eCourses

Running Your Law Firm as a Business

In today’s competitive legal landscape, it’s no longer enough to simply hang your shingle and get by on the broad scope of subjects you studied for the Bar. To thrive as a lawyer, you must understand how to properly run your law firm. You may not be a business lawyer, but all lawyers need to know how to run their business. This CLE seminar provides you with valuable insights, practical strategies, and actionable takeaways to elevate your law firm’s performance and profitability.

Includes: Video Paper Slides

eSupplement to the 33rd Annual Entertainment Law Institute

Session 1: When is Ticketing Like Pork Bellies? Current Legislation on Speculative Tickets and Resale Royalties - Explore selected state and federal ticketing legislation, with focus on solutions proposed to the Georgia Legislature to protect consumers, artists and venues from predatory resellers and business practices. Session 2: Coexisting with Creative: Primer On Advertising Law - “Advertising law” refers to the areas of the law that govern businesses’ communications to customers. Advertising law combines concepts from legal disciplines such as intellectual property, consumer protection, First Amendment, entertainment, communications, privacy and commercial transactions. In this presentation we introduce some of the primary legal concerns in advertising, including clearance, substantiation and special considerations for digital marketing and adtech. Session 3: Job Duties: Ethical Challenges in the Attorney-Paralegal Relationship - This session reviews common ethical pitfalls in the attorney-paralegal relationship, including avoiding inadvertent breaches of confidentiality and the unauthorized practice of law. 

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Hooked on CLE: November 2023

THIS MONTH: Reflections on the U.S. Supreme Court • Will Robot Lawyers Steal Our Jobs, and Can They do the Job Ethically? • Developing a Winning Deposition Strategy • Sunshine and Cyber Insurance • How to Cultivate a Better Workplace

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Answer Bar: Maximizing Technology in Your Law Practice

Session 1: The Duty of Technology Competence - Understand the importance of technology competence for your practice and the ethical obligations to be competent. Explore the current landscape and recent decisions in this area, as well as common problem areas for attorneys. Session 2: Conducting Cost-Effective E-Discovery and the Use of Technology Assisted Review (TAR) - Examine how technology-based processes, specifically technology assisted review (TAR), can be cost-effective and efficient solutions for e-discovery in litigation. This session highlights situations where TAR is often the preferred tool over attorney review and flags times that it is not, and discusses how to address contentious issues that may arise in TAR-related negotiations with opposing counsel. Session 3: Social Media Hot Topics - Should social media platforms be civilly liable for the content that their users post? Is the content moderation on platforms like Facebook and Twitter subject to statutes like those passed in Florida and Texas? Come hear the latest on these issues currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as other cutting edge topics in social media - like service of process via social media and even NFTs, the evidentiary value of emoji and memes, and the limits on how lawyers can ethically respond to online criticism.  Session 4: Communication - Attorneys have a duty to keep client communication secure. Get practical tips on conducting communication with the courts or with opposing counsel, as well email filtering and its impacts on communication including filing deadlines, etc. Session 5: Cybersecurity and Protecting Against Cyber Scams - An informative program about the legal standards that govern a compliant cybersecurity program as well as an update about the ethical duty of technology competence that affects all Texas lawyers. Session 6: Will Robot Lawyers Steal Our Jobs, and Can They do the Job Ethically? - As artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and others have entered the legal sphere, questions naturally arise as to the extent to which AI can satisfactorily complete legal tasks. AI is being widely used for everything from legal research to the drafting of contracts snd pleadings to even assisting with jury selection. But can “robot lawyers” truly replace their human counterparts? This program examines not only the ways in which AI is impacting the legal profession, but also the multiple ethical dimensions of AI use - from our duty of tech competence to our duty to supervise non-lawyers.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Mortgage Concepts for Family Lawyers

Hooked on CLE: July 2023

THIS MONTH: Client Selection, Contracts and Handling Complaints • Religious Accommodation: A Conflict of Rights • Affordable Housing: Land Use Regulation to Increase and Preserve Affordable Housing  • Demonstrating Value as a Law Department: KPIs and Metrics • Joint Ventures Between Business Entities

Includes: Video Audio Slides

eSupplement to the 30th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference

Session 1: Client Selection, Contracts and Handling Complaints - During a long career, almost no lawyer can completely avoid conflicts and complaints from Clients. The nature of our adversary system provides many opportunities for stress, misunderstandings and disagreements about how the legal system works – or the client’s expectations.  Many times, these matters can be avoided in the intake process. But when a complaint arises, lawyers need to know how to respond and handle those attorney client disagreements in ethical and empathetic ways. This course takes you through the interview process, the execution of clear attorney fee agreements, maintaining clear communications, and ultimately handling an attorney client dispute. Dozens of great tips, sound advice, and reminders of our fiduciary duty under the Disciplinary Rules. Session 2: Protecting Privilege? The Evolving Role of Attorney-Client Privilege in Cybersecurity Incidents and Responses - This session analyzes the advantages and limitations of including outside counsel during incident response. Session 3: Tales from Trial: The Boeing Case is Shot Down - Defense attorneys for the Boeing test pilot, the only individual indicted in connection with the Boeing 737 Max crashes, discuss details of the trial and their successful defense strategy. Session 4: Employee Mental Health: What Response is Required - In the aftermath of COVID and with increased visibility of mental health issues, districts must consider a more holistic plan for addressing the concerns related to employee well-being. This session combines a discussion of the legal requirements of dealing with employee mental health challenges along with best practices in prevention and intervention.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

First Friday Ethics (May 2023)

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Will Robot Lawyers Steal Our Jobs, and Can They do the Job Ethically? John G. Browning, Rockwall, TX   (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Attorney Wellness: Speaking Up, Reaching Out (REPLAY) Mental health issues are taboo discussions at the workplace, yet when attorneys consider suicide, it's often a result of work-related stress. Explore real-world tips and information on how to spot a mental health crisis in someone you work with, and what to do once you are aware of a problem. Stephanie Townsend Allala, Townsend Allala, Coulter & Kludt PLLC - El Paso, TX   (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics)  Approaches to Privilege During Deposition Breaks (REPLAY) In an age of Zoom depositions, it is more important than ever to understand that different jurisdictions take different approaches the question of privilege during deposition breaks, with some disallowing any privilege at all once the deposition commences and others taking a more nuanced approach. Join Jason Boulette as he explores these different approaches, what they share in common, and where they differ sharply. Jason Boulette, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Paper Slides

Will Robot Lawyers Steal Our Jobs, and Can They do the Job Ethically?

Includes: Video Paper

Hooked on CLE: May 2023

THIS MONTH: Geopolitics and Extreme Weather Impacts on the Energy Markets • Bow Your Head and Play: A Discussion on Kennedy v. Bremerton • Sign Right Here: A Survey of Provisions for Your Attorney-Client Agreements • Defensive Documentation from Hiring to Firing • Estate Tax: Best Strategies for Estates and Gifts Leading Up to 2026

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

eSupplement to the 34th Annual Health Law Conference

Session 1: Conflicts of Interest: You Can’t Be Everyone’s Best Friend…or their Lawyer - Did you know that almost 10% of malpractice cases are caused by conflicts of interest.  Join us for “Conflicts of Interest:  You Can’t Be Everyone’s Best Friend, or Their Lawyer”. This will be a practical review of Conflicts rules and situations which can arise. Do you know the 4 situations when you are prohibited from dual representation?  How do you make a full disclosure that satisfies your duties before you seek of wavier? Join us and find out. Session 2: Protecting the Pig in the Poke: Ethical Redaction of Medical Records – a Plaintiff's View - This presentation explores the scope of discovery pertaining to healthcare information relevant to a claim or defense and pragmatic approaches to protecting irrelevant, confidential healthcare information. Session 3: Emergency Toolkit for Grievances and Sanctions Orders - No lawyer expects to be the recipient of a grievance or an order to pay sanctions. Consider this program as your emergency toolkit to help you not only survive but thrive while handling these situations both efficiently and effectively. Session 4: Ted Lasso Ethics - Five lessons lawyers should learn from Ted Lasso. Session 5: How Smart People Deal with Difficult People - In these polarizing times, we must rely on intelligence when interacting with difficult others. We'll discuss the science behind avoiding contempt, recognizing motive attribution asymmetry, and learning to coexist with disagreement so that we can behave ethically—even when we don't feel like it.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

First Friday Ethics (March 2023)

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) The Duty of Technology Competence (REPLAY) John G. Browning, Rockwall, TX   (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) What to Do if Your Client is Misbehaving (REPLAY) Bradley A. Jackson, The University of Texas School of Law - Houston, TX Scott Rothenberg, Law Offices of Scott Rothenberg - Bellaire, TX   (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Conflicts of Interest: You Can’t Be Everyone’s Best Friend…or their Lawyer (REPLAY) Claude E. Ducloux, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Hooked on CLE: April 2023

