Hot Topics in Legal Ethics 2009
Why Attend?
Get the latest on conflicts of interest, screening, judicial recusal and disqualification, emerging discipline issues, and more.
What You Will Learn
Protecting your clients and your practice require constant vigilance of your ethical obligations. This practical update takes you through the latest developments in attorney and judicial ethics, helping you recognize ethical challenges before they become your problem.
The program's expert faculty explores the types of cases that currently have regulators' attention and highlights recent developments in those areas. They also discuss how courts and disciplinary authorities are interpreting the rules of professional conduct and applying them in claims against attorneys.
Topics include:
Recent decisions on conflicts of interest, screening, and disqualification issues
How courts are using the rules of professional conduct in breach of fiduciary duty and legal malpractice cases
The latest on judicial recusal and disqualification, including a discussion of the recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Caperton v. Massey
The latest trends in disciplinary filings
Other fascinating developments in the interpretation and application of the ethics rules
This interactive seminar gives you the opportunity to submit your questions before and during the program for discussion by the faculty. In addition, all registrants receive a set of downloadable course materials and free access to the archived online program later.
Need ethics credit? This seminar qualifies for 1.0 to 1.2 ethics credit hours, depending on state requirements, in MCLE jurisdictions that accredit live telephone seminars and/or webcasts.
Faculty
Pamela A. Bresnahan is a partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, and is head of the firm's Washington, D.C., litigation group. Ms. Bresnahan serves as trial and appellate counsel in business and commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on professional liability defense and coverage litigation. She represents lawyers, financial institutions, broker/dealers, financial professionals, directors and officers, fiduciaries, insurers and other professionals. Ms. Bresnahan serves as coverage and litigation counsel for insurers issuing errors and omissions policies. She advises law firms and lawyers on management issues and discipline matters. Ms. Bresnahan is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was named by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.
Lucian T. Pera is a partner at Adams & Reese LLP. Mr. Pera practices primarily in the civil trial arena, including a wide variety of commercial, media, intellectual property, and personal injury litigation. He also counsels and represents lawyers, large and small law firms, law departments, clients of lawyers, and others on lawyer ethics, professional responsibility, malpractice, and loss prevention. Mr. Pera's recent assignments have ranged from advice on conflicts of interest or legal advertising, to opinions on lawyer business transactions, to representation in disciplinary and bar admission proceedings, to defense and prosecution of lawyer disqualification motions, to addressing malpractice and loss prevention issues, to expert witness assignments. He has developed a nationwide practice and reputation in this emerging field, and writes and speaks frequently on these issues all over the country.
Total 60-minute hours of instruction: 1.0 ethics; total 50-minute hours: 1.2 ethics
Times
Eastern 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Central 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Mountain 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Pacific & Arizona 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Alaska 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Hawaii 7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
