Ethics of Putting Your Cases
in Your Novel
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 - Noon-1:00pm
1.0 WA Live ETHICS Credit (approved)
$79 first attorney / $59 each add’l attorney (same line)
From Perry Mason to John Grisham to Law & Order, we know that the public has an insatiable appetite for the drama of trials and the legal process. We lawyers tend to be excellent storytellers – and many of us are itching to jump from the demands of practice to the creative life of the novelist. But wait! The RPCs will follow you wherever your imagination takes you. What can you tell? What must remain forever secret?
10 Essentials to Winning Appeals
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Fri, Dec. 30, 8:00-9:00am PT – 1.0 WA Live MCLE Credit (approved)
Trial was the battle – the appeal is the whole war. After serving as a judicial clerk for a State Supreme Court, and handling over one hundred appeals in his career, Mr. Schein has a keen sense of what goes into winning appeals. No guarantees, of course, but adhering to the practical tips in this quick checklist will definitely improve your chances of success on appeal.
The Constitutionality of
Health Care Reform
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, 7:00-9:00am PST
2.0 WA Live MCLE Credits (approved)
The most significant – and controversial – accomplishment of the Obama administration is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Democrats maintain that this Act is crucial to curbing runaway federal spending, but Republicans attack it on Commerce Clause and other grounds as an infringement of fundamental liberty. Recent lower court decisions – including one joined by Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna – are split on the PPACA’s constitutionality, and this issue is headed like a runaway train straight to the Supreme Court. We will analyze the lower court decisions to date, and the Supreme Court's recent grant of certiorari, so that you are informed about one of the most important issues of our time.
Supervisory & Subordinate Lawyers
and Nonlawyer Assistants
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Weds., Dec. 28, 2011 – Noon-1:00 pm
1.0 WA Live ETHICS Credit (approved)
If you practice in a firm you are probably either supervising lawyers, or supervised by lawyers. In addition, most lawyers supervise nonlawyer assistants in the course of representing their clients. In all these situations, special ethical rules determine who is responsible for violation of the RPCs by the subordinate lawyers or nonlawyer assistants. This CLE will help you put into place effective management procedures to minimize exposure to this area of potential ethical liability.
Ethical Legal Marketing
Toll-Free Teleconference w/ Online Powerpoint
Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, Noon-1:30 pm
1.5 Live WA ETHICS Credits (approved)
The first requisite of practicing law is attracting clients. Are you considering marketing your services, or expanding existing marketing? Whether you use traditional media, the latest social networking media, email newsletters, or some combination thereof, it is imperative that you comply with Chapter 7 and other applicable provisions of the RPCs. This teleconference gathers together the key provisions of the RPCs, plus the teaching of the most significant case law and WSBA Ethics Opinions, all in one well-organized and lively presentation.
Communication with Clients
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thurs., Dec. 22, 2011, Noon-1:00 pm PT – 1.0 Live ETHICS Credits
A large percentage of ethics complaints are triggered by lack of communication. We’ll cover the basic rules, RPC 1.4 and RPC 1.5(b), and then dig a little deeper by examining: (1) the interrelationship of RPC 1.4 with RPC 1.2, 1.14 and 1.13; and (2) cases sanctioning attorneys for communications violations. Attorneys will learn simple law office management techniques to help support adequate client communication, and minimize the risk of this kind of ethics violation.
2011 Washington Ethics Highlights
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Wednesday, December 21, 2011, Noon-1:00 pm PT
1.0 WA live ETHICS MCLE (approved
We will review the Washington Supreme Court disciplinary decisions handed down in 2011, as well as other Washington decisions involving ethics issues, the WSBA Ethics Committee Opinions, and key disciplinary proceedings from 2011, covering such topics as the ethical use of ex parte proceedings, constitutionality of provision of ELC that makes the record of a criminal conviction conclusive evidence of the underlying misconduct in a disciplinary proceeding, communication with client regarding fees, discipline for wire fraud, and more!
The Ethical Duty of Confidentiality
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, Noon-1:00 pm PT
1.0 Live ETHICS Credits (approved)
The essence of the attorney-client relationship is confidentiality. Yet there are circumstances in which confidential information can be disclosed. RAP 1.6 is complex, and made more so by voluminous commentary and interpretations. It is the purpose of this CLE to provide attorneys with a concise one-hour overview of the key ethical duties pertaining to confidential communications so they can spot potential problem issues as they arise in practice.
