First Friday Ethics (July 2025)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Jul 11, 2025

10:00 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. (3.00 hr | 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! This month includes: 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Use of AI in Litigation (Replay) Understanding the basics of how AI works, the dangers and pitfalls with current AI technology, and ways AI can (or should not) be used in litigation. J. Hoke (Trey) Peacock III, Susman Godfrey LLP - Houston, TX 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) When Lawyers Make the News: It’s Not About You. It’s About Your Client. (Replay) With the guidance provided by the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and existing ethics opinions, this presentation focuses on ethical considerations lawyers often face when handling cases that make the news and will offer practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls that arise when your case makes the spotlight. Consider lessons learned from stories and examples of lawyers who themselves made headlines and faced legal trouble for ethical lapses in the scope of client representation. Thomas P. Brandt, Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt & Kutchin, P.C. - Dallas, TX John Husted, Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt & Kutchin, P.C. - Dallas, TX 11:55 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Who’s Your Client? (Replay) Identifying your client seems like a simple issue, but it is frequently complicated, particularly with organizational clients such as partnerships, LLCs, corporations or trusts, or even simply joint return filers. The client’s identity in turn bears on all sorts of ethical and practical issues, including conflicts, where your duties lie, how to advise organizational clients, protect client confidences and privileges, handle communications with others and common interest agreements, etc. Christopher S. Rizek, Holland & Knight - Washington, DC 1:05 p.m. to 1:35 p.m. (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Updated Texas Disciplinary Rules: What You Should Know (Replay) New and amended disciplinary rules took effect in October 2024, adding a number of clarifications and additional provisions. Hear a summary of rule changes relevant to Texas practitioners. Olga Kobzar, Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP - 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!

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Previous Studio Webcasts Now Available On Demand

What Texas Lawyers Need to Know About the FTC Non-Compete Rule

STUDIO WEBCAST – Jun 14, 2024

10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (1.00 hr) What Texas Lawyers Need to Know About the FTC Non-Compete Rule Did the FTC really ban all non-competes? What kinds of restrictions are still allowed? What is a de facto non-compete? What happens to pending lawsuits? Will the federal courts block the rule? Is it retroactive? What are the exceptions? What should lawyers for employers do right now? Two specialists in Texas non-compete litigation will answer these and other burning questions about the FTC’s new non-compete rule.  Elisaveta (Leiza) Dolghih, Dolghih Law Group PLLC - Dallas, TX Zach Wolfe, Zach Wolfe Law Firm - Houston, 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!

First Friday Ethics (June 2024)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Jun 7, 2024

10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (3.00 hr | 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!   This month includes: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Ted Lasso and Lawyer Ethics (Replay) What can a fictional soccer coach, goldfish, and biscuits teach us about attorney ethics? Lace up your cleats and find out.   Christie L. Hobbs, Northwest ISD - Fort Worth, TX 11:10 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Ten Rules for Ethical and Effective Negotiating (Replay) Most real estate deals are like water, and if things are handled correctly they will generally find their own level. This presentation provides ten (10) principles for handling negotiations correctly, which by necessity means ethically, and which will result in more effective negotiation. Richard A. Crow, Greenberg Traurig, LLP - Houston, TX 12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Wellness in the Practice of Law: What Every Lawyer Should Know (Replay) A look at statistics on lawyer wellness and explore evidence-based tips on how to manage stress and anxiety to avoid losing enthusiasm for the practice of law. Michelle Fontenot, Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program - Austin, TX 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Social Media, Ethics, and TMI: Why you won't be ROFL (Replay) Refresher on maintaining client confidences and other rules of professional conduct in a world influenced by social media.  Priscilla de Mata, Ysleta ISD - El Paso, 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!

First Friday Ethics (May 2024)

STUDIO WEBCAST – May 3, 2024

10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (3.00 hr | 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!   This month includes: 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Techniques for Negotiating With Difficult Counterparties (Replay) Hear advice on how to negotiate contracts with difficult counterparties, and explore the importance of our own mindset and how to manage our emotions in these situations. Walk through five types of outrageous negotiation positions and effective responses to defuse and reset the tone of the discussions. Laura Frederick, How to Contract - Austin, TX 10:55 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) The Grievance Process and Most Common Violations (Replay) The presentation is intended to provide general information regarding the amendments made to the grievance process in 2018, the proper way to respond to a grievance identifying attorney misconduct, and common problems to avoid in practice. Nicole E. Jackson, Rosenblatt Law Firm - San Antonio, TX 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Practical Uses of AI in M&A: Large Language Models to Create New Realities (Replay) What if you could review thousands of contracts, determine the potential risk of anti-assignment clauses, and have a first draft of a memo in under 15 minutes? Over the past year, the legal profession has seen incredible advances in the use of artificial intelligence that are making these possibilities a reality. Large Language Models, such as those fueling ChatGPT, have introduced incredible transformational potential for M&A work. Learn more about what is possible, including ethical considerations, in this new reality. Kenton S. Brice, University of Oklahoma College of Law - Norman, OK 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Work Product and Attorney-Client Privilege after In Re Grand Jury: Where Do We Go from Here? (Replay) The law regarding when privileges and protections apply to tax advice was anything but clear leading up to the Supreme Court oral argument in In re: Grand Jury; the Court’s decision to dismiss the case as “improvidently granted” dashed the hopes of tax professionals hoping for a nationwide standard! Hear a review of the current state of the law post-In re: Grand Jury with an emphasis on the Fifth Circuit and how the law there differs from others around the country. Melissa L. Wiley, Lowenstein Sandler LLP - Washington, DC   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!

Running Your Law Firm as a Business

STUDIO WEBCAST – Oct 13, 2023

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (1.00 hr) 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. James David Rosenblatt, The Rosenblatt Law Firm - San Antonio, 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!

Essential Employment Law “Nuts and Bