25-Hour Full MCLE Compliance Package: Employment Law, Workplace Disputes, and Compliance

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

Minimize write-offs and judicial concerns. Together, Professor Rapoport and Mr. Bovitz will identify the tips, traps, and best practices of lawyer billing. This fast moving and fun program will focus on best (and not so best) practices of legal billing.

Professor Rapoport serves as a fee examiner in major bankruptcy cases. Her work covers the intersection of ethics with various fields including the behavior of lawyers generally; the dynamics of law firms; the ethics of corporate governance; and the interaction of artificial intelligence with the reasonableness of professional fees.

Any lawyer whom seeks an award of attorney fees or needs to have his or her fees reviewed by a court or a corporate auditor will gain valuable insight from this program.

Ask the speaker a question. Email and be sure to include the program name in the subject line.

In whatever jurisdiction they may practice, lawyers are subject to ethical

rules and guidelines fashioned, at least in part, on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Responsibility (Model Rules). Consultants and other non-legal professionals are not subject to the Model Rules or their jurisdictional equivalent. Nonetheless, where these individuals work for or in conjunction with lawyers on legal matters, the affiliated lawyers may (and often are) responsible for ensuring that these nonlawyers comply with the lawyer’s own ethical obligations. This program will discuss the applicable legal standards that apply in these relationships, as well as strategies and ethical considerations of working with consultants and other non-legal professionals.

Usama Kahf, CIPP/US and Partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP, breaks down the urgent privacy and ethics concerns raised by attorneys using generative AI tools like ChatGPT. This program explores why AI chats fall outside the scope of attorney-client privilege and may be discoverable, putting confidential information—and your license—at risk. Kahf will walk attorneys through California’s applicable Evidence Code, Business & Professions Code, and CCPA protections, and provide a five-step action plan for safely navigating AI use in legal practice.

Usama Kahf, Fisher & Phillips, LLP

Unlock a deeper understanding of the often unacknowledged yet equally present unconscious bias against physical disabilities in the legal profession and justice system. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, this compelling program explores how unconscious bias against physical disabilities impacts legal professionals and clients alike—in law firms, courtrooms, ADR proceedings, and beyond. Learn how these unconscious prejudices subtly erode equity, credibility, and confidence in the legal system. With eye-opening insights and practical strategies, this program empowers attorneys to recognize and dismantle bias, fostering a more equitable legal landscape for all. Don't miss this opportunity to lead change from within.

Brandie Solovay, Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco
David D. Cross, Goodwin Procter LLP
AJ Link, National Disabled Legal Professionals Association

Has AI gotten better or worse at eliminating bias? Algorithmic discrimination occurs when automated systems contribute to unjustified different treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on any classification protected by law. Our esteemed panel updates their BHBA presentation on AI and Bias from 2021 to comment on what has changed and what problems persist. With the explosion of new artificial intelligence technologies in the last few years, we'll discuss relevant case law, explore the new technologies and their stated algorithms, and examine position statements from government agencies to predict where AI policy is heading. You do not need to have attended the prior panel to attend this panel

In this session, Christian Kelly, CTO of Xantrion, breaks down ransomware as a form of cyber extortion, explaining its four attack stages—Infiltration, Encryption, Ransom Demand, and Consequences. He also shares that since ransomware is responsible for 33% of breaches in growing firms and has an average cost of $4.88 million per incident, prevention is critical.

The presentation covers proven DIY strategies, including Enhanced MFA, system patching, security training, isolated backups, and advanced endpoint detection for preventing ransomware breaches. It also provides insights into key questions to ask outsourced IT providers to ensure robust cybersecurity if outsourcing makes sense for your firm.

In short, this session equips growing law firms with the tools and knowledge to stay ahead of ransomware threats and safeguard client data.

