Course List

• Attorney Billing and Timekeeping: A How-To Guide

• Proper billing is critical to the success of your law firm. BUT…. law firm billing can be one of the most repetitive, dreaded & time-consuming parts of any lawyer’s day. And we all love chasing down clients to get paid.
  
  In this program, Josh Andrews will present the best practices for attorney billing & timekeeping and handing issues with nonpaying clients. From essential guidelines for capturing billable hours to the top billing mistakes that attorneys make, Josh will provide you with the tools and strategies you need to run a tight ship. Josh will: examine the best practices for avoiding & resolving fee disputes, present strategies for dealing with nonpaying clients and highlight emerging billing and timekeeping tools for law firms. Additional subjects: understanding your firm codes, capturing your time, nonbillable time, knowing the billing cycles, planning for profit, Model Rules 1.5 & 8.4, putting it in the contract, protecting your rights & preserving your relationship and software is your friend.
  
  Josh Andrews is the managing partner of Gatehouse Law where he focuses his practice on the legal needs of entrepreneurs, business law and complex transactions.

  Practice Areas: Law Practice Management
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Missouri (MO) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA)
  
  Course Expiration: 09/29/2026

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 09/30/2024
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Small Business Divorce and Shareholder Disputes

• There are many reasons why shareholders fight and small businesses break up – differences in business vision & strategy, disagreements over financial decisions, conflicts of interest & personality clashes are some of the main ones. When shareholders fight, legal advisors must quickly assess available rights, remedies, and the trajectory of any potential resolution or litigation.
  
  In this CLE, Brandon M. Schwartz will mainly explore fiduciary duties owed among shareholders in closely held corporations, detail the types of disputes that frequently arise and highlight the strategies available to resolve them effectively. The program highlights both substantive and procedural fiduciary obligations, including duties of loyalty, candor, and fair dealing. Attendees will also gain insights into majority vs. minority shareholder dynamics, shareholder oppression and deadlock scenarios. Finally, the session focuses on dispute resolution options — from mediation and arbitration to full-scale litigation and the use of Special Litigation Committees (SLCs). By the conclusion of the session, attorneys will be better equipped to advise clients on preventative measures, evaluate risks, and select dispute resolution strategies that protect shareholder rights and preserve business value.
  
  Learning Objectives
  
  - Identify fiduciary duties owed among majority and minority shareholders in closely held corporations.
  
  - Differentiate between common types of shareholder disputes, including deadlock, oppression, and breach of shareholder agreements.
  
  - Analyze risks and consequences of shareholder disputes, including operational, financial, and reputational impacts.
  
  - Evaluate dispute resolution options, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
  
  - Understand the role of Special Litigation Committees (SLCs) in resolving shareholder disputes and the standards courts apply to review their decisions.
  
  - Develop strategies for advising clients proactively to minimize disputes and preserve business relationships.
  
  Brandon M. Schwartz, Esq., is a Board-Certified Civil Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate and Family Trial Law Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has received recognition from peers and clients alike for his thorough, zealous and ethical representation.

  Practice Areas: Business Law, Litigation
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Louisiana (LA) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 09/04/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 09/05/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Brief Writing 101 for Plaintiffs' Attorneys: Opposing the Motion to Dismiss

• Plaintiffs' lawyers now need to write more than ever. Unfortunately, courts are slammed with heavy caseloads and you are competing against other litigants for what little time the judge has to analyze the claims & merit of your case. How can you avoid the dreaded MTD??
  
  Join professional brief writer Jonathan Hilton as he explains how to craft legal briefs that judges will want to read. He will present & explain his top ten tips: five practice points to help the judge spot your best arguments in less time and five practice points on how to make your clients more likable & your clients’ stories more compelling. The ten points: (1) Start with first principles, (2) Create an alternate storyline, (3) Show why you state a claim — don’t just defend, (4) Plant the emotional facts in the Complaint, (5) Dumb Cases Die, (6) Use notice pleading to build your story, (7) Distinguish Civ. R. 8 from Civ. R. 9(b), (8) Use the right theory to hook in the big pockets, (9) Handle SOLs carefully and (10) To amend… or not to amend? Jonathan will round out the hour by looking at resources that will help you become a better brief writer moving forward.
  
  Jonathan Hilton became the youngest-ever Cincinnati Chess Champion at age 15, and he earned the National Master in chess title the following year. At Hilton Parker LLC, Mr. Hilton now advisies other attorneys on how to best navigate through their most difficult cases. As a consultant and brief writer, he designs novel legal theories in courts across the country.

  Practice Areas: Litigation, Personal Injury
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Kentucky (KY) | Louisiana (LA) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 11/07/2026

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 11/08/2024
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Citizens United: Three Presidential Elections Later

• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is one of the most consequential, controversial and misunderstood decisions of the 21st century. And it’s also 175 pages long.
  
  If you don’t feel like sifting through 175 pages of incredibly complex legal arguments, you’re in luck – First Amendment & campaign finance attorney Zach Greenberg is here for you. Zach will break down what’s in the decision, what it practically means, the concurrence, the dissent and the key rationales used by both sides. Specific topics covered: The 3 main elements of Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), First Amendment prohibition against the government discriminating based on the speaker, Money = Free Speech, how the First Amendment extends to corporations, what Citizens United is NOT about, Independent Expenditures, express advocacy vs. issuing ads, state vs. federal elections, election season vs. non-election season, Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, McConnell v. Federal Election Comm’n, the 3 pillars of the majority decision, the Anti-Distortion Rationale and the Corruption Rationale.
  
  A native New Yorker, Zach graduated from Binghamton University in 2013 and Syracuse Law in 2016. Zach developed an appreciation for free speech while leading the College Libertarians and the Federalist Society.

  Practice Areas: Constitutional Law, Election Law, Law Practice Management
  
  Offered In: Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Missouri (MO) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA)
  
  Course Expiration: 10/21/2026

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 10/11/2024
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Drafting Controversial Contract Clauses: What Clauses Are Worth the Fight?

• Most clients want everything in a contract negotiation. Unfortunately, the other side probably wants everything too. The real question for practitioners is: which clauses are truly worth the fight? The answer, of course, is…. it depends.
  
  In this CLE, Kristi Zentner and Heather Marx — a seasoned transactional attorney & an experienced commercial litigator — share insights drawn from daily practice on both sides of the negotiating table. They explore the most common flashpoints in contract drafting and negotiation, from indemnification and limitation of liability to representations, warranties, and confidentiality provisions. The dynamic duo also provide practical strategies for recognizing which provisions merit aggressive advocacy, show you how to tailor clauses to a client’s risk profile, and drafting the contact with enforceability in mind. Attendees will also gain tools for memorializing the negotiation: ensuring that contracts clearly reflect agreed terms, avoid ambiguities and reduce the risk of costly disputes down the road.
  
  Learning Objectives
  
  * Identify key contract clauses — such as indemnification, limitation of liability, and representations and warranties — that most often become points of contention and potential litigation.
  
  * Evaluate negotiation dynamics, including leverage, market conditions, and counterparty risk, to determine which provisions are worth pressing and which can be compromised.
  
  * Draft clear and enforceable risk-shifting provisions tailored to the transaction, including defining scope, triggers, exceptions, and remedies.
  
  * Recognize common mistakes in contract drafting and negotiation that create ambiguity or weaken enforceability, and implement strategies to avoid them.
  
  * Apply effective review techniques to ensure that contracts accurately memorialize negotiations, reflect agreed business terms, and align with preliminary documents such as term sheets or letters of intent.
  
  * Integrate practical drafting tips—such as consistency of defined terms, clarity of structure, and avoidance of boilerplate legalese—into daily practice to improve contract quality and reduce litigation risk.
  
  Kristi Zentner, Esq., is a transactional attorney who represents clients in general business, supply chain management, as well as tariff, customs, and trade matters. Heather Marx. Esq., applies her experience in the areas of complex business and commercial litigation to represent a variety of clients.

  Practice Areas: Business Law
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Louisiana (LA) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 09/24/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 09/25/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Drafting Real Estate Operating Agreements

• Nathan Osborn frequently works with clients to buy investment properties on the ski slopes of Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Aspen and more. These clients buy these properties as VRBOs (Vacation Rental By Owner) to generate revenue – but what they fail to realize is that one accident on their property could put their personal assets at risk. Nate Osborn often recommends a very practical solution that offers asset protection & tax benefits – the LLC. In this CLE he provides practical guidance on how to draft a real estate limited liability company (LLC) operating agreement. Nate will provide a plethora of practical guidance on: asking the right questions, determining whether an LLC is the appropriate entity for your client, selecting a member or manager managed LLC, maximizing personal asset protection through the LLC, drafting capital contribution provisions, drafting real estate profit distribution provisions, drafting dispute resolution provisions and tax implications & how to maximize tax benefits. Specific topics covered: vacation rentals & investors, understanding the client’s business, the advantages of LLCs in real estate, putting title to real estate into an LLC, potential LLC liability, piercing the corporate veil, structuring capital calls, provisions to share real estate profits, incorporating IRAs, holding strategies & double FICA taxes and utilizing 1031 like-kind exchanges.
  
