What is implicit bias and how can it manifest in almost undetectable ways in all aspects of the legal profession? Our distinguished panelists have been on every side of the legal profession: attorney, mediator, and judicial officer. They will discuss two prevalent, yet covert ways implicit bias affects every sphere of the legal profession: microaggressions and gaslighting. They will provide real life examples from the legal profession and what we as attorneys can do better to move the legal profession forward.

In the past five years there has been a worldwide focus on the effects of recent events upon mental health. The World Health Organization’s campaign to make mental health and well-being for all a global priority included declaring October 10 to be World Mental Health Day. In addition to the WHO’s declaring a global mental health crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that substance abuse and drug overdose deaths has greatly increased in recent years.

The stresses of the legal profession put lawyers at risk for abuse of legal and illegal substances. How can those of us in the legal profession gain control and find joy in a “chaotic world”?

The presentation will discuss mental well-being and substance use disorders in the legal profession today.

Language plays a critical role in how we behave and interact with each other in our daily lives, including in places of employment. Join attorney Beth W. Mora as she discusses the significance of gender equity in language, the impact of language on perceptions and behaviors in the workplace, and the legal frameworks that support gender inclusivity. Practitioners of all practice levels will gain insight from Beth’s expertise and learn how to work towards inclusivity in their communication.

Discussion includes:

- Why language matters in communication
- How language reflects our biases
- Legal frameworks that protect against discrimination based on gender identity
- Ethical standards for attorneys regarding discrimination
- Best practices for creating a welcoming environment through language

At its core, calendaring is not just about managing appointments; it is about safeguarding the rights and interests of your clients, maintaining professional integrity, and ensuring compliance with legal deadlines. The practice of law is inherently deadline-driven. Whether it’s filing a motion, responding to discovery requests, or appearing at a hearing, missing a single deadline can have catastrophic consequences for your client and your practice

Annie Thompson, Chief Claims Officer, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company & Certified Specialist, Legal Malpractice Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

This CLE presentation explores judicial opinions issued over the past two years that reference Generative AI, providing real-world examples of how judges, lawyers, pro se litigants, and experts are using these tools—some with cautious ingenuity, and others with adverse consequences. By examining creative use cases alongside instances of misuse that led to admonitions, sanctions, or penalties, we will enhance our awareness of the evolving potential role of Generative AI in legal practice, and discuss how to deploy these technologies ethically and responsibly in legal problem-solving.

Heidi Brown, New York Law School

Yin Yoga, often defined as still and contemplative yoga, is a slower paced, more meditative style of practice. Yin fosters a sense of balance in both our bodies and minds, offering lawyers a unique opportunity for self-awareness.

Given the high stress and emotionally charged environments lawyers frequently navigate, Yin invites us to pause and observe the body’s “fight-or-flight” responses without the interference of the ego. Beyond the mental benefits, holding Yin Yoga shapes for longer durations targets the deeper connective tissues, which can enhance mobility and increase blood flow for those experiencing stiffness from prolonged sitting.

This session will explore how Yin Yoga can improve your overall capacity to remain present during moments of discomfort, ultimately supporting both your professional and personal well-being. The presenters will also guide you through a few Yin Yoga shapes to easily utilize in your office and at home.

Bradley T. Bald, Lifestyle Communities
Mary Beth Harding, Mary Beth Harding Yoga

Bullying of lawyers by other lawyers is a long-known but little-discussed problem, even though it exists in many practice settings across the country. Bullying can negatively impact the quality of a lawyer’s day-to-day practice, their emotional well-being and physical health, and the chance to thrive and be successful. Bullying also impedes an employer’s ability to create effective and collegial work teams, retain lawyers who do good work, and foster a culture that is inclusive and supportive of success for lawyers at all levels.

Join our speakers Roberta (“Bobbi”) Liebenberg and Stephanie Scharf, both former Chairs of the American Bar Association Commission on Women, to discuss their new research about Bullying in the Legal Profession, which was sponsored and published by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.

