024
Top 50 Women Lawyers in Northern California, 2011 – 2014, 2016 – present
Top 100 Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2017- present
California Super Lawyers, 2010 – present
Best Lawyers in America, 2010 – present
Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement, Inductee, 2018
Lawyer of the Year Award by Best Lawyers in America, 2017
University of San Francisco Professional Achievement Award, 2015
American College of Trial Lawyers, Inductee Responder, 2015
NITA Robert E. Keeton Faculty Award, 2012
San Francisco’s Top Attorneys, 2010 – present
National Law Journal, Minority 40 Under 40 Award, 2011
America’s Top 100 Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers, 2010 – present
Bar Association of San Francisco Merit Award, 2008, 2012
Bar Association of San Francisco, Justice & Diversity Center Outstanding Volunteer Award, 2013,2015
Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, 2008
John Meehan Fellow (USF School of Law, Distinguished Alumnus), 2007
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Juvenile Justice Center Debate Program, 2017
Lowell High School Mock Trial Team, Head Coach, 2010 – 2014
Girls Basketball Coach
- Patrick (CYO) (5th through 7th grade), 2007 – 2009
- BCSFYAO (Japanese League) (5th and 6th grade), 2004 – 2006
- Lowell High School, Summer Clinic (JV and Varsity), 2003
- Notre Dames des Victoires (CYO) (5th through 8th grade), 1999 – 2002
- Cornerstone Academy (CYO) (8th grade), 1995
Log Cabin Ranch Gardening Project (SF Youth Guidance Center), Volunteer, 2014
Hip Wah Summer Program
Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic Volunteer, 1997 – 2000
