Here is another post that lets Convention seminar chairs speak for themselves. In advance of the Bar Convention, I contacted seminar chairs seeking their response to four questions about their upcoming panel. Here are the questions I sent:
- Who should attend this seminar?
- What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?
- How is this seminar timely? (That is: Why do attorneys need to learn more about this topic right now? What’s going on now in the world or in law practice that makes this topic important?)
- What is the most common misconception about this issue? In other words, what do lawyers think they know, but don’t?
Today, I share the responses of those whose seminars are calendared for tomorrow morning, Friday, June 13. (Note: Not all seminar chairs responded.) Click on the seminar title to read more detail as published in the Convention brochure.
A final post will share the responses from the Friday afternoon chairs.
Follow @azattyFriday, June 13, 8:45 am
F-33: Criminal Risks in Real Estate Deals
Chair: James A. Craft, Apogee Physicians
Who should attend this seminar?
James Craft
Criminal defense counsel, real estate transactions counsel and antitrust counsel.
What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?
In real estate deals and financing, what practices are being targeted today by state and federal prosecutors?
How is this seminar timely? (That is: Why do attorneys need to learn more about this topic right now? What’s going on now in the world or in law practice that makes this topic important?)
In Arizona, real estate scams have a colorful history. The 2008 crash created new enforcement priorities. And buyer collusion in foreclosure and tax auctions became a national problem, according to recent DOJ prosecutions – including a jury trial recently in Sacrmento.
What is the most common misconception about this issue? In other words, what do lawyers think they know, but don’t?
“Joint ventures” to purchase real estate at a private or public auction are in some situations bid-rigging, which is a felony.
Friday, June 13, 8:45 am
F-34: ENRLS offers two seminars on Friday morning at the State Bar Conference. The first seminar, titled “Environmental Law: Where we are,” will feature a panel of experienced environmental attorneys who will be discussing developments in the law for air quality, hazardous waste cleanups, water quality and NEPA.
Chair: Sonia Overholser, Department of the Interior, Phoenix Solicitor’s Office
Who should attend?
We tailor this seminar for attorneys and consultants who work in the area of air or water quality compliance, who have some responsibility for hazardous waste clean ups, or who advise or implement the NEPA process, but this seminar is also suitable for any attorneys or consultants who want to stay current in these areas for any reason.
What is the main takeaway?
Sonia Overholser
Attorneys or consultants who attend this seminar will walk away knowing the very latest developments in each of these areas.
How is it timely?
Air and water quality, hazardous waste clean ups, and NEPA are complex legal areas that are constantly evolving and developing. For this reason, we discuss the top developments in the last year so we can focus on the cutting edge of the law in each area.
What are some common misconceptions?
I believe it is a misconception to believe that environmental law has not changed from the way it was taught in law schools, if it was taught in law school. In American legal jurisprudence, environmental law remains relatively young and it has evolved and developed to keep pace with developments in manufacturing and industrial processes, energy generation, land use planning, and scientific improvements for sustaining clean land, air, and water hand in hand with economic development.
Friday, June 13, 10:30 am
Chair: Sonia Overholser, Department of the Interior, Phoenix Solicitor’s Office
Who should attend?
In addition to attorneys or consultants who work in the area of solid or hazardous waste, air or water quality, or NEPA, this seminar would appeal to attorneys or consultants who have an interest in getting a glimpse at where the law might be headed in these areas. This would be critical to any attorney or consultant working with clients who might be encountering any of these areas in the future.
What is the main takeaway?
No one can predict the future, but in this panel we have assembled top attorneys from private practice and the federal and state regulatory areas, as well as an environmental consultant, to share their observations about the major future trends in environmental law.
How is it timely?
Drought; an increasing awareness of climate change; the promises of energy independence; and technological developments transforming the work place are all recent trends that implicate environmental law and create questions about how the law will develop and evolve.
What are some common misconceptions?
I believe that many miss the connection between environmental law and many of the major social and economic trends that have dominated the last decade. It may be easy to spot the relationship between energy generation and environmental law, but there are multiple other connections that may not be perceived as readily. Environmental law remains a critical component for anyone who anticipates playing a role in the major trends of these times.
Friday, June 13, 8:45 am
Co-chair: Hon. Sam Thumma
Who should attend?
Our program is on evidence and the target audience is litigators of all kind and other lawyers who have matters that may end up in litigation.
What is the main takeaway?
Hon. Sam Thumma
The take away will be an overview of recent significant evidence cases and rules changes, as well as a more detailed discussion of selected areas of evidence law, and how to handle application of the Arizona Rules of Evidence to facts through a few dozen hypotheticals with responders, tabulated electronically and discussed with model answers.