Based on extensive quantitative and qualitative data from more than 6,000 lawyers, and spanning diverse demographics and workplaces, this innovative research shows with clarity the many negative effects that bullying has on lawyers and the firms, companies, agencies, courts, and non-profits where bullying takes place. Of particular concern: while bullying impacts lawyers from all backgrounds, bullying disproportionately impacts women attorneys, younger attorneys, attorneys with disabilities, attorneys of color, and LGBTQ+ attorneys.

An important section of the Report describes recommended and data-driven best practices for leaders, legal employers, and individuals to take to eliminate bullying and its pernicious effects.

We welcome you to attend this program to hear researchers and co-authors Stephanie Scharf and Roberta Liebenberg discuss their empirical work and their recommended best practices to combat bullying in the legal profession.

Roberta Liebenberg, Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C
Stephanie Scharf, The Red Bee Group LLC

Lawyers have a duty to be zealous advocates for their clients. But when it comes to standing up to judges and their rulings, where is the line? The recent case of Epic Games v. Apple demonstrates the importance of obeying judicial orders, and the potential ramifications of noncompliance. Using the Epic Games case as an illustration, this program will explore the ethical rules that govern a lawyer’s interaction with judges both in and out of the courtroom. It will also include an analysis of not only what lawyers can say to judges in the courtroom, but what they can say about them in the court of public opinion.

In this webinar, participants will learn:

The expansive boundaries of the duty of candor to the court
How the duty of candor generally applies in and out of the courtroom
Sanctions for violating the duty of candor to the court
What a lawyer can say about Judges they appear before
Where free speech meets rules of legal ethics and civil liability

Wendy Patrick, Black Swan Verdicts
David Carr, Law Office of David C. Carr PC

HBO's hit series "Succession" follows a fictional media company led by a legendary patriarch. As the title suggests, the patriarch's children are angling to seize the throne and succeed their father as the company's CEO. In this presentation, Brent Turman, Partner at Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP, tracks the power plays of the company's C-level executives and general counsel, explaining whether their on-screen actions comply with specific ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (spoiler alert: most of the time, they don't.). Through the lens of this captivating series, Turman provides an entertaining way for attorneys to obtain ethics credit.

Brent Turman, Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP

Tired of AI panels that hype the future but skip the how-to? This practical session cuts through the noise to show tech-forward lawyers exactly how to build their own lightweight AI tools—no coding required. You’ll learn how OpenAI’s custom GPTs can be quickly configured to streamline repetitive legal tasks, from contract review and subpoena responses to deposition summaries and litigation timelines. We’ll walk step-by-step through building one, explore real legal use cases, and cover critical privacy and privilege concerns. If you're ready to stop talking about AI and start putting it to work, this session is for you.

Aaron Bath, Balfour Beatty

The California Consumer Privacy Act went into effect on January 1, 2020 and has inspired countless other US States to implement their own privacy laws. But what has happened since 2020? This webinar will give an overview of what you need to know about the CCPA, significant amendments from the CPRA effective in 2023, and how recent changes to the CCPA Regulations and subsequent enforcement actions have pushed California privacy law to the forefront of privacy rights nationwide and internationally.

This course broadly looks at common miscellaneous provisions which lawyers overlook in creating a modern contract which suits a client’s needs. This program is useful to any lawyer who drafts contracts.

This program will go through the nuts and bolts of preparing for and taking an effective deposition. However, it will go beyond the nuts and bolts - we will do a deep dive into how to use the deposition to most effectively posture the case with the other side, opposing counsel, and other decision makers. This program is appropriate for both newer and seasoned litigators.

Marina Kats Fraigun, Esq., Managing Partner, Fraigun Law Group

This program equips attorneys who counsel small business owners and HR professionals with the knowledge needed to navigate the intricate requirements of employee classifications under California law. Our speakers will examine the critical differences between exempt and non-exempt employees, delve into significant case law such as Heyen v. Safeway and Rodriguez v. Parivar, and learn actionable strategies for compliance. By the end of the session, attendees will be prepared to help clients minimize the financial and legal risks of employee misclassification.