Trial by Fire: Liberty!
Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, 12:30-5:00pm
Good Shepherd Center, Rm 202
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle 98103
4.0 WA Live MCLE Credits (approved)
From Zenger to Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus to Lochner to Nazis tried in secret to Citizens United, the American experience has been a collision of ideals, greed, liberty, fear, suppression and desire. Under our “government of laws, not of men,” every major innovation and controversy in American life ultimately finds its way into the courtroom, and often from there, directly into the lore of our perpetually reinvented Nation. This CLE explores some of the most infamous legal disputes in our rollicking history for what they can teach us about the outer limits of liberty.
Fundamental Law:
Framing the Constitution
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thurs., Dec. 8, 2011, 3:30-5:00 pm PT – 1.5 Live WA MCLE Credits
Although it is the fundamental source of American law, the Constitution is the product of political conflict and compromise. We’ll examine the politics of Confederation America in the 1780’s, Shay’s Rebellion, and then step inside the Philadelphia Convention to witness the key compromises that made the Constitution. We’ll look at the messy ratification process, the addition of a Bill of Rights, and finally, we’ll step back to consider the controversial question of how to approach constitutional interpretation.
The History & Framing of the Establishment Clause
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, 3:30-5:00 pm PT
1.5 Live WA MCLE Credits (approved)
Every holiday season brings disputes over separation of Church and State – where to place the crèche or menorah, whether a Christmas tree is religious or public employees can say “Merry Christmas.” Where does all this come from, and why does it matter? By examining the history underlying the Establishment Clause, this CLE is designed to strip away the political baggage, and reacquaint us with the purpose of this essential component of religious liberty.
The End of Class Actions?
Choice of Law, Causation &Arbitration
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thursday, June 9, 2011, 3:30-5:00pm PT
1.5 Live WA MCLE (approved)
Two recent decisions – one from the Washington Supreme Court, one from the United States Supreme Court – have made it more difficult to maintain class action lawsuits. In Schnall v. AT&T Wireless(WA 6/24/2010), a 5-4 Majority of the Washington Supreme Court addressed the effect of a choice of law provision on a putative nationwide class action, and also analyzed the effect of causation under the Consumer Protection Act on class action certification. In AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion (US 4/27/2011), a 5-4 Majority of the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the effect of an arbitration clause on class action certification. In both cases, the corporate defendant won significant victories. Whether you represent plaintiffs or defendants, you will need to confront the changing face of class action litigation.
Iqbal-Twombly vs. McCurry:
What Do You Need to Plead?
A Toll-free Teleconference
Thursday, March 17, 2011, 3:30-5:00 pm PT
1.5 Live WA MCLE (approved)
In a pair of decisions from 2007 and 2009 commonly lumped together as Iqbal-Twombly, the United States Supreme Court has significantly re-cast the balance between plaintiffs and defendants at the pleading stage by overruling Conley v. Gibson and instituting a "plausibility" test.In 2010, however, our State Supreme Court rejected the Iqbal-Twombly standard.Where are we now?Where are we heading?Are we to return to the era of "fact pleading" in Federal Court?How much do you really need to plead to get past that initial motion to dismiss?Those are the questions examined in this CLE – questions that every litigator must confront.
The Client-Lawyer Relationship
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Weds, Nov. 9, 2011 & Thurs., Feb. 24, 2011, Noon-1:00 pm
1.0 Live WA ETHICS Credit (approved)
It is no secret that many ethical duties are owed to our clients. But when does a person or entity become the lawyer’s client? Who is the client? What about prospective clients, where the lawyer does not “take the case”? When and how can a lawyer decline or terminate representation? This CLE is intended to address these questions, which are fundamental to proper application of many of the other ethics rules.
Best of RUBRIC 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (registration @ 8:00am) - Good Shepherd Center, Rm 202, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle 98103
6.5 WA Live WA MCLE, including 2.0 ethics (approved #267554)
As RUBRIC nears the end of its second full year as a local provider of quality Washington CLEs, we take this occasion to reprise some of the highlights from 2010.Spanning crucial legal battles from the early days of Washington Territory to 2010, this is a CLE guaranteed not to put you to sleep!
