Texas CLE Course Catalog

As disputes within the financial industry come under the purview of FINRA’s Dispute Resolution Program, mastering the selection of arbitrators, staying updated on rule changes, and strategizing for employment law claims become paramount. This CLE course offers a deep dive into these crucial aspects, providing attendees with indispensable insights for achieving success in FINRA arbitration.

In this 1-hour course, Dr. Brian Russell, Licensed Psychologist and Attorney, discusses issues encountered and interventions employed repeatedly in years of psychotherapy sessions with attorneys. Topics include "impostor syndrome," perfectionism, burnout, and spillover effects on relationships outside of work, as well as tips to help attorneys manage work-related stress more healthily, effectively, and sustainably.

In this 1-hour course, Dr. Brian Russell, Licensed Psychologist and Attorney, updates data reported and ethical issues discussed in his 2020 "Attorney Impairment: Ethical Implications and Difficult Conversations" (also available here at CLE Center). Topics include substance abuse, mental illness, and ethical obligations of attorneys regarding the practice of law if impaired.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the workplace, presenting both opportunities and challenges for employers and employees. It has never been more important to properly prepare your workforce for the use of AI in a way that is safe for your organization. Our panel of experts will discuss the legal and regulatory considerations for AI use in the workplace, and will also share insights and practical advice in regards to addressing potential job displacement concerns, ensuring fair and ethical AI use, and compliance with labor laws.

Arguing appeals is its own art, and arguing immigration appeals adds a level of complexity. Peter Afrasiabi has litigated well over 100 immigration appeals, and uses that experience and his advocacy teaching experience, to give you a nuts-and-bolts program here on how to prepare to argue your immigration appeal. With real world examples and a specific multi-step process to employ, this program will arm you to be present the best appellate argument possible in the context of the highly politicized immigration arena.

Can a state secede? It is unconstitutional? The answer is not as crystal clear as you may think. In this program, Peter Afrasiabi takes you on a fun, interesting journey asking these questions: What does the Constitution say about secession? What does it implicitly say? How do the tenth and fourteenth amendments impact the analysis? What is the scope of the Supreme Court’s post-Civil War opinion on this question? By looking at these questions and some of the data about growing secession movements form California to Texas, as well as some famed legal scholars works on the question, this program gives you all the legal arguments for and against the question of the constitutionality of secession.

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.

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.

Handling a lying witness – whether on deposition or on the witness stand at trial – requires both careful planning and consideration of your overall case strategy. Experienced trial lawyer Paul Fraidenburgh gives expert guidance on what steps you should take when a witness you are examining strays from the facts to ensure that you maximize the benefits for the client you represent. Paul will share valuable tips that will help you with your examinations of all witnesses (lay and expert) in all settings (depositions and trial). This program will benefit litigators of all experience levels.