  Nathan G. Osborn, Esq., focuses on real estate litigation, real estate transactions and commercial litigation. Mr. Osborn effectively uses his significant trial experience to help transactional clients avoid situations that often end up in court.

  Practice Areas: Business Law, Real Property
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Kentucky (KY) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 11/26/2026

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 11/27/2024
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• ERC Compliance and Controversy: Navigating Litigation and Resolving Claims

• You might not hear those annoying commercials anymore, but YES the ERC is still a thing. In fact, the IRS is continuing to ramp up the scrutiny of ERC claims and has been flagging a large number of them as high risk – to the point of being improper or fraudulent.
  
  Sam Brotman currently has 66 ERC cases in litigation with the IRS. In this CLE, Sam will explore the origin, evolution and current controversies surrounding ERC claims, highlighting key compliance challenges, IRS enforcement actions & trends and the current litigation landscape. Attendees will learn how to advise clients effectively on ERC eligibility, audit response strategies, and the administrative vs. judicial options available for claim resolution Through case analysis and practical strategies, participants will gain the tools needed to navigate IRS audits, respond to client concerns and mitigate compliance risks for their business clients.
  
  Learning Objectives:
  
  * Explain the legislative history, purpose, and structure of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC).
  
  * Identify and analyze the primary qualification tests for ERC eligibility, including gross receipts decline and operational impact.
  
  * Recognize key compliance and enforcement issues arising from IRS guidance and the 2023 ERC processing moratorium.
  
  * Compare the advantages and challenges of administrative versus judicial resolution options for ERC disputes.
  
  * Develop best practices for advising clients, documenting qualifications, and managing ERC audits or appeals.
  
  Sam Brotman is a nationally recognized tax attorney whose practice focuses on federal and state tax defense, controversy, and compliance. Sam has represented hundreds of businesses and individuals in complex tax matters before the IRS and state taxing authorities. He has extensive experience with the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC), having overseen more than 375 claims totaling over $160 million in credits. Sam regularly lectures on tax strategy, compliance, and IRS procedure for legal professionals and business audiences across the country.

  Practice Areas: Business Law, Litigation, Taxation
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | ITA (ITA) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Missouri (MO) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA)
  
  Course Expiration: 12/31/2026

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 11/14/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Ethics Guardrails for Law Firm Cyber Risk

• This CLE program provides attorneys with critical guidance on navigating the increasingly intertwined worlds of legal ethics, malpractice risk & cybersecurity. As law firms become prime targets for cyber threats, ethical responsibilities under the ABA Model Rules demand heightened awareness and action.
  
  Led by attorney Jeff Cunningham — who defends lawyers and firms in malpractice and ethics cases — this course explores the blurred lines between ethics violations and cyber negligence. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, the course offers attorneys actionable methods to build ethical “guardrails” that protect both client data and professional reputations. Topics include vendor due diligence, cyber infrastructure, legal tech trends, client counseling on cyber duties, and enhancing law firm security teams. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of key ethics rules, including Competence (Rule 1.1), Confidentiality (Rule 1.6), Communication (Rule 1.4), and Supervision Responsibilities (Rules 5.1–5.3), as applied in the digital age. Attorneys will walk away with a playbook for proactive compliance — ensuring they meet ethical obligations while mitigating malpractice and cyber liability in a high-risk environment.
  
  Learning Objectives:
  
  • Identify and interpret key ethical rules—including ABA Model Rules 1.1, 1.4, 1.6, and 5.1–5.3—as they apply to cybersecurity responsibilities in legal practice.
  
  • Distinguish between ethical violations and legal malpractice in the context of cyber risk, and recognize how blurred boundaries create new areas of liability.
  
  • Develop practical strategies for cyber compliance, including building secure infrastructure, conducting vendor due diligence, and training legal staff and nonlawyer personnel.
  