Bush v. Gore 10 Years Later
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 3:00-5:00pm PT
2.0 Live WA MCLE, including 0.5 ETHICS (approved)
Bush v. Gore ended vote counting and decided a razor-thin American Presidential election on novel and highly activist Equal Protection grounds.But can it be considered a landmark case if ten years later it has yet to be cited by the U.S. Supreme Court?This CLE re-examines how the Supreme Court played the decisive role in choosing the President in 2000, the legal reasoning of the Court, and what the decision means for the rule of law in a Republic.The final half-hour is devoted to a discussion of the judicial ethical issues involved, including duties of independence and recusal.
2010 Washington Judicial Highlights: Civil & Ethics
Tel: Jan 26-28, 2011
InPerson: Friday, December 17, 2010, 12:30-5:00 pm (registration @ noon)
Good Shepherd Center, Rm 202, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle 98103 - 4.0 WA Live WA MCLE, including 1.0 ethics (approved)
Metadata production - Abrogation of the Economic Loss Rule - Duty to Cooperate in Bar Discipline - Dissenters' Rights in LLCs - & much more!
While you were busy serving your clients the courts were busy cranking out decisions – including many you need to know about. Is there a stack of unreviewed advance sheets under a pile somewhere in your office? No worries – we’ll present the 2010 Judicial Highlights from the Washington Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals, in a way that is both informative and entertaining. This CLE will survey the key Washington State civil and ethics cases decided in 2010 that made new law, overruled prior precedent, significantly extended existing law, or dealt with a subject of substantial public interest.
Trial by Fire 3:
Infamous Cases That Define America
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010, 12:30-5:00 pm (registration @ noon) – Good Shepherd Center, Rm. 202 – 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle 98103
4.0 WA Live MCLE Credits (including 0.5 ethics) (#266373 approved)
Certain cases, terrible in themselves, provide deep insight into the American experience.Rubric’s “Trial by Fire” series takes an unblinking look at the soft underbelly of American law, finding powerful lessons there.Under our “government of laws, not of men,” every major controversy in American life ultimately finds its way into the courtroom, and often from there directly into the lore of our perpetually reinvented Nation. This CLE explores some of the most infamous cases in legal history for what they can teach us about trial practice, discrimination – and the essential modern value of tolerance
Monkey-Trial to Intelligent Design:
the Evolution of Religion in the Classroom
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, 3:30-5:00 pm PT – 1.5 Live WA MCLE Credits (#266370 approved)
Efforts to maintain government neutrality on religion have repeatedly stumbled on the question of what to teach our children in public school about the origins of humanity and the diversity of life.From the notorious Scopes monkey trial to modern-day trials over the teaching of so-called “intelligent design,” the law has confronted the question of where faith leaves off and science begins.This CLE will explore these fascinating and fundamental questions in light of the purpose of the First Amendment Establishment Clause.
The Establishment Clause:
Origins & Meaning
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Tues., Nov. 30, 2010, 3:30-5:00 pm PT – 1.5 Live WA MCLE Credits (#266368 approved)
Every holiday season brings disputes over separation of Church and State – where to place the crèche or menorah, whether a Christmas tree is religious or public employees can say “Merry Christmas.”Where does all this come from, and why does it matter?By examining the history underlying the Establishment Clause, this CLE is designed to strip away the political baggage, and reclaim an original understanding of this essential component of religious liberty, which the Framers made first among our rights.
Review of Private Arbitration Awards:
Washington & Federal
Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, 12:30-5:00 pm
Good Shepherd Center, Rm. 202 - 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Seattle 98103 - 4.0 WA Live MCLE Credits (including 0.5 ethics) (approved #266252)
The law governing review of private arbitration awards has been in flux recently on both the State and Federal levels – but with very different results.Although the courts give significant deference to arbitrators, the client on the losing side of an arbitration award may benefit from further review.It is the purpose of this CLE to help you evaluate when to challenge an award, and how to maximize the client’s chance of success if the decision is made to seek review.
Faculty:John A. Bender, Linda B. Clapham, Carl J. Carlson, Colleen Kinerk, and Michael Schein.
