CLE Program

Mark your calendar for a full day of insightful discussions at the 2024 Labor & Employment Law Symposium, hosted by the Orange County Bar Association's Labor & Employment Law Section. This in-person event, held on Friday, September 20, 2024, at the Western State College of Law in Irvine, CA, offers 6.0 CLE credits, including specialized sessions on civility, ethics, and bias elimination. Engage with distinguished judges and top legal professionals, deepen your understanding of critical labor and employment law issues, and network with peers over breakfast, lunch, and a reception.

Join us for this instructional Mediation Bootcamp Series designed to provide legal professionals with a comprehensive understanding of and introduction to the mediation process. Part 1 will cover the role of mediation in litigation, key distinctions between mediation and settlement conferences, and the critical elements of confidentiality and mediator conduct under California law. With a focus on practical information, participants will learn how to effectively prepare for mediation, select the right mediator, and navigate challenges during the process. The program will also offer practical guidance on drafting settlement agreements and ensuring successful resolutions. Whether you’re new to mediation or looking to refine your skills, this bootcamp is essential for mastering the art of dispute resolution. Also register for Part 2, which will include a practical demonstration of mediation in action!

Save the date for the 2024 ACBA Labor and Employment Symposium: Litigating and Mediating Employment Disputes. In this mediation focused program, panelists will talk about the top 10 things lawyers and mediators do to undermine successful mediation – and how to avoid them!

What does the day of mediation look like in a trust & estate dispute? How do you negotiate with challenging opposing counsel, or bridge impasse? How do you overcome a stalemate late in the day and ensure that a resolution is reached? Tune in to this program to hear from experienced and effective mediators who navigate these exact situations regularly and learn how to resolve probate, trust & estate disputes through mediation. This program is part 2 of a 2 part series on mediation of trust & estate disputes.

This panel of experienced practitioners will cover the most important new employment laws that should be on your radar.

This webinar will cover settlement tips from top environmental lawyers and mediators on how to resolve environmental matters including CERCLA, Clean Water Act, CEQA and water rights. Topics will include statutory ADR rules in environmental cases, and interactive dialogue on settlement strategies on issues such as: timing, mediator selection, negotiation principles, insurance, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, and preparation and management of the ADR session.

Listen to these panelists share their experiences in managing the unexpected while keeping the mediation on track and moving toward settlement.

Part 2 of our Mediation Bootcamp Series will consist of a practical demonstration of mediation in action. Our panelists, plaintiff’s counsel Bill Munoz, defense counsel Courtney O’Brien, and mediator Peter Linn will mediate this employment dispute and you the audience can decide: should they take the settlement or not?

Kari Jones, a 38-year-old divorced mother of two, worked as an account manager for MerchCo for four years, receiving pay raises and merit bonuses for three of those years. During her fourth year, her male supervisor, Mike, disciplined her for excessive absences, placed her on a performance plan, and denied her a raise or bonus. Kari alleges that Mike, who has been with the company for ten years, made unwelcome sexual advances, which she ignored. She claims that after rejecting his advances, Mike retaliated by using her absences as grounds for discipline. Although an independent investigation uncovered a suggestive email from Mike, no further evidence supported her claims, and the case was closed without action. Kari subsequently resigned and is now suing MerchCo and Mike for constructive termination, hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and retaliation

We are honored to welcome Judge Anita Santos (Ret.) as our distinguished speaker for a fireside chat with Johanna Kwasniewski and Benissa Berry as our moderators. During this engaging conversation, Judge Santos will share insights on: Her background and personal journey, The factors that inspired her to become a mediator, The challenges faced when transitioning from a bench officer to a mediator, Advice for Mediators working with Judges, And much more!

Have a specific question you would like to ask Judge Santos? Email them to smarin@cccba.org by October 10th!

In the spirit of the late Melvin Belli, this seminar serves as a forum to learn innovative strategies, tactics, and techniques to help your law firm thrive. This year, learn from top legal minds and discover how to get a jury or mediator to understand and value the human loss for noneconomic damages.
The 3.5 hour seminar is fast-paced and follows the format pioneered by the late Mr. Belli. The seminar is moderated by Melvin Caesar Belli, son of the late King of Torts, and SCCTLA President, Andrea Justo.

Two experienced mediators and a leading employment attorney will share their tips about how to prepare for and participate in all the stages of the mediation process, with special emphasis on labor and employment, and tort cases. Topics will include how to get ready for the mediation, negotiation skills, and working with the mediator to achieve a successful outcome.

The stage is set: The mediation is scheduled for October 22, 2024 at 12 p.m. Join real life Mediator Debra Bogaards, as she works with plaintiff’s counsel Jacqueline Ravenscroft and defense counsel Erin Poppler to present a mock mediation of this Landlord/Tenant dispute. The fact pattern will be fake, but the negotiation and settlement strategies employed will be very real. From pre-mediation preparation, to moving through negotiations and breaking a stalemate our panelists will demonstrate how a real-life mediation might play out. At the end, you decide – should they take the deal?