Yearly Archives: 2018

CLE Course: Understanding How Unconscious Bias Affects Your Legal Cases

We are all biased.  There is no way around it.  Bias has been hardwired into our brains during our species existence on this planet. Bias stems from a biological survival response triggered by a dangerous or stressful event where a split-second judgement is required as part of the flight or fight response. Unconscious Bias Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about certain groups…

CLE on Dealing with Clients and Attorneys with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues

There has been a recent trend in the last few years to place greater emphasis on how substance abuse and mental health issues affects attorneys and the clients they represent. The following specific personality disorders will be discussed: paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dependent, antisocial, histrionic, borderline and narcissistic. In this course, attorney Amy Allemann will address mental health and substance…

CLE: Warning Signs of Potential Employment Lawsuits

It’s a Friday afternoon, you’re trying to wrap up all the loose ends from the week and looking forward to spending some time with your family over the weekend. Then the phone rings. It’s a long time client that runs a tow truck company. He’s decided it’s easier for him to pay all of his drivers as independent contractors… good idea??? Lawsuits…

New CLE on Common Ethics Traps for Attorneys

Pick up the phone and call your clients, don’t “borrow” money from trust accounts, calendar every key deadline & date – the same fundamental ethics principles still hold true for the 21st century lawyer. That’s because the same traditional ethics issues continue to plague lawyers, leading to countless ethics violations and malpractice lawsuits. Lawyers & Ethics The same traditional legal ethics issues…

CA CLE: Complete 1 Hour of Competence Issues

Just a quick reminder for California attorneys.  The former Substance Abuse requirement is now called Competence Issues.  The Substance Abuse category was effectively expanded to cover additional topics like mental health, stress and how it effects attorney’s competence to practice law. California attorneys must make sure to complete at least 1.0 hour of Competence Issues each three-year compliance period. Last names H-M…

CA CLE: Top California MCLE Myths

We always get SWAMPED this time of year. The phone rings off the hook with procrastinating California attorneys looking to get those 25 required MCLE hours. I am always AMAZED at how many California attorneys don’t have the slightest idea about the CA MCLE requirements. Top California MCLE Myths Participatory credit must be take through live courses. All ethics, bias and competence…