Session 1: 23 & Me: The Downside of Sharing Your DNA - With the proliferation of Ancestory.com and 23 & Me, people are more curious than ever before about their biological family members, both living and deceased. For people of significant wealth, this can cause problems if someone “out of the blue” claims a right to wealth or inheritance. Using lessons learned from an actual case, this presentation provides tips and best practices for drafting a will and trust to avoid problems, outlines what happens if someone, particularly a high-net-worth individual, dies with or without a trust or will, and describes the expense, both monetarily and relationally, involved in fighting this type of claim. Session 2: Managing Your Workforce in an Age of Mobility, Flexibility and Generational Shifts - Explore the legal, compliance, and employee relations challenges nonprofits are facing as employees become increasingly dispersed both in terms of geography and expectations, including challenges associated with the rise of remote work, the availability of viable alternatives to traditional employment, and the seemingly growing call for a new understanding of the role of work in life. Session 3: Top Things to Consider When Terminating a Trust - Terminating trusts can, and should, be done for a number of reasons in a variety of different circumstances. This presentation is going to help you identify those situations, guide you through important considerations when doing so, and provide you with some of the tools you may need. Session 4:  Patent License Issues from the In-House Perspective - Key considerations in several common patent transaction models. The RPX patent aggregation and licensing model. Patent issues in IP agreements include indemnity clauses, limits of liability, IP ownership issues, and forum selection clauses. Session 5: Setting Boundaries with Clients and Colleagues - Using mindset mastery practices to improve attorney wellness by setting boundaries in your work.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Answer Bar: LLCs and Partnerships Formation

Session 1: 2022 Case Law Update - A survey of recent Texas cases addressing significant issues (fiduciary duties, piercing the entity veil, and more) in the context of LLCs and partnerships (including limited partnerships and LLPs). Session 2: A Series of Changes: Recent Developments in Texas Series LLCs - A practice-focused review of changes to Texas Series LLC law effective June 1, 2022 and what the new “registered series” might bring to the table for practitioners followed by a discussion of common tax issues associated with series and suggested best practices. Session 3: 2022 Secretary of State Update - Learn about filing tips and resources that will make your transactions with the Secretary of State easier and more predictable; hear updates on notable legislation and our system modernization initiative. Session 4: S corporations: A Cautionary Tale about Squaring the Circle - A discussion of some of the motivations driving the use of LLCs as S corporations, some of the potential issues and some of the drafting and structuring issues that should be considered if an LLC is taxed as an S corporation.  Session 5: Letters of Intent and Side Letters (Enterprise Products) - On January 31, 2020, the Texas Supreme Court issued its opinion in Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. v. Enterprise Products, L.P., an important case about when a business relationship is deemed to be a partnership under Texas law. Learn about this case and what it means for structuring and drafting agreements for business relationships. Session 6: Updated Model LLC Agreements - Review three model agreements tailored for a closely held company, including a discussion of some recent changes in the models as well as decisions that the authors made in drafting the models to help improve your drafting skills and result in better operating agreements. Session 7: Provisions Limiting Liability and Duties in Partnership and Company Agreements - This panel will discuss the effectiveness and limitations on provisions of partnership and company agreements which provide for the modification of duties, exoneration from liability and indemnification with respect to claims against managers, members and other employees and agents.   Session 8: Inadvertent Partnerships Revisited - Hear an update on inadvertent partnerships after the Dallas Court of Appeals decision in Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. v. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. Session 9: "Good Bye"—Buy-Outs or Exits - All good (and not so good) things must come to an end.  When owners of an LLC or partnership are ready to part ways, what does one want in the Company Agreement/Partnership Agreement in order to facilitate an orderly exit by the departing owners? Session 10: Effective Engagement Letters and Other Simple Risk-Management Tools - This ethics CLE presentation will look at engagement letters and how they can be used as a risk management tool. Along they way, the presentation will provide practical tips to help lawyers avoid conflict of interest pitfalls and to assist in controlling client expectations about the scope of the representation. Session 11: Multiparty Representation —Entity Formation - A deep-dive into the knurly problems of multi-party representation of start-up companies, including whether the client is the founder or founders or the company is yet to be formed. The ethical difficulties for the lawyer continue after formation as the company and its founders, directors and officers move beyond formation of the entity into the realm of operations.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Hooked on CLE: March 2023

Session 1: Ted Lasso Ethics - Five lessons lawyers should learn from Ted Lasso.   Session 2: NiFTy Uses of NFTs and Other Emerging Technology for Cybersecurity - Blockchains, cryptocurrency, and non-fungible tokens are all components of the metaverse. Explore the use of private and public blockchains, NFTs, and other “metaversal” technologies as part of an information security program as well as cybersecurity considerations that organizations should keep in mind when deploying these technologies.   Session 3: Student Loans - Gain insight into the constantly shifting student loan legislative landscape.   Session 4: Small Crimes and Misdemeanors Related to Aging, Dementia, or Mental Health Issues - A roadmap for attorneys who counsel clients and their families seeking practical resolution of these matters. Session 5: Diversity and Equity Issues for Small Businesses - Every business should be committed to diversity and equity irrespective of its size. This section will discuss how small businesses can be intentional about doing their part to create a more equitable workplace and community. Session 6: Website Accessibility Lawsuits - The ADA requires that websites be accessible to those with disabilities. Hear what “accessibility” means for websites and the legal theories behind such suits, and take away effective strategies for dealing with a claim against your client.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