  • Evaluate their firm's current cyber readiness and implement “ethics guardrails” to proactively reduce exposure to cyber threats and ethics grievances.
  
  • Advise clients effectively on their own cybersecurity obligations, enhancing client service and meeting ethical duties under communication and competence rules.
  
  Jeff Cunningham, Esq., actively defends lawyers and acts as outside General Counsel to small and mid-sized law firms across the United States, while also serving as this firm’s General Counsel. Jeff defends industry professionals in a wide range of professional liability, ethics and professional disciplinary matters. With an emphasis on simple systems of risk management, Jeff brings a holistic approach of protecting our clients before problems occur.

  Specialty Areas: Legal Ethics
  
  Practice Areas: Ethics, Law Practice Management, Professional Conduct, Technology
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA)
  
  Course Expiration: 07/02/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours | 1.00 Legal Ethics
  
  Original Production Date: 07/03/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Innovation Protection: The Intersection of Patents and Trade Secrets

• From Mullets on the Go to the KFC Colonel’s Secret Recipe – and even MLB’s Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud for baseballs– you won’t find a more entertaining CLE. This course features intellectual property attorneys Eric Hanscom and David Branfman, who provide practical guidance for attorneys counseling clients on patent and trade secret protection. Drawing from decades of experience, the presenters explain the distinctions between utility and design patents, the benefits and limitations of provisional applications and the strategic application of trade secrets. Through numerous entertaining case studies and real client stories, this session offers insights into leveraging multiple IP tools effectively. The discussion includes legal requirements, enforcement risks, best practices and how to advise clients based on business goals and budget constraints.
  
  Learning Objectives:
  
  • Understand the distinctions between utility, design, and provisional patents.
  • Identify when trade secrets are preferable over patent protection.
  • Recognize how trademarks, trade dress, and patents can work in tandem.
  • Evaluate common IP pitfalls and missteps made by clients.
  • Apply legal and strategic considerations to IP planning and protection.
  • Develop trade secret protection plans and understand their legal foundations.
  • Analyze real-world examples to understand the practical application of IP law.
  
  Patent attorney Eric Hanscom is actively involved in overseeing IP litigation, contract negotiation and customs issues around the globe. David Branfman’s IP practice focuses on entertainment law, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, motion pictures & TV and music.

  Practice Areas: Business Law, Intellectual Property
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Kansas (KS) | Louisiana (LA) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 05/30/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 05/31/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Mastering Reptile Tactics: How Plaintiff Attorneys Secure Larger Verdicts

• Trial attorneys now increasingly rely on the “Reptile Theory” — a trial strategy designed to awaken jurors’ primal instincts for safety, fear and self-preservation. This technique has been credited with driving a sharp rise in “nuclear verdicts” awarded by juries over the last decade.
  
  In this engaging and highly practical session, veteran trial attorney Kate Whitlock, Esq. explores how these Reptile tactics operate — and how defense counsel can effectively recognize, neutralize, and counter them at every stage of litigation. Kate will examine how juror anger, distrust of authority and media-driven narratives have reshaped the litigation landscape. She provides participants with actionable strategies for depositions, motions practice, voir dire, trial themes and closing arguments to defuse emotional manipulation and restore rational decision-making. Attorneys will leave this session with a deep understanding of the psychological and procedural underpinnings of Reptile Theory, how it manifests in pleadings and discovery and concrete techniques for minimizing exposure to runaway verdicts.
  
  Participants will learn how to:
  
  * Define Reptile Theory and explain its psychological roots in the triune brain model
  
  * Identify hallmarks of Reptile tactics in pleadings, discovery, and witness examination
  
  * Analyze case law restricting or sanctioning Reptile-style argumentation
  
  * Develop motion and deposition strategies to protect witnesses and preserve appellate issues
  
  * Reframe trial themes around reasonableness, personal responsibility, and fairness to neutralize fear-based appeals
  
  Kate Whitlock has spent her career defending and counseling individuals and companies accused of not doing their jobs right. Primarily in professional liability, bad faith and sexual misconduct matters, Kate represents clients in many different fields – legal, insurance, accounting, real estate, education and more.