The Future of Gun Control
Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 3:00-5:00 pm
Toll-Free Teleconference w/ Online Powerpoint
2.0 Live WA CLE Credits (approved #266251)
The Second Amendment has suddenly sprung to prominence on the strength of two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions:McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010), and District of Columbia v. Heller (2008).Read in combination, Americans now have a fundamental and federally-protected personal right to bear arms in self-defense. But many questions remain, and now we embark on the hard, case-by-case work of determining the scope of that right.Can your neighbor keep a rocket-propelled grenade launcher?Must guns be allowed into the courthouse?Can handguns be banned?What about open carry laws?What are the limits on the newly announced Second Amendment rights?This fascinating CLE will put you in the know on one of the most important and controversial legal issues of our time.
Toil & Trouble:
Witch Hunts & the Law
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Friday, Oct. 29, 2010, 3:00-4:30 pm PT – 1.5 Live WA MCLE
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 are such a fertile metaphor for law run amok that if they didn’t exist Arthur Miller would have had to create them.Our Halloween treat for all hardworking lawyers is this in-depth examination of witch hunts from Salem to Wenatchee, and the lessons we can learn from them.
Flat-Fee Agreements & the RPCs
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thurs., Feb. 10, 2011, & Oct. 21, 2010, Noon-1:00 pm PDT – 1.0 Live WA ETHICS Credit (approved #265776)
As times get tough more clients are demanding value and predictability in the legal fees they pay.There are many articles suggesting the practitioner gains competitive advantage in this market by offering flat-fee billing in the commercial, corporate, and even litigation fields, but they rarely pause to consider the particular ethical issues raised by such agreements. This CLE is intended to help fill that gap.
Democracy Under Citizens United
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010, Noon-5:00pm – 4.0 WA MCLE (approved #264639) - Good Shepherd Center, Rm. 202 - Seattle
The 5-4 decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm’n (2010) has been praised as a guarantee of strong protection of political free speech, and criticized as a blow to democratic government.This is a far-reaching and controversial decision that will have consequences for many years to come, both politically, and for attorneys who advise on election law issues and corporate governance.This CLE is designed to inform you about the essential holding and reasoning behind this landmark case, as well as to explore the deeper questions it raises about self-governance under the First Amendment.
Faculty: Justice Faith Ireland, Mike King, Bill Maurer and Michael Schein.
Original Intent(s):Inside the Constitutional Convention
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thurs., Sept. 30, 2010, 3:00-5:00 pm PDT – 2.0 Live MCLE Credits
September is “Constitution Month,” and Rubric celebrates with this historical look at the Constitution, not as some fixed and revered compendium of abstract truths, but as the product of real conflict and compromise.We’ll examine the politics of Confederation America in the 1780’s, Shay’s Rebellion, and then step inside the Philadelphia Convention to witness the key compromises that made the Constitution.We’ll look at the messy ratification process, the addition of a Bill of Rights, and finally, we’ll step back to consider the manifold meanings imposed on the Constitution, and the controversial question of how to approach its interpretation.
CLICK HERE to register or for more information
Sssshhhh!
A Primer on Attorney Confidentiality
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Sept. 23 & Dec. 28, 2010, Noon-1:00 pm PDT – 1.0 Live ETHICS Credits (Approved)
The essence of the attorney-client relationship is confidentiality.Yet there are circumstances in which confidential information can be disclosed.RAP 1.6 is complex, and made more so by voluminous commentary and interpretations.It is the purpose of this CLE to provide attorneys with a concise one-hour overview of the key ethical obligations pertaining to confidential communications so they can spot potential problem issues as they arise in practice.
The Declaration of Independence:Origins & Relevance
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint - Thurs., Sept. 16, 2010, Noon-1:30 pm PDT – 1.5 Live MCLE Credits (Approved)
September is “Constitution Month,” and Rubric celebrates with a two-part examination of our founding documents.In this first class, we look at the Declaration of Independence, which Lincoln called the “anchor of American republicanism.”We will examine the origins of the Declaration in English and American political experience, dig deep into the “negative constitution” of the Declaration, and consider its historical and current relevance as a source of law.We will also explore the fascinating question of whether the Declaration created one nation or thirteen independent sovereignties, with its implications for the never-ending debate over Federalism.
Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Weds., July 14, 2010, Noon-1:00 pm – 1.0 WA Live Ethics MCLE Credits (approved)
RPC 8.4(d) states that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to “engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.” This broad prohibition appears in many bar complaints. What does it mean? This one-hour ethics teleconference gives specific meaning to the “conduct prejudicial” clause, with reference to decisions of the Washington Supreme Court and the key WSBA Ethics Committee opinions.
Advice & Politics & Consent: Confirmation to the Supreme Court
Thursday, June 24, 2010, Noon – 1:30 pm
Toll-Free Teleconference w/ Web Powerpoint
1.5 Live WA MCLE Credits (Approved)
As the Nation gears up for another grueling Supreme Court confirmation battle over Elena Kagan, we examine the history of Senate confirmations of Supreme Court nominees, with particular focus on the contentious Brandeis nomination, the 1987 rejection of Robert Bork, and the so-called “high tech lynching” of Clarence Thomas. We conclude with an examination of orthodox view versus the reality of the job of a Supreme Court Justice, and the ways in which politics undermine serious advice and consent.
Corporate Speech Under Citizens United
Wednesday, May 19, 2010, Noon – 1:30 pm
Toll-Free Teleconference w/ Online Powerpoint
1.5 Live WA CLE Credits (Approved)
The 5-4 decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm’n (2010) has been praised as a guarantee of strong protection of political free speech, and criticized as a blow to democratic government.This is a far-reaching and controversial decision that will have consequences for many years to come, both politically, and for attorneys who advise corporate clients.This CLE is designed to inform you about the essential holding and reasoning behind this landmark case, as well as to explore the deeper questions it raises about the nature and purpose of political speech under the First Amendment.
Sacco & Vanzetti: Bias & the Political Trial
Wednesday, May 12, 2010, Noon – 2:00 pm
Toll-Free Teleconference w/ Online Powerpoint
2.0 Live WA CLE Credits (incl. 0.5 ethics) (Approved)
The trial of Sacco & Vanzetti – two Italian immigrant anarchists tried for robbery and murder in 1921 – was an international cause celebrè at the time, though it is now largely forgotten.As we approach the possible trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, the trial and appeals of Sacco & Vanzetti have much to teach us about the difficulties of reconciling our traditional concepts of fair trial with the political overtones of trying terrorists or other political radicals.
Ethics of Communicating with Jurors
A Toll-free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thurs., Dec. 16 & Weds., April 28, 2010, Noon-1:00 pm – 1.0 WA Live Ethics MCLE Credit (approved)
Communication with jurors is one of the most important – and most delicate - tasks undertaken by the trial lawyer.In addition to legal constraints, there are ethical constraints on such communication, starting from the moment a lawyer tries to understand prospective jurors, to the courthouse elevator, to formal arguments during trial, to post-discharge juror de-briefing.This one-hour teleconference with online powerpoint will make sure that the next time you go to trial you are aware of the applicable RPCs, Court decisions and Ethics Opinions on this important subject.
American Legal History: The Cherokee Cases & The Trial of Leschi
2 Wednesdays, March 17 & 24, 2010
3.5 Live WA CLE Credits (incl. 0.5 ethics)
The first part of this American Legal History CLE explores the tragic conflict between the judiciary and executive over the rights of Cherokees in the 1830’s, which led to the notorious trail of tears. Although Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) & Worcester v. Georgia (1832) established the basis for modern Indian law, they did nothing to save the Cherokees from a terrible fate, and the events were a harbinger of things to come in the west.
The Trial of Leschi CLE explores the fascinating drama behind the first murder case reported in Washington Territorial Reports: Leschi v. Washington Territory (1857).The Medicine Creek treaty did not provide adequate land for the Nisquallies, and war broke out soon after Chief Leschi’s disputed “X” appeared on the document.We will examine the dramatic events that played out as much in the territorial courtrooms as on the battlefield – the declarations of martial law, creation of military tribunals, arrest of Federal judges, murder trials, hung juries, appeal to the Washington Supreme Territorial Court, and the execution by hanging.According to a historical court of inquiry convened in 2004 and presided over by Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, Leschi should never have been tried.