Christian Kelly, Chief Technology Officer, Xantrion

Life as an attorney can be exhausting, overwhelming, and all-consuming. The constant stress and demands on your time can put any attorney in a never-ending cycle that can lead to burnout or otherwise harm the career you have worked so hard to build. In this program, family law attorney turned life coach and author Wendy Meadows will discuss what “burnout” really means, what it looks like in the legal profession, identify the signs to look for that might signal that burnout is on the horizon, and give you the tools you need to overcome burnout starting NOW! To delve even deeper into the discussion, special education lawyer and trained moderator Jackie Deam will be helping to facilitate the presentation to ensure Wendy answers the questions on everyone’s mind.

In a culture that demands constant performance and productivity, attorneys have been conditioned to sacrifice their personal well-being in order to succeed. Ironically, this self-neglect undermines the very success that they are working so hard to achieve.

As a physician specializing in obesity medicine, clinical nutrition, and mind-body health, our panelist brings decades of experience to support high-achieving professionals in managing stress through a science-backed, integrative approach. Dr. Youdim’s FUEL method draws on the power of nutrition, movement, restorative rest, and contemplative practices to cultivate resilience, reduce reactivity, and reconnect individuals to their inner wisdom — all essential components in preserving mental clarity and professional capacity under pressure.

In this practical, interactive session, attorneys will gain real-world strategies for managing the stress of high-pressure and demanding workdays alongside the ongoing demands of their personal lives. These tools will help attorneys preserve their well-being and maintain the professional competence necessary to deliver effective and reliable legal services.

Dr. Adrienne Youdim, MD, Physician, Tedx Speaker, Author

In personal injury cases, clients often face trauma, loss, and uncertainty, making civility a cornerstone of effective advocacy. Eric V. Traut, founding partner of Traut Injury Law, will focus on how attorneys can guide clients to present themselves with composure during depositions, interactions with medical experts, and courtroom proceedings. Drawing from practical strategies, the Eric will highlight how respectful behavior builds credibility with judges and jurors while protecting the integrity of a case.

Eric Traut, Traut Injury Law

This program provides an overview of the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, which prohibits hair texture discrimination in the workplace and schools. Presently, the CROWN Act has been enacted in twenty-seven (27) states and has also been enacted in over forty (40) localities across the country. This program will benefit attorneys who practice employment law, advise on employment and human resources matters, and those who litigate or advise on matters related to educational institutions and regulations.

In this presentation, Stacy Monahan Tucker explores disability insurance claims amid layoffs, covering ERISA vs. non-ERISA policies, how terminations affect active or pending disability claims, and key considerations in severance agreements. In addition, the program will discuss whether employees can file claims after termination notices and the evidence required for success, as well as the feasibility of retroactive claims post-termination, including legal limitations. Attorneys will gain practical strategies to advise clients on protecting benefits while managing employer risks.

Stacy Tucker, Monahan Tucker Law

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

This segment delves into disputes related to trade secrets, non-compete agreements, and breach of employment contract claims. Learn about the legal protections and enforceability issues, and how to mediate these disputes effectively while balancing business interests and employee rights.

This training is created with a focus on Attorney Mediators.

This course guides attendees who represent workers through the initial stages of employment arbitration. The course includes reviewing arbitration agreements, responding to employers’ demands for arbitration, selecting an arbitrator, and creating a plan of action through early conferences for a successful outcome.

Ann Hull, Hull Household

This segment provides practical tools and strategies for preparing for and succeeding in employment mediation. Topics include risk analysis, objective case evaluation of employment disputes, selecting the right mediator for employment matters, drafting effective mediation statements, mediator proposals, understanding mediation dynamics in workplace disputes, and crafting comprehensive settlement agreements in employment cases.

This training is created with a focus on Attorney Mediators.

This webinar will explore the critical details of navigating employment settlements. Gain clarity on tax implications of employment claims, and discover why tax planning for potential claims should start before filing. Our panelists will also explore the enforceability of key terms within these agreements from the plaintiff and defense perspectives, including general releases, waivers of rights, confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses, restrictive covenants, non-monetary terms, liquidated damages, and more. Join us for this deep dive into employment settlements.

Ask the speaker a question. Email and be sure to include the program name in the subject line.