  Practice Areas: Litigation, Personal Injury
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Georgia (GA) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | ITA (ITA) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Missouri (MO) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA)
  
  Course Expiration: 12/31/2026

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 10/29/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Personal Injury Litigation for Rideshare and Delivery Drivers

• Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have fundamentally reshaped personal transportation – and has created novel legal challenges in accident litigation, liability allocation and insurance coverage. This program presented by attorney Zachary Pyers will provide attorneys with a comprehensive examination of the rapidly evolving legal issues surrounding ridesharing accidents.
  
  Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the prevalence of ridesharing, applicable state & federal regulations, and the complex relationships between drivers, companies, and passengers. The course explores negligence claims against drivers, direct and vicarious liability theories against companies, insurance gaps during different ridesharing “periods,” and evolving defenses. The program also addresses high-profile litigation, settlements, and regulatory actions, while highlighting key ethical considerations for attorneys handling ridesharing cases. By combining practical litigation strategies, case law analysis and ethical pitfalls, this CLE equips attorneys to effectively represent plaintiffs or defendants in ridesharing accident cases while maintaining compliance with professional responsibility standards.
  
  Learning Objectives
  
  - Identify the regulatory frameworks governing ridesharing companies, including state-level insurance, licensing and driver requirements.
  
  - Analyze the employment status of drivers and evaluate its impact on liability allocation between drivers and ridesharing companies.
  
  - Assess the applicability of legal theories such as negligence, respondeat superior, joint enterprise liability, and negligent hiring/retention.
  
  - Evaluate insurance coverage during the three distinct ridesharing periods and recognize common coverage gaps for drivers, passengers, and third parties.
  
  - Examine case law involving ridesharing accident claims, arbitration agreements, and regulatory settlements (e.g., Doe v. Uber, Good v. Uber, Meyer v. Uber, Gunter Willim v. Uber).
  
  - Apply ethical rules to ridesharing cases, including duties of competence in technology, confidentiality obligations, conflict of interest assessments, and restrictions on financial assistance.
  
  - Advise clients on emerging ridesharing issues such as data privacy, safety features, and potential common carrier status.
  
  Zachary B. Pyers focuses his practice on civil litigation – including complex and class action litigation, corporate and commercial litigation, professional liability, and catastrophic loss.

  Practice Areas: Litigation, Personal Injury
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Louisiana (LA) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Missouri (MO) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 09/16/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 09/17/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Practical Steps to Avoid Conflicts of Interest

• The ethical rules regarding conflicts of interest may appear deceptively simple. However, there are numerous situations that may arise where they can be very complicated or deceptive. Or there could be an exception to the conflicts rule or a way to work around it with a well-crafted consent.
  
  In this CLE, ethics expert & Professor of Legal Ethics Cari Sheehan will provide practical guidance on specific ethical situations that arise in your daily practice. Cari will mainly discuss the ethical framework, practical steps to avoid conflicts of interest and specific scenarios where conflicts occur. The steps to conflicts of interest resolution discussed: (1) identifying if it’s a current, former or prospective client, (2) analyzing whether a conflict exists, (3) determining if the conflict is consentable, (4) obtaining informed consent, and (5) remedies if the conflict is not resolved. Specific issues presented: joint representation, the informed disclosure that is required, simultaneous representation in unrelated matters, the material limitation standard, prior work conflicts, informed consent, injunctive relief, disqualification, fee forfeiture, former clients, imputed conflicts, utilizing a firm-wide database and creating ethical walls/screens. Model Rules implicated: 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10 1.11 & 1.13.
  
  With over 15 years of legal experience in civil litigation, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility, Cari Sheehan serves as the Taft Law’s Assistant General Counsel. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law and Ethics with the IU Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis where she teaches courses in Business Law and Ethics.

  Specialty Areas: Legal Ethics
  
  Practice Areas: Ethics, Law Practice Management, Professional Conduct
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Kentucky (KY) | Louisiana (LA) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | Rhode Island (RI) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 03/13/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours | 1.00 Legal Ethics
  
  Original Production Date: 03/27/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• Religion at Work: A Conflict of Rights

• An employee concludes every email with “Have a Blessed Day.” Seems pretty innocuous but it makes a few co-workers mad. Can the employer make her stop using this closing in all her work emails?
  