Clifton Albright Sr., Albright, Yee & Schmit APC
Clifton Albright Jr., Albright, Yee & Schmit APC

Succession planning for law firms is more than just an exit strategy—it’s about shaping a lasting legacy and ensuring continued success. This program will explore how to align your goals with the right succession structure, whether through a sale, internal transition, merger, or creating a law-related business. It will also cover essential considerations including financing strategies, defining the future role of founders, navigating tax implications, and preparing effective contingency plans.

Daniel O'Rielly, O'Rielly Household

This program offers a nuanced, step-by-step roadmap of the civil litigation process—from the initial filing of a complaint through post-judgment. The program will highlight key procedural phases, and the specific undertakings that make up each phase. It will address strategic decision points, common and uncommon issues that arise in typical civil cases, and how they all relate and impact each other.

Christopher Bulone, Dordick Law Corporation

Hard fought litigation is notorious for ballooning into a costly, time-consuming battle that stalls progress and drains resources. In this program, join veteran mediator Robert Jacobs as he offers attorneys a practical, real-world roadmap to resolving conflicts with efficiency before they spiral out of control. Whether a dispute arises out of business or employment relationships, real estate law, construction problems, personal injuries, medical malpractice or trust litigation, the principles leading to resolution are often the same. With an emphasis on strategy, workup and mediator selection, this session is essential for any legal professional aiming to resolve disputes swiftly and effectively.

Robert Jacobs, Judicate West

This program will walk you through the legal standards governing expert testimony in the U.S., California-specific requirements—particularly after People v. Sanchez—challenges and strategies for admissibility, illustrative case studies, and ethical considerations.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Understand basic standards for expert testimony
• Apply California’s unique hearsay rule changes post-Sanchez
• Anticipate challenges and raise or defend objections
• Collaborate effectively with expert witnesses
• Navigate ethical obligations when working with experts

Eve A. Brackmann, Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP

Attorney Arash Hashemi unpacks California’s strict two-party consent rule under Penal Code §632, offering a practical guide to what qualifies as a confidential communication and when recording crosses the line into criminal or civil liability. This program will explore key exceptions—such as public settings, law enforcement, and domestic violence contexts—as well as the consequences of unlawful recording, including exclusion of evidence and potential damages under CIPA.

Arash Hashemi, Law Offices of Arash Hashemi

Renowned trial attorney Sach D. Oliver shares a structured, results-driven approach to turning depositions into powerful trial tools. This program will walk you through planning with purpose, crafting a compelling case narrative, and using strategic word choice and visuals to motivate truthful testimony. Attendees will learn how to set clear goals, execute a focused deposition strategy, and lay the groundwork for stronger settlements and verdicts.

Sach Oliver, Oliver Law Firm

Do you ever freeze when a judge asks an unexpected question? Have you watched a witness's credibility crumble or felt like you've lost the jury? In high-stakes litigation or negotiations, these make-or-break moments can determine case outcomes.

Join two legal improvisation experts for a fun and interactive workshop where you'll master "yes, and..." frameworks for compelling jury addresses and dynamic witness examinations, practice techniques to read and influence courtroom dynamics, and develop the mental agility to stay present and adapt when your case evolves or takes unexpected turns.

Paul Marchegiani, Vox Vera, LLC
Jennifer Chou, Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane Conway & Wise, LLP

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience and over 1,000 successfully resolved mediations, this session offers attorneys a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the mediation process from the perspective of a seasoned former federal mediator. Through engaging real-world examples and practical insights, participants will learn some strategies to better navigate emotional dynamics, difficult personalities, and identify the critical moments that shape settlement outcomes. The presentation challenges common litigation mindsets and equips attorneys with tools to become more effective in representing clients in or mediating employment, civil rights, education, or other high-stakes disputes.

Andres Ramirez, Andres A Ramirez Mediation