CLE practice areas

Mediation is the parties’ process. So, it makes sense for inhouse counsel to spend time in advance to design the best process for each dispute. This program will address ways to bring recalcitrant parties to the table, mediator selection, and negotiation planning strategies.

This course will provide a basic introduction to U.S.capital gains taxation rules,such as the calculation and determination of basis, adjustments to basis, and gain or loss in the disposition of capital and noncapital assets.Itwill also interweave advanced U.S.capital gains taxation rules such as depreciation recapture, sale of foreign real property, sale of cryptocurrency assets, and other non-resident alien taxation for the sale of U.S.real property.Lastly, this course will highlight the primaryreporting forms and conjunctive tie-in forms needed to ensure a complete and accurate tax return filing forcapital gains transactions.

The most important deposition in any case is your client’s deposition – the deposition you will never take. If we start with the premise that our client’s deposition is crucial, how do we ensure it goes smoothly? What steps do we take to prepare our client to give the best deposition testimony they can possibly give? This program will provide attorneys with a pathway to success when preparing there client for deposition. We will take a deep dive into the essential conversations you must have with your client when preparing them for deposition and best practices for excelling at deposition.

Among the best skills new lawyers can possess, self-care may be the most lacking, according to research. Numerous studies have reflected the negative effects that the stress we develop as law students continue to impact us as we enter the legal profession. In this course, we explore how neuroscience (the study of the nervous system) recognizes the detrimental effects of the chronic stress placed on law students and lawyers. Such stress is manifesting itself in rates of anxiety and depression among attorneys that are at a rate more than 3 times that of the general population. Research has established the importance of developing and maintaining cognitive fitness to equip young lawyers with the skills they need to thrive professionally. The course also addresses the connection between nutrition and cognitive wellness and offers practical strategies to help you excel.

This class will explain the evolution of computer forensics into what is now known as digital forensics. As a part of this class, attorneys will learn about the foundations of digital forensics, including how digital evidence should be collected, forensically acquired (copied), preserved, examined, and analyzed. The class then uses numerous case examples to explain different forensic artifacts and how they can be used in cases. Evidence types include metadata, internet history, communication artifacts, searches, multimedia, location evidence, and much more. Actual case examples are utilized to illustrate the usefulness of these forensic artifacts in litigation. Attorneys will also learn the difference between an information technology expert and a digital forensics expert, with case examples illustrating the problematic outcomes of having information technology experts attempting to testify about digital forensics.

This one-hour program discusses the science of stress and resilience and offers several strategies to combat stress in the legal practice and to prevent burnout. The objective of this course is to provide tools that will increase lawyer competency by learning to identify stress and appropriately respond to stressors.

This one hour presentation will provide a fast-paced refresher on the foundational Rules of Professional Conduct governing our daily lives as practicing attorneys. We will also explore the most common ethics violations attorneys make – often inadvertently – to provide guidance on avoiding these most common mistakes.

This course offers an in-depth survey of the current state of the major topics in animal law and provides participants with the key principles, rules, and regulations – as developed by common law and from statute – affecting animals. Styled as a cinematic presentation, the course examines animal-related laws via their philosophical, scientific, and practical underpinnings, and from a variety of differing perspectives, exploring how the courts have treated animals in the past and will likely treat them in the future, locally and nationally. From the foundational (How are animals defined? Do animals have rights? Why are animals properties?) to the pragmatic (What procedural obstacles might confront claims made on behalf of animals? What substantive constraints might prosecuting an animal abuse case entail?).

Mr. Blitz will focus on civil cases brought by a plaintiff's attorney to trial. This course is intended as an introduction to trying a civil case to verdict and a refresher course for seasoned attorneys. The course will begin with jury selection and proceed through opening statements, direct and cross exam of the plaintiff, defendant and defendant’s experts and continue through summation. We will discuss issues on how best to prepare for trial as well as maximizing jury selection, effective openings, techniques for cross examination and evidence presentation, and other related topics. Mr. Blitz will also discuss those items that trial attorneys face during a trial that require fast and strategic thinking. Mr. Blitz will provide tips and strategies for trial preparation for cases involving devastating injury and wrongful death claims, including how to implement technology and demonstrative evidence to show the devastation the injury caused at trial.