Best of RUBRIC 2009
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, 12:30-5:00 pm (reg. opens @ noon), Red Lion 5th Avenue (1415 5th Ave.), Seattle
4.0 Live WA MCLE Credits, including 1.0 ethics (approved)
As RUBRIC nears the end of its first full year as a local provider of quality CLEs, we take this occasion to reprise some of the highlights from 2009.Spanning crucial legal battles from 1735 to 2008, this is an afternoon guaranteed not to put you to sleep!
2009 Washington Judicial Highlights
Friday, December 18, 2009, 12:30 – 5:00 pm, Red Lion, Seattle
4.0 WA Live CLE Credits, including 1.0 ethics (approved)
While you were busy serving your clients the courts were busy cranking out decisions – including many you need to know about. Is there a stack of unreviewed advance sheets under a pile somewhere in your office? No worries – we’ll present the 2009 Judicial Highlights from the Washington Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals, in a way that is both informative and entertaining. This CLE will survey the key Washington State civil and criminal cases decided in 2009 that made new law, overruled prior precedent, significantly extended existing law, and/or dealt with a subject of substantial public interest.
Gun Control After DC v. Heller
April 8, 2010, & Nov. 19, 2009
Toll-Free Teleconference w/ Online Powerpoint
2.0 Live WA CLE Credits (Approved)
In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the most significant Second Amendment decision in its history – District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which held that the right to bear arms is individual and personal. On September 30, 2009, the Supreme Court accepted certiorari on several gun control cases raising the issue of application of the Second Amendment to the States. The law of gun control is rapidly and fundamentally changing, and every informed citizen should tune in to find out what is happening. Can your neighbor keep a rocket-propelled grenade launcher? Must guns be allowed into the courthouse? What are the limits on the newly announced Second Amendment rights? What is the effect on Seattle’s recent efforts to regulate possession of firearms? This fascinating CLE will put you in the know on one of the most important and controversial legal issues of our time.
Ethical Issues in Representing Clients With Diminished Capacity
A Toll-Free Teleconference w/ Web Powerpoint
Jan. 13, 2010 & Oct. 29, 2009, Noon–2:00 pm - 2.0 Live Ethics CLE Credits
A lawyer must abide by the client’s decisions concerning the objectives of the representation – but what if the client is a minor or has diminished mental capacity? The already complex practice of law quickly grows more complex when it appears that the person who by law steers the ship is unable to understand the nature of the proceeding or is at risk of causing substantial physical, financial or other harm due to diminished capacity. This two-hour teleconference gathers together the key provisions of the RPCs, plus the teaching of the most significant case law and WSBA Ethics Opinions, to examine one of the most difficult issues faced by nearly every lawyer at some stage of their career.
Foundations of American Law: From the Declaration to the Constitution
Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 12:30-5:00 pm, Red Lion 5th Avenue
4.0 Live WA MCLE Credits (approved)
As lawyers, we take the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights as given, the bedrock upon which our legal system is founded.But although we treat them as if they were handed down from on high complete and perfect, in fact they were the product of political and economic struggle and compromise.Furthermore, a full understanding of the Constitution is impossible without some knowledge of our Nation’s false start under the Articles of Confederation.This class provides lawyers with a deeper, more fulfilling vision of our founding documents by placing them in the context of the human struggles that formed them, so that lawyers may continue to play their historic role in keeping them alive.
The Jury Speaks
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Red Lion 5th Avenue, Seattle
3.5 WA Live CLE Credits, including 0.5 ethics
(MCLE Board Approved)
The jury listens and listens and listens, and when at last it speaks most often it simply renders a verdict without explanation.This CLE offers an opportunity to hear from actual jurors about their impressions of the lawyers, the law and the adversary system – what persuaded them, what turned them off, what they were really thinking that led them to decide one way or another.We will have a panel of distinguished experts on hand to comment on what comes up, and of course you will have opportunities to ask questions.But mostly, we will listen.The jurors are coming because they want us to understand how they see the case.Isn’t that what you really want to know?
Faculty:Hon. Douglass A. North, King County Superior Court Judge; Connie Miller, Jury Consultant; Lou Peterson, Partner, Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson; Jan Eric Peterson, Partner, Peterson Young Putra; Michael Schein, Of Counsel, Sullivan & Thoreson.