Join us for a program designed to help attorneys prepare effectively for class and/or PAGA mediations and avoid common pitfalls that lead to wasted time and stalled progress during mediation. Our speakers will walk you through a practical pre-mediation checklist with key steps to ensure all parties are aligned before mediation begins—so the mediator does not have to spend hours trying to get both sides on the same page resulting in the parties not getting to the important part, the numbers, until late in the day. This program will also highlight the importance of clear, proactive communication between plaintiff, defendant, and the mediator. Attendees will receive practical tips, timelines, and handouts to set their class and/or PAGA mediation up for success and make the most of their time at the mediation table.

Barbara DuVan-Clarke, Blackstone Law
Danielle GruppChang, Blackstone Law

This segment addresses the top 15 recurrent issues in employment mediations, equipping attorney mediators with the knowledge to handle complex challenges such as:

• Emotional distress damages
• Mitigation documents
• Punitive damages
• 1102.5 retaliation
• Supervisor strict liability
• Same actor defense
• Documentation in disability cases
• Pre-existing performance concerns
• Good faith settlements with joint tortfeasors
• New standard for harassment claims
• Need for catharsis
• Insurance coverage
• Insurance issues with commingled cases
• 558.1 individual liability
• Arbitration agreements
• Poverty defense/inability to pay
• 998 offers
• Recurrent issues in employment settlement agreements

This training is created with a focus on Attorney Mediators.

This presentation is designed to guide participants in the theory and practical skills necessary for gathering, interpreting, and analyzing evidence in workplace investigations. Participants will gain insight on interview techniques to obtain relevant and reliable information and guidance on using credibility assessments to make sense of the evidence gathered. Finally, a practical case study will be used to showcase real-world evidence and credibility scenarios.

Ask the speaker a question. Email and be sure to include the program name in the subject line.

Susan Arduengo, Owner, Arduengo Investigations Professional Law Corporation
Aisha Shelton Adam, Founder and Managing Partner, Adam Investigations Counsel
Andie Fields, Attorney,Genie Harrison Law Firm, APC (Moderator)

Andrew Smith is a trusts and estates litigator at the law firm Weinstock Manion, A Law Corporation and Cynthia Grande is the founding attorney of The Grande Law Firm where she represents families in the areas of bankruptcy and immigration law. This program will discuss what you need to know when your employment case involves the bankruptcy or death of a plaintiff or defendant.

Cynthia Grande, Founding Attorney, The Grande Law Firm
Andrew G. Smith, Senior Counsel, Weinstock Manion
Lorena Vasquez, Partner, Vazquez Law (Moderator)

This webinar will explain the nature of workers' compensation liens in civil litigation and will provide settlement strategies from the various points of view of the personal injury attorney, subrogation attorney, and defense counsel. As a mediator, our panelist has seen the different tactics taken and will explain the positives as well as the pitfalls.

The major learning objective will be to explain workers' compensation subrogation in light of a pending personal injury claim and the strategies that can be embarked upon during settlement discussions. This session will discuss theories of third party liability, employer liability and the obstacles that should be avoided during negotiation.

An analysis into the intersection between employment law and workers? compensation including a look into reasonable accommodations, the interactive process, distinctions between workers? compensation law and disability claims under the FEHA, Labor Code 132a claims and impact on settlements.

This program focuses on the importance of drafting class/PAGA releases with precision to avoid unintended pitfalls. It also covers key considerations for negotiating class/PAGA settlements in mediation, including factors that help determine the appropriate time to mediate, the scope of legal claims to be mediated, the importance of pre-mediation disclosures and the exchange of necessary data and documents, mediator selection, and other practical considerations.

Justin Marquez, Signature Resolution
Allison Eckstrom, Signature Resolution

This segment addresses strategies for creating a safe environment for all parties, including when and how to involve external supports and services. Learn about the legal standards for harassment and defamation, strategies for addressing harm, and techniques for mediating these sensitive disputes.

This training is created with a focus on Attorney Mediators.