This course will give an overview of the origins and framework for Native American law in the United States, with a focus on guiding the general and specialized practitioners through the history of Indian Law and federal policy to modern day sources of conflict and cooperation – such as federal, state and tribal jurisdiction, taxation, property rights, Indian gaming, natural resources issues and economic development.

The purpose of this course is to introduce listeners to the various kinds of litigation that arise under Title VII. We will discuss the background of Title VII and legal developments that have shaped the law into what it is today. We will also discuss the various kinds of claims and the general elements of each claim. Listeners will be left with an understanding of the general framework for Title VII Litigation.

Depositions are an aspect of litigation that is fraught with ethical peril. There is little ability by the opposing party to regulate the preparation of the deponent, because the opposing party is not present. Unless the parties invite court intervention, no judge is present during the deposition itself to police the way the deposition is defended and taken. The format of online depositions present additional challenges. In this course we’ll discuss ethical traps for the unwary in the context of a realistic hypothetical employment discrimination case where online depositions are occurring

Trade Secret Law is rather atypical among legal causes of action, including particularly intellectual property claims. In particular, depending on whether the claim is brought based on the law of a specific state—for example, Utah, Texas, or Wisconsin—or whether the claim is brought based on federal law, the elements one will need to prove may differ. In this introduction to Trade Secret Law, attorneys learn the basics of Trade Secret Law. The presentation is broken down into four sections—one for each possible element needed to be proven to prevail on a Trade Secret claim. In addition, a sample case addressing each element of the identified Trade Secret claim is thoroughly analyzed and discussed.

The art of jury selection, commonly known as voir dire, plays a pivotal role in shaping trial outcomes. This course delves into the essential do's and don'ts of voir dire, equipping legal professionals with the knowledge and skills to conduct effective jury selection.
The course begins by examining the foundations of voir dire under state and federal law, providing a thorough understanding of the legal framework that governs the process. Participants will explore key concepts, such as the constitutional rights of potential jurors, challenges for cause, and peremptory challenges, enabling them to navigate the complexities of voir dire with confidence.
This course will also address how to craft compelling questions, establish rapport with prospective jurors, and identify potential biases and prejudices. Additionally, techniques for active listening and non-verbal communication will be explored to enhance the effectiveness of voir dire. Whether you are a seasoned litigator or a budding attorney, this course will empower you to select the most favorable jury for your client's case and enhance your overall trial advocacy skills.

The Course will focus on recent CFPB announcements and directives affecting real estate specifically regarding the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Prosecution of discriminatory lending practices, Clarification of Rules and Regulations, and an Explanation of the Rule pertaining to the transition away from the LIBOR index for determining rates on adjustable loans.

This course, taught by Angie Setzer, Senior Attorney at the Equal Justice Initiative, takes a deep dive into the critical examination of the racial biases inherent in the jury selection process within the legal system. Designed for legal professionals committed to justice and equity, this course offers a comprehensive exploration of the history of discrimination in jury selection, why representative juries are necessary, and recommendations for combating racial bias in jury selection.

This course will help you learn to effectively manage difficult defense attorneys. Seasoned trial attorney Mike Brusca uses lessons learned from years of practice, basic child psychology, and solid communication principles to help you create natural consequences and strategies to navigate difficult interactions at all stages of litigation and depositions.

It is now more important than ever for businesses to understand what is permitted—and, perhaps more important—what is not permitted in the realm of political activity. Businesses and individuals are motivated to participate in the political process, but must understand the rules of the road to ensure compliance with campaign-finance laws, pay-to-play laws, and government-ethics laws. This presentation will provide an overview of the current state of the law, trends in enforcement and disclosure obligations, and strategies for compliance.

This course will analyze relevant case law and ethics opinions against attorneys for professional liability concerns as well as lawsuits arising from negligent and intentional actions for failure to provide adoptive parents with full or accurate information regarding the child’s physical or psychological background /medical records, wrongful adoptions, and setting aside adoptions. In this practice course, attorney Colleen Quinn, will review recommendations, best practices, and sample language, including the use of exculpatory clauses in contracts and legal and medical risk agreements that can lessen an adoption professional’s liability. 

Chapter 7 and 13 are the primary chapters of bankruptcy relief available to consumers who find themselves in over their heads with debt. This course will explain the basics of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases for consumer debtors. The first half will explain the basics of both chapters, the elements of each one and the players and their roles in each type of case. The second half of the course will walk through the handling of a case from inception to discharge.