First Friday Ethics (January 2023)

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Sign Right Here A survey of provisions for your attorney client agreements from “must haves” to “optional”clauses. Claude E. Ducloux, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX   (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) You’ve Received a Grievance or Sanctions Motion – What Now? (REPLAY) Receiving a grievance or a sanctions motion can be very upsetting for lawyers, but it doesn’t have to be. Please join Scott Rothenberg for an informative, reassuring, step-by-step process on what to do when a grievance or sanctions motion comes knocking at your office door. Scott Rothenberg, Law Office of Scott Rothenberg - Bellaire, TX   (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics)  Mental Health in Light of Difficult Clients and Difficult Practices (REPLAY) How to develop Post traumatic Growth and be psychologically and emotionally strong when working in the ongoing stress of working with trauma survivors. Review self-care and maintaining balance both professionally and personally. Bernadette Hassan Solórzano, Our Lady of the Lake University Community Counseling Service - San Antonio, TX (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics)TBD Redaction “Fails" (REPLAY) This presentation explains how to properly shield confidential information in public filings. Matthew Murrell, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Paper Slides

Sign Right Here

A survey of provisions for your attorney client agreements from “must haves” to “optional”clauses.

Includes: Video Paper Slides

First Friday Ethics (February 2023)

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) A Legal Ethics Wish List (REPLAY) Law firm General Counsels and Risk Managers have wish lists…of what they hope their colleagues already know about the Rules of Professional Conduct and how to apply them. This presentation explores many things that are, no doubt, on those wish lists, including a working understanding of the conflict of interest rules, tools to help navigate those rules (like engagement letters and “I’m Not Your Lawyer” letters), the difference between the attorney-client privilege and the lawyer’s ethical duty of confidentiality, and a proper appreciation of the application of the “No Contact” Rule. The presentation also provides some practical tips to help create a culture of sound risk management practices to help keep the attendee from getting on the General Counsel’s or Risk Manager’s naughty list.  A.J. Singleton, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC - Lexington, KY   (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics)  Protecting Privilege? The Evolving Role of Attorney-Client Privilege in Cybersecurity Incidents and Responses (REPLAY) This session analyzes the advantages and limitations of including outside counsel during incident response. Jeremy Rucker, Spencer Fane - Plano, TX   (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics)  Acting Ethically Even While Seething with Dislike (REPLAY) Here we are, trying to be ethical professionals in the middle of a swirling culture of contempt. It has become very easy to see clients and counsel who disagree with us, not as merely incorrect, but as worthless and defective. How do we function ethically within today’s culture? Together we'll lay out cutting-edge behavioral research, ancient wisdom, current anecdotes, and common sense to create a pathway beyond mere tolerance and co-existence. DeDe Church, DeDe Church & Associates, LLC - Austin, TX (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics)  Recent Changes to the Advertising and Solicitation Rules: The Highlights (REPLAY) Comprehensive changes to the Texas Disciplinary Rules governing advertisements and solicitations became effective in 2021. This presentation highlights some of the most notable changes. Jason Panzer, Herring & Panzer, L.L.P. - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Hooked on CLE: February 2023

THIS MONTH: Third Party Breaches and Vulnerability Management • Deep Dive on Employee Accommodations • Law Firm Management Reports: Key Information You Should Have to Run Your Firm • How Much is Too Much?: Review of the Excessiveness of Damages • Ethical Issues Facing In-House Counsel

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

A Legal Ethics Holiday Season Wish List

It’s the Holiday Season, y’all, and even law firm General Counsels and Risk Managers have Holiday Wish Lists…of what they hope their colleagues already know about the Rules of Professional Conduct and how to apply them. This presentation explores many things that are, no doubt, on those Wish Lists, including a working understanding of the conflict of interest rules, tools to help navigate those rules (like engagement letters and “I’m Not Your Lawyer” letters), the difference between the attorney-client privilege and the lawyer’s ethical duty of confidentiality, and a proper appreciation of the application of the “No Contact” Rule. The presentation also provides some practical tips to help create a culture of sound risk management practices to help keep the attendee from getting on the General Counsel’s or Risk Manager’s Naughty List.

Includes: Video Paper Slides