Vermont CLE Course Catalog

Join us to examine the convoluted litigation history that underlies this immensely popular, global motion picture franchise. Peter chronicles the key legal disputes that plagued the franchise for much of its storied history, and discusses the interesting and complex legal issues those disputes raised.

This program includes a discussion of the ethics involved in disqualification motions and the standards by which motions can and should be brought, and should not be brought, along with the governing patchwork regimes of ethics standards to regulate attorney conduct that apply.

Is there a part of Yellowstone National Park where no one may be charged with any crime? Peter Afrasiabi traces the history of Yellowstone and examines relevant provisions of the U.S. Constitution and federal law to provide an answer to this fascinating legal question.

Two landmark civil rights events occurred in Alabama — the Scottsboro Boys case and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Both of those events have important lessons to teach lawyers about diversity and inclusion in the practice of law. Join the CLE Performer, Stuart Teicher, as he travels to Alabama and delivers a travel-vlog style program

When does ethical witness preparation cross over into unethical witness coaching? The ABA Ethics Committee recently issued Formal Opinion No. 508 that attempts to draw this line with special attention to the unique issues that case arise in remote proceedings. Having spent more than twenty-five years as a law firm and in-house litigator, Zach McGee distills the ABA’s guidance into actionable advice on how best to navigate both traditional and new settings where deposition and trial testimony are being taken. This program also reviews the many benefits of using a deposition prep video with witnesses to help prepare them to testify.

Rules covered include: ABA Model Rules 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.3, 3.4, 4.4 & 8.4.

Can you believe there have been judges who searched a party’s home and seized property, had sex in chambers with former interns and lawyers, jailed a woman for a year for unpaid parking tickets, went on vacation with the prosecutor after a guilty verdict and took bribes to render not guilty verdicts? In these cases, the truth is stranger than fiction and Peter Afrasiabi reviews these unbelievable cases while discussing how these judges flagrantly violated the canons of judicial ethics that govern the conduct of federal and state court judges in the United States. Rules covered include: Code of Conduct for United States Judges, Canons 1, 2A, 3 & 4; Federal Ethics in Government Act, 28 U.S.C. Section 455.

How well do you know that rules that govern transactions with your clients? This course gives a comprehensive overview of issues relating to common scenarios in attorney-client transactions, including all of the factors to consider vividly illustrated through the use of real-world examples. The tripwires are serious with massive consequences, and very easy to trip over, so it's a very practical and useful presentation to make sure you stay within the boundaries.

In this program, Peter Afrasiabi takes on a difficult topic: what standards govern bias by judges and if you believe your judge is biased against you or your client, what can and should you do about it? As you might expect, the answers to these questions involve thorny legal, tactical and ethical issues, and this program gives you the guidance you need should you come face-to-face with a judge whose fairness and impartiality reasonably might be questioned.

Join this program, 'Balancing Duty and Confidentiality: Protecting Privilege and Confidentiality in Child Abuse Cases', where our esteemed speakers will dissect this intricate subject. This session aims to unravel the legal and ethical complexities involved, furnishing participants with effective strategies to uphold confidentiality and privilege in such sensitive scenarios.