Technology for Lawyers
Practice Area

First Friday Ethics (September 2026)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Sep 4, 2026

10:00 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. (3.00 hr ethics)  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! 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (1.00 hr ethics)Don’t Mess with AI: Texas-Sized Impacts on the Practice of Law Generative AI tools, especially Microsoft Copilot, are reshaping how lawyers draft, research, communicate, and manage their practices. This session walks through practical, real-world use cases showing how AI streamlines workflows, supports accuracy, and improves client service. It includes demonstrations of task automation, document generation, email drafting, timekeeping, and law-practice optimization in action. The program also addresses the risks that come with integrating AI into law office systems. Topics include: safeguarding confidential and privileged data when using cloud-based AI tools; understanding how Copilot interacts with stored client information; preventing inadvertent disclosures through prompts, uploads, and integrations; and evaluating firm-wide data protection settings. It also covers threat vectors unique to AI such as data leakage, poisoned training data, and malicious prompt exploitation. John R. Strohmeyer, Strohmeyer Law PLLC - Houston, TX 11:05 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. (0.75 hr ethics)Investigations Done Right: Best Practices for Employers and Counsel (Replay) A poorly handled workplace investigation can create more risk than the underlying complaint. Effective investigations require thoughtful planning, impartial fact-gathering, and careful documentation, while avoiding mistakes that can undermine credibility or increase legal exposure. Employers and counsel must also consider key privilege issues, including when attorney-client privilege may apply, and best practices for reaching and communicating investigation outcomes. Jennifer M. Trulock, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP - Dallas, TX 11:55 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. (0.75 hr ethics)Lessons Learned from GCs Behaving Badly (Allegedly) (Replay) It is always better to learn from someone else’s mistakes. In this session, examine examples of in-house counsel allegedly (or admittedly) behaving badly—from alleged assaults and slurs to embezzlement—and what in-house counsel can learn from those situations. Also, discuss examples of in-house counsel allegedly being punished for doing the right thing. Joseph T. Clees, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Phoenix, AZ 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. (0.50 hr ethics)Legal Ads: Advice From Veteran Lawyers in Small Firms (Replay) This presentation explores how to ethically advertise according to the ​Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.Jefferson K. Brim III, Brim & Brim, P.C. - Austin, TXRick Freeman, Austin, TX If you cannot watch the entire webcast at its scheduled time, register now and view the recording and eCourse when it is available in “Your Briefcase” after the webcast. Earn CLE credit (in TX and CA) on your time!