CLE Program

Many individuals are serving as trustee for the first time, for a family member or close friend. As attorneys, how involved must you be in outlining their duties, checking in on status, and answering questions regarding trust administration? With recent changes in the economic landscape, the trustee’s obligations in proactively managing assets cannot be ignored. Retired Judge Craig Karlan and Carmen Alberio have reviewed thousands of petitions for breach of fiduciary duty, and have seen the downstream results of trust mismanagement. In this program, learn how to set your individual trustee clients up for success, and check in with them along the way. Judge Karlan and Ms. Alberio are now taking on the world of probate dispute resolution, making use of their combined over 40 years of probate experience, and will also discuss their unique co-mediation approach. For more information or registration questions, please contact (310) 325-4200 or sbba2007@sbcglobal.net.

Pride and Prejudice, Part Deux: In Re The Marriage of Bennett & Darcy - The Child Support Case

The ultimate goal of mediation (and other models) is the consensual resolution of a dispute.   The decision to settle for each party involved is a dynamic process and requires a convergence of various elements.  Real life disputes between humans, and the way we think about resolving a conflict, always involves emotions and relationships.

While legal professionals are trained to focus on the legal and financial rights of the disputants, disputes between family members or others with whom a disputant is (or has been) in a close relationship may place significant value on the relationship itself, recognizing, and sometimes desiring, that the relationship may very well continue after the dispute is resolved.  This is inconsistent with our legal system, which is not designed to focus on “feelings” and the intangible elements of a pre-existing inter-personal relationship between parties.  Rather, in most cases, we treat the other side as the “enemy” or “adversary,” and we effectively presume there will be no need for a functioning relationship between the disputants when the fight is over. This program will explore how part of our duty to our clients is to recognize and advise our clients about the emotional and relational elements that can come into play in consensual dispute resolution, particularly in family disputes.

Join two experienced retired judicial officers 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. This program is presented by the Alameda County Bar Association. Please contact membershipassistant@acbanet.org with any registration questions. Speakers: Comm. Glenn P. Oleon (Ret.) Hon. Anita Santos (Ret.) Cost: FREE to ACBA Members $45 for Non Members with Promo Code “ADRServices” for an exclusive...

Learn to effectively tell your clients’ story and formulate a cogent opening statement that will win over your jury before you call a single witness.

In Hollywood, we are surrounded by some of the most compelling storytellers in the world. Their techniques for captivating an audience and persuading a listener translate perfectly to the courtroom but are applied far less often than expected. A case can be won with a compelling opening statement; it can also be made far more difficult to win with one that is disjoint and emotionless.

In this program, learn from recently retired LA Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan how to present a successful opening statement. Judge Karlan is not only an experienced trial lawyer and trial judge – having tried countless jury trials as both a lawyer and a judge over the past 32 years – Judge Karlan is also a writer, one who has optioned several pilots. Like a theater audience, the jury needs to feel what your client has gone through to care about your case.

Poker players know that misleading an opponent is a useful tool, but when it comes to negotiating, what is the role for truth telling? There is a point when exaggeration becomes deceptive, and a client’s best interests can be disserved by misleading behavior.  This program discusses the role Professional Responsibility Rules do or do not play in controlling mediation conduct and addresses the consequences of deceiving an opponent or the mediator. 

The vast majority of appellate decisions are formed without presentation of oral argument. This makes the strength of the written argument all the more crucial. In this hour program, a retired appellate justice, a justice pro tem, and a senior appellate court attorney will discuss:

1. An overview of appellate writ procedure
2. The trial judge’s response to appellate writs and the types of orders the appellate court can issue
3. How appellate writ petitions are assigned and evaluated in the court of appeal

This panel will be an engaging discussion with current and retired judges discussing their current perspectives in employment cases, trends since COVID-19 has altered the procedural and substantive landscapes of employment law, the logistical nuances that have developed since, and general takeaways on best practices in employment litigation.