CLE Program

For many, the world of work is a very different place than it was four years ago, when we hosted the last EMI.  The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact in the workplace for both employers and employees which has led to new challenges for mediators. This half-day program will focus on how changes to the modern workplace have impacted our role and approach as employment mediators. We'll start with an in-depth look at the mediator's role in disputes, considering whether mediators can offer more to their clients than just closing the deal.  From there, we'll dive into the latest California employment law updates, with perspectives from both sides of the bar.  And, we'll close by giving you practical skills for your mediator toolkit, based on recent neuroscience and lessons learned about work in a post-pandemic world.

The conference will be followed by a networking mixer at El Cholo Restaurant.

Please join CCCBA, ADR Services, Inc and JAMS as they present retired Judges Steve Austin,  Barry Baskin, Ellen Sickles James and Winifred Smith in discussion on matters of Civility.

Discussion topics will include:
The importance of being civil to maintain your reputation and health.
+NEW Rule 8.3 California Rules of Professional Conduct - Reporting Professional Misconduct (eff. 8/1/2023)
What does it mean -  Who must act – when and why.
The responsibility of the law firm culture to manifest civility throughout the entire legal system.
How unconscious bias affects how we treat our clients, counsel and others in the legal community.
Recognizing how word choice, body language and body awareness – can create more civil and productive interactions.
Our responsibility to our local community and why civility matters even outside the law office and the courtroom.

The Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar have a new addition as of August 1- Rule 8.3.  This Rule mandates all lawyers “shall” without delay report to the State Bar “credible evidence that another lawyer has engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or reckless or intentional misrepresentation or misappropriation of funds or property that raises a substantial question as to that lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.”

What does Rule 8.3 mean?  How will it impact my relations with other attorneys, my colleagues, my attorney friends, and even business partners? What does “credible evidence” of misconduct mean?  What happens if I don’t report another attorney?

MANDATORY REPORTING OF OTHERS’ MISCONDUCT IS HERE!  Have these and many other questions addressed by our panel of ethics and practice experts- the Bay Area’s first seminar for trial lawyers on how to live with Rule 8.3!

With fewer trials these days a lot of our cases are won or lost on discovery. We’re seeing aggressive and burdensome discovery early on in cases from both sides. What is the method behind this madness? What are respondents doing? Are they challenging onerous discovery by motion? What both sides are doing together? What are the best ways to resolve disputes? Tips from the Bench: What troubling/challenging discovery issues is the court seeing? What discovery issues are worth taking to court? What does the court recommend to help streamline discovery? When does the court award sanctions? Are Informal Discovery Conferences effective?

Join us for an illuminating session where we unravel essential soft skills required in successful mediation. Explore the art of controlling narratives – a skill that empowers attorneys to guide conversations and outcomes in a constructive direction. Gain insights into managing expectations and fostering a conducive environment for resolving conflicts and facilitating understanding. Unearth the concept of parallax – the subtle differences in viewpoints – and learn how to navigate them skillfully to bridge divides and create common ground. Whether you're an experienced practitioner looking to refine your skills or a newcomer seeking to understand the nuances of successful mediation, this webinar offers invaluable strategies and insights. Join us as we delve into the heart of mediation mastery, equipping you with the tools to orchestrate productive conversations, manage expectations, navigate diverse perspectives, and empower parties to take control of their narratives.

The stage is set: a motorcyclist collides with a driver making a left turn. The mediation is scheduled for September 13, 2023 at 12 p.m. Join real life Mediator Judge Paul Beeman, as he works with plaintiff’s counsel Doris Cheng, Esq. (Walkup Melodia) and defense counsel Jahmal Davis, Esq. (Hanson Bridgett) to present a mock mediation of this dispute. The fact pattern will be fake, but the negotiation and settlement strategies employed will be very real. From pre-mediation calls and brief submission, to moving through negotiations our panelists will employ bracketing, counter offers, private caucuses and other strategies to demonstrate how a real-life mediation might play out. At the end, you decide – should they take the deal?

Join us for this fast-paced mock mediation program, not to be missed both for newer practitioners, and seasoned attorneys looking for a peek into the private rooms in mediation.

This seminar will cover recent developments in employment law, including class actions, arbitration, and numerous other topics. Mr. Loeb and Justice Lambden will be sharing their experience and insights on particular issues and considerations for effective employment law alternative dispute resolutions.

Stay up to date with the ever-evolving realm of employment arbitration with this highly informative program. Discussing new case law, statutory updates, mass filings and other current trends, our seasoned panel of retired judicial officers and attorney arbitrators will offer valuable, comprehensive, and thought-provoking insights into the most pertinent trends and events, delving into the implications they hold for the future of employment arbitration and the greater employment dispute resolution industry.

Alternative Dispute Resolution is one of the fastest growing practices among both attorneys and retired judicial officers. Attorneys interested in starting a mediation practice must be aware that ADR professionals confront ethical issues at every phase of their practice, from advertising to potential clients to the period following conclusion of the mediation session. Awareness of these ethical issues and preparing how to handle them will structure a smoother transition into a mediation practice. In this program, Joanna Barron, Executive Vice President of ADR Services, Inc., one of California’s most successful alternative dispute resolution provider firms, will provide insight on navigating these ethical issues while at the same time building a robust and thriving ADR practice.

At the 2023 California Lawyers Association (CLA) Annual Conference, San Francisco Chronicle Court Reporter Bob Egelko will interview former Supreme Court Justice Hon. Ming Chin about his legacy, jurisprudence, and career. This program will be offered as part of the CLA’s Annual Meeting, where legal professionals all over California and beyond meet to learn and connect. This three-day conference is packed with inspiring keynotes, MCLE on emerging topics across practice areas, and fun networking events.

This year’s annual favorite is designed to give lawyers of all levels the practical tools and skills to move a case from inception to trial. This online program will provide associates and those new to the defense practice an in-depth preparatory course in this specialized field. Presented by skilled local attorneys and experienced mediators, this seminar series will provide training on how to open a new file; develop and effectively communicate a litigation strategy; and navigate written discovery and depositions.

In addition, our panelists will review best practices for law and motion work as well as preparing a case for mediation and trial. Upon completion of the series, participants will have gained the skills necessary to defend a client from day one to trial.

Presentations will run from 4:30 - 6pm | Q&A from 6pm - 6:30pm

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

• September 6 - Week 1: So You've Got a New File, Now What?
• September 13 - Week 2: Written Discovery
• September 20 - Week 3: Depositions
• September 27 - Week 4: Law and Motion
• October 4 - Week 5: ADR
• October 11 - Week 6: Trial Prep

Join two experienced retired judicial officers in the highly requested part 2 of this program as they delve beyond the Dissomaster into advanced child support issues in family law disputes. The speakers will get into the real details as they discuss deviations from guideline child support, child support add-ons, imputed and unusual income items, and proof of income. This program is targeted towards family law practitioners. Make sure to check out Part 1, available through the Alameda County Bar Association MCLE online catalog.