Ethical Marketing of Legal Services
Toll-Free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 3:00-5:00 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, Noon - 2:00 pm
Thursday, September 10, 2009, Noon - 2:00 pm
2.0 Live WA CLE Credits (2.0 ethics)
MCLE Board Approved
The first requisite of practicing law is attracting clients. Are you considering marketing your services, or expanding existing marketing? Whether you use traditional media, the latest social networking media, email newsletters, or some combination thereof, it is imperative that you comply with Chapter 7 and other applicable provisions of the RPCs. This two-hour teleconference with online powerpoint gathers together the key provisions of the RPCs, plus the teaching of the most significant case law and WSBA Ethics Opinions, all in one well-organized and lively presentation.
Bork & Other 4-Letter Words: Confirmation of Judge Sotomayor
Toll-Free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
Wednesday July 15, 2009, Noon - 2:00 pm
1.75 Live MCLE Credits (0.5 ethics) (approved)
We will review Judge Sotomayor’s experience and her judicial record, with reference to specific decisions she has participated in on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.We will also examine the recent history of Senate confirmations of Supreme Court nominees, including the contentious 1987 rejection of Robert Bork, and the Clarence Thomas / Anita Hill hearings.We will conclude with an exploration of the judicial and legal ethics governing disclosure of information during the confirmation process.
John Marshall:
Soldier, Lawyer, Legislator, Diplomat
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, Noon-1:00 pm
Thursday, June 11, 2009, Noon - 1:00 pm
A Toll-Free Teleconference with Online Powerpoint
1.0 MCLE Credits
Spend lunch with John Marshall – not the lofty Chief Justice you learned about in law school, but the young soldier swept up in the War for Independence, and the young lawyer, struggling to serve his clients and make ends meet.Marshall was 45 years old when he was appointed Chief Justice.Prior to his appointment he had already lived a life full of adventure and accomplishment.This one-hour teleconference, enhanced by online powerpoint, is a fascinating look at Marshall’s early life.
Trial by Fire: Infamous Cases that Define America Parts I & II
Seattle: Dec. 4 & 11, 2009
Spokane: Dec. 8 & 9, 2009
Seattle: May 28 & 29, 2009
3.5 MCLE Credits (.5 ethics) each part
7.0 MCLE Credits (1.0) ethics, combined
From witches to Zenger to OJ to Lochner to Nazis to Bush v. Gore, the American experience has been a collision of ideals, greed, liberty, fear, suppression and desire.Under our “government of laws, not of men,” every major innovation and controversy in American life ultimately finds its way into the courtroom, and often from there directly into the lore of our perpetually reinvented Nation. This pair of legal history CLEs explores some of the most infamous cases in our rollicking history for what they can teach us about the outer limits of law.
Truth or Consequences:
The Bush Administration & the Rule of Law
Friday, May 1, 2009, 8:30 - 5:00, Seattle
Featuring Justice Richard B. Sanders, & Prof. Ron Slye
former advisor to S. African Truth & Reconciliation Commission
6.5 MCLE Credits (including 1.0 ethics)
Torture, detention of enemy combatants, warrantless wiretaps, firing of U.S. attorneys – these are among the most significant allegations of lawbreaking being made against the Bush Administration. Some members of Congress and the public are calling for a Truth Commission.Others are grateful for the protection against a second major terrorist attack, and bemoan Monday-morning quarterbacking.Others agree laws may have been broken, but wish to move forward for political reasons.Still others call for outright criminal prosecution.This seminar will provide an analysis of the key legal issues involved in this important policy debate, ranging from Presidential wartime powers under the Constitution, to the Nuremburg principle in International Law, to the legal status of torture and “stringent interrogation.”The rule of law in a democracy depends on an informed legal profession.It is the purpose of this seminar to help you fulfill this duty.