How is the program timely?
The program is timely on that it will discuss up to date evidence developments for use in evidentiary hearings of all types.
What are some common misperceptions?
There are many misconceptions about the law of evidence. Ones we will address include privilege issues, expert testimony and the hearsay rule and its exceptions.
Friday, June 13, all day
F-44: Lessons From Employment Law
Co-chair: Joe Kroeger
Who should attend this seminar?
Joe Kroeger
This seminar is for the attorney engaged in the practice of labor and employment law. Whether you represent employees or employers, are in private practice, work for the government, or serve as an in-house attorney, the program will provide updates and offer information that is immediately relevant to your labor and employment practice.
What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?
This year, attendees will walk away with an improved understanding of the key emerging trends impacting their practice – including new initiatives impacting both union and non-union employers at the National Labor Relations Board, current employment issues impacting the sports world, workplace privacy and data security in the digital age, the continued move towards arbitration and evaluating the pros and cons of arbitration in the workplace, and the top five lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues facing employment lawyers.
How is this seminar timely? (That is: Why do attorneys need to learn more about this topic right now? What’s going on now in the world or in law practice that makes this topic important?)
The program centers on several of the most relevant trends and issues facing the practice today. The panelists will focus on the future of our practice in the ever-shifting labor and employment landscape and also evaluate the lessons we have learned from the past.
What is the most common misconception about this issue? In other words, what do lawyers think they know, but don’t?
Many attorneys, and certainly their clients, continue to operate under the misperception that the National Labor Relations Act only applies to unions and unionized companies. Increasingly, the NLRB and the courts are applying the NLRB to non-unionized workforces in ever expanding ways. This seminar will help to educate practitioners as to this developing area, as well as the rapidly developing areas of privacy and data protection and LBGT issues.
Friday, June 13, all day
F-45: Juvenile Law in the Digital Age
Co-chair: Gaylene Morgan
Who should attend this seminar?
- Anyone interested in juvenile law, using technology in the practice of law, or bullying.
- Of particular interest to:
- Attorneys representing children and parents in dependency actions
- Guardians Ad Litem for children
- Assistant Attorneys General representing CPS
- Attorneys representing juveniles or the State in delinquency actions
- Family Law or other attorneys wanting to know more about juvenile law
What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?
CURRENT information regarding juvenile law practice:
- Appellate and Legislative Updates (Update on proposed 2014 Special Session legislation creating a new child welfare agency)
- Using technology in the practice of juvenile law
- What’s being done about bullying? What do kids think about bullying—from the teen panel.
How is this seminar timely? (That is: Why do attorneys need to learn more about this topic right now? What’s going on now in the world or in law practice that makes this topic important?)
- The digital age is changing the way that lawyers practice and the JLS seminar will provide up-to-date information critical to
- Lawyers to keep pace with the changes. The legislative update will include information on the 2014 Legislative Special Session
- The creation of a new stand-alone child welfare agency
What is the most common misconception about this issue? In other words, what do lawyers think they know, but don’t?
That the Juvenile Law Section seminar is only of interest to those practicing in the juvenile law area. Information on technology in the practice of law is of interest and can benefit any lawyer and the bullying topic should be of interest to all. Hearing from teens about the bullying going on over social media and what they think of it is information not readily available. The youth panel is always captivating and thought-provoking.
Friday, June 13, all day
F-47: Family Law and the Brain, 9:45 am session
Responded: Robert Barrasso
Who should attend?
Anyone interested in family law should attend this seminar.
What is the one main takeaway?
Robert Barrasso
The one main take away would be how modern brain science information can help the family law practitioner.
Why is this seminar timely?
This seminar is timely because we are going to be hearing an actual court of appeals legal argument on a complicated property issue that will result in new case law. It is also timely because we will be hearing from three different University of Arizona professors about the leading research in brain science.
What is the most common misperception?
The most common misconception is that brain science has nothing to do with family law.
Friday, June 13, all day
F-47: Family Law and the Brain, 2:00 pm session
Responses by: Patricia Green
Who should attend this seminar?
Any attorney practicing or interested in practicing family law, and who desires to increase their knowledge of the various topics identified in the brochure.
What is the one main takeaway a lawyer will gain by attending this seminar?
This seminar will present a rare opportunity to see the Court of Appeals in action – live oral argument on a current family law case – while also giving seminar attendees an opportunity to identify how they would rule on the case.
What is the most common misconception about this issue? In other words, what do lawyers think they know, but don’t?
Two sessions of the seminar will focus on the brain and have presentations from non-lawyers. These sessions, in particular, are intended to assist attorneys in better understanding brain function for clients, witnesses and judges.
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