Pennsylvania CLE Course Catalog

We all know that CLE programs are boring and a chore to watch. But we’re breaking the rules – a CLE program that’s intentionally funny and (gasp) entertaining, yet somehow still informative. In the latest installment of this popular series, Mark Wooster takes on more outrageous conduct by fictional lawyers in television series, in addition to sharing his sympathies for the real-life lawyer who unwittingly starred in the infamous “I am not a cat” clip that recently went viral. Rules covered include: ABA Model Rules 1.6, 3.3, 7.1 & 8.4; Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct 1.6 & 7.1.

Experienced intellectual property litigator Peter Afrasiabi provides an overview of the key copyright, patent, trademark and trade secret questions that transactional lawyers should be asking when they perform due diligence reviews on behalf of their clients. Intellectual property assets are different from traditional assets in many critical respects, and failure to ask the right questions could lead to unpleasant surprises – and litigation – after a transaction is consummated. The course includes a checklist every transactional lawyer should be using when performing due diligence of valuable copyright, patent, trademark or trade secret assets to ensure that all the bases are covered.

Fighting lawyers, fighting witnesses (literally), threats, put downs and other improper behavior – these are just a few of the deposition disasters that have been caught on camera, including infamous celebrity deponents Justin Bieber and Lil Wayne. In this entertaining program, veteran litigator Peter Afrasiabi chronicles some of the worst deposition disasters and the lessons that can be gleaned from the improper behavior of the lawyers and witnesses involved. This program will be useful for litigators of all levels and highly entertaining for lawyers of every stripe.

In the next installment in this popular series, Zach McGee takes it to the “next level” with an analysis of the sorts of negotiation tricks and bad faith tactics that sophisticated parties often use to try to obtain an advantage in negotiations. Using a hypothetical negotiation between lawyers, the speakers will describe and analyze some of these “next level” negotiation tricks and bad faith tactics, including: Lying about company policy; Lying about other deals; Anchoring; Co-opting the other side’s negotiator; and Nibbling. Along the way, this program will teach you some powerful negotiation techniques and strategies that you can use to ethically respond when the other side is using these sorts of negotiation tricks and bad faith tactics against you. The program will include a review of the key ethics rules that apply when lawyers act as negotiators as well as some useful negotiation techniques and strategies. Rules covered include: ABA Model Rules 1.1, 4.1 & 8.4; ABA Formal Ethics Opinion No. 06-439

The Flag, National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance are all symbols of our nation but did you know these symbols are governed by a detailed set of federal laws? These laws define the flag’s appearance, how it must be flown, and how it must be treated and respected, as well as how we stand during the Pledge and for the National Anthem. In the latest installment of this popular series, Peter Afrasiabi takes you on a fun, interesting journey through the federal laws related to our national symbols, with a look at cases involving flag desecration and flag burning and the First Amendment. We also explore the First Amendment and the challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance’s phrase “one Nation under God,” and we look at a series of cases involving the flying and display of the Confederate flag and its constitutionality.

Legal teams are often overworked and understaffed but are still forced to keep up with their corporation's legal demands. One way to support the growing legal demands is with the use of AI solutions; however, with numerous options available, separating fact from fiction to make informed decisions about AI adoption can be challenging and overwhelming. Hear from our panel of thought leaders as they discuss the common misconceptions about AI, practical approaches to finding solutions that fit your business needs, and key considerations for evaluating AI solutions before they are integrated into your organization.

An effective leader is someone who makes an impact on people, even those outside of their own team. When leading a legal team, you are in a role that is also dependent on other departments being able to trust you, collaborate with you and provide you with pertinent information required to do your job effectively. This panel of legal leaders will share valuable insights on how to build trust, inspire action and drive change across various teams and stakeholders. Join this captivating session to explore effective communication strategies and discuss the value of emotional intelligence, building alliances, and fostering a culture of collaboration and empowerment.

From revolutionizing industries and increasing productivity to displacing jobs and increasing bias, the rapid progression of Artificial Intelligence is impacting society and brings with it a host of ethical considerations and challenges. This session will explore the ethical implications of using AI in legal decision-making, including issues related to bias, privacy, and transparency. Our expert panelists will share best practices to use AI tools ethically and responsibly, and will provide valuable insight on how legal departments are navigating the risks.

As a present-day legal leader, it may feel like you are facing one crisis after another and while you have become adept at handling these situations, it's important for in-house counsel to take a proactive approach to prevent future crisis rather than believing their value lies in the quality of their response to the crisis. This panel will focus on strategies leaders should implement to help their teams get ahead of a crisis, minimize its impact and avoid it as much as possible overall. While you can't always predict what's coming around the corner for your organization, you will walk away from this session with tools that help leaders shift to rewarding efforts in preparing for and minimizing future crises.