Washington Death With Dignity Act:
Succeeding in Tough Times:
A Survival Guide for Lawyers & Firms
Friday, March 13, 2009, Seattle
5.0 CLE Credits (MCLE approved)
Keynote Speaker: Gerry Riskin, Edge International
Yes, it’s scary out there.Tens of thousands of jobs lost, both legal and non-legal.Old, trusted clients unable to pay, cutting back on legal services, or even going out of business.New clients scarce as shark’s teeth.Still, every month you need to meet payroll and overhead, not to mention keeping the home fires burning. That's why Rubric LLC has invested in bringing you one of the most internationally acclaimed experts on law office management, Gerry Riskin, to lead a faculty with over a century of combined experience in the business of law. Mr. Riskin will not only speak on "Creating a Powerful Strategic Plan that Will Actually Work," but he will demonstrate implementation of the plan with audience volunteers. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” said FDR in 1933 at the very depth of the Great Depression, and it is as true today as it was back then.The objective of this CLE is to help you banish fear and survive these tough times by implementing concrete strategies for success.
Chains of Law: Women Without Rights
Nov. 13 & Feb. 27, 2009, Seattle.
3.5 CLE Credits (including 0.5 ethics)
All men may be created equal, but what about women? At many times in American history, women have been denied the most basic rights, including the right to vote, the right to hold property, the right to work and to retain their earnings, freedom from domestic violence, decision-making in parenting and even custody in dissolution.The structures of legal oppression reveal much about the chameleon we call law – how it reflects the mores of its time.The many tenacious battles for women’s rights are filled with vibrant women and forgotten stories of individual courage that perfectly illustrate Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s epigram, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”
Chains of Law: Slavery, Jim Crow & Reparations
Friday, November 6, 2009, Seattle.
4.0 CLE Credits (including 0.5 ethics)
Chains of Law: Slavery & Jim Crow
Friday, February 20, 2009, Seattle.
3.5 CLE Credits (including 0.5 ethics)
All men may be created equal, but it is no secret that our nation has a long history of unequal treatment of certain men and women based on the color of their skin.The study of the law of slavery and Jim Crow may seem obsolete with Barack Obama in the White House (which was built with slave labor), but in fact it gives us deep insight into the nature and limits of law itself, as well as the character of our nation.No attorney practicing in 21st Century multicultural America can afford to be unaware of the Faustian bargain upon which our nation was founded, or the bloody conflicts that resulted, which forever transformed our Constitution.
The New Washington Death With Dignity Act: Law & Ethics
Friday, January 9, 2009, Seattle
6.75 CLE Credits (2.0 ethics)
On November 4th, Washington voters approved the new "Death With Dignity Act," under which competent terminally ill residents are authorized to elect to self-administer a lethal dose of medication under certain circumstances. Powerful issues of law and morality intertwine in this highly personal yet societally significant Act. Are you ready to advise a dying client, a dying person's family members, or health care providers and pharmacists, on their rights, immunities, and potential liabilities, under this important new law? Our impressive faculty will make sure that you are. WSBA #217449.
Founding Documents:From the Declaration to the Articles to the Constitution.
3.25 CLE Credits
Friday, December 12, 2008, 1:00 - 5:00 pm - Seattle
Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 1:00 - 5:00 pm - Olympia
As lawyers, we take the Constitution as a given, the bedrock upon which our legal system is founded.But although we treat it as if it were handed down from on high complete and perfect, in fact it is the product of political and economic struggle and compromise.This class provides lawyers with a deeper, more fulfilling vision of our founding document by placing it in the context of the human struggles that formed it, so that lawyers may continue to play their historic role in keeping it alive. WSBA #213115.
Marbury vs. Madison:
The Rumors Behind the Headlines.
3.25 CLE Credits (1.0 ethics)
Friday, December 19, 2008, 1:00 - 5:00 pm - Seattle
Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 1:00 - 5:00 pm - Olympia
Everybody knows that Marbury vs. Madison (1803) stands for the proposition that the Courts are empowered to strike down acts of Congress that conflict with the Constitution – the hallowed power of judicial review upon which American Constitutional Law is based.But just because “everybody knows” something doesn’t make it right.What if judicial review were already well established at the time of Marbury vs. Madison?What if Marbury vs. Madison is viewed in the context of the ongoing power struggle between the Federalists and the Jeffersonian Republicans?This class is a chance to re-examine our understanding of the first case taught in Constitutional law, and to confront the separation of powers problem inherent in judicial review – a problem as current as Presidential "signing statements". WSBA #213167.
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