  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act requires employers to reasonably accommodate an employee's sincerely held religious beliefs – but what exactly does this mean? Can an employee keep a 3-foot statute of Jesus in their cubicle? What if an employee refuses to work every Sunday because it is his Sabbath? And how about the guy that wears the “Official Mensch” button to work every day? In this CLE, Jason Boulette will explore the new standard for accommodating religious expression at work, the conflict between the right to engage in religious expression and the right to be free from it and strategies for navigating the gray area between the two. Jason will start by discussing the evolving legal definition of “religion” in the U.S. across constitutional and statutory contexts with an emphasis on employment law under Title VII, detail the landmark Supreme Court decision in Groff v. DeJoy (2023) which significantly raised the standard for denying religious accommodations in the workplace and analyzes the resulting case law under Groff and what it means for employers going forward.
  
  Participants will be able to:
  
  * Understand how the law’s definition of “religion” has changed over time
  
  * Identify common characteristics of “religion” for purposes of Title VII
  
  * Predict how Groff v. DeJoy affects litigation & employer obligations under Title VII
  
  * Distinguish between effective and preferred accommodations
  
  * Apply EEOC guidance and best practices in workplace scenarios
  
  Jason Boulette, Esq., is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the former Chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the State Bar of Texas.

  Practice Areas: Business Law, Employment Law, Litigation
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Missouri (MO) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA)
  
  Course Expiration: 09/29/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 09/30/2025
  Run Time: 1:03:13

• Tesla Autopilot Failure Litigation and the Future of CAT

• Nearly a century before the first Tesla hit the streets, the driverless car du jour was a Pontiac known as the Phantom developed in the 1920’s. The Phantom was remote controlled by the tap of a telegraph key by a second car trailing miles behind.
  
  Fast forward to today & driverless cars are set to take the world by storm with the global market for self-driving vehicles reaching around $2.5 trillion by 2030. But we are still at the infancy of this new technology that heavily employs autopilot and CAT (Collision Avoidance Technology). In this CLE, Brett Scheiber will detail this new technology and discuss litigation that has ensued from accidents involving Tesla vehicles. Brett will mainly: demystify autopilot, describe how the tech works & how it fails, review Tesla’s claims regarding its autopilot and CAT (Collision Avoidance Technology) technology, show you how to collect the evidence for litigation and how to vett these & other CAT cases. He will also discuss: the 5 levels of tech, myths & facts regarding autopilot & CAT, EDR (Event Data Recorder) data, on-board Tesla videos, car log/D16, the NHTSA & NTSB and the future of Tesla cases & litigation.
  
  Brett Schreiber’s practice includes mass torts, personal injury, medical malpractice and condemnation law. Whether lecturing student groups or handling pro bono claims for wrongfully convicted, he is guided by the Hebrew principle of tikkun olam meaning “to heal the world.”

  Practice Areas: Litigation, Personal Injury
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Kentucky (KY) | Louisiana (LA) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | Rhode Island (RI) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 01/23/2027

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB

  1.00 credit hours
  
  Original Production Date: 01/24/2025
  Run Time: 1:00:00

• The Unprofessionalism Zone: Lessons from Lawyers Behaving Badly

• "I know it when I see it." Potter Stewart’s words are one of the more famous legal quotes and referred to hardcore pornography.
  
  Well, I think we can all agree without further details that (repeatedly) pooping in a pringles can and throwing it in the opposing party’s parking lot violates some type of ethical rule or professionalism guideline. And yes, that actually happened and the lawyer was suspended for 1 year. In this CLE, Ron Daniels turns things around and provides professionalism lessons from lawyers behaving badly. The case examples analyzed: the attorney who pooped in the pringles can, lawyers & unprofessional emails, a defense attorneys unprofessional use of AI, unprofessional conduct at deposition and unprofessional conduct on social media. Additional topics: Ethics vs. Professionalism, the Lawyer’s Creed, Georgia’s Aspirational Statements on Professionalism, the Golden Rule and civility. Ron E. Daniels is a trial attorney that represents clients in consumer protection cases.
  
  Ron E. Daniels is a trial attorney that represents clients in consumer protection cases. He fiercely and proudly represent Georgians in cases involving credit card, student loan and medical debt.

  Specialty Areas: Legal Ethics
  
  Practice Areas: Civility, Ethics, Professional Conduct, Professionalism
  
  Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Kentucky (KY) | Louisiana (LA) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | Rhode Island (RI) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV) | Wyoming (WY)
  
  Course Expiration: 12/26/2026

  Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB

  1.00 credit hours | 1.00 Legal Ethics
  
  Original Production Date: 12/27/2024
  Run Time: 1:00:00