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What is the difference between a design patent and a utility patent and which receives more protection under federal law? Peter Afrasiabi answers this question while explaining the key aspects of patent law, common defenses to patent claims including functionality, obviousness, invalidity/prior art and potential damages in the context of famous patent cases involving Apple, LA Gear, Crocs, Nike and Columbia Sportswear. Peter also shares valuable practice pointers for lawyers grappling with patent issues and claims.

In this 1-hour course, psychologist, attorney, author, and television personality Dr. Brian Russell provides actionable insights for attorneys into the alarmingly and increasingly common phenomenon of professional burnout. Participants will learn what burnout is, how it impacts attorneys in and out of the office, how to spot it, how to be more proactive in the avoidance of it, and how to begin to address it if one is in the midst of it.

In this 1-hour course, psychologist, attorney, author, and television personality Dr. Brian Russell provides actionable insights for attorneys who aspire to take better care of themselves and experience greater satisfaction with both their professional and personal lives. Participants will learn skills aimed at helping them to reduce professional burnout risk, to be more sustainably productive, and to live and work more mindfully and meaningfully.

Veteran litigators Andrew Struve and Susan Page White walk step-by-step through the key actions and decisions every litigator must take at the outset of a matter to ensure a smooth start and that nothing is missed. Overlooking even one of these critical steps could lead to at best an unhappy client, and at worst to claims of legal malpractice. The speakers also share an easy-to-follow checklist that all litigators – from the most junior to the more experienced – will find highly valuable to use for every matter that comes in the door.

In the latest installment in the popular “Negotiation Ethics for Lawyers” series, Zach McGee switches gears to show how negotiations are portrayed in some popular films. In part one, the subject is the remarkable film “Hotel Rwanda” where the main character, Paul Rusesabagina, played by Don Cheadle, pulls out every negotiation “dirty trick” in the book while he literally negotiates for his life and the lives of his family during the Rwandan genocide. Zach draws lessons from these examples that you can use in your next real world negotiation and illustrates the legal ethics rules that apply to lawyers when we negotiate. Rules covered includes: ABA Model Rules 1.7 4.1 & 8.4; Cal. Business & Professions Code Sec. 6068.

So you’ve heard of this ChatGPT thing? I guess that means we should talk about it. Of course, this program isn’t only about ChatGPT. To properly understand the ethics issues in that program, we actually have to go a little deeper. So in this program we’ll be talking about the different ethics issues that impact both ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (generally), and a few other new technologies that are relevant to the discussion of generative AI.

In the next installment of this popular series, grab a beer and a box of Cracker Jack as Peter Afrasiabi walks you through the unique legal position that America’s pastime occupies in the United States. From the first pitch -- when the Supreme Court initially conferred regulatory immunity upon the sport – through to what may be the final out – more recent decisions such as NCAA v. Alston that have opened the door for amateur athletes to profit from their names and likenesses, Peter will make you a legal expert on baseball in nine innings or less.

Generative AI has taken the legal world by storm in recent months and with its capabilities and sophistication advancing at a rapid pace, many are wondering how this powerful tool can be applied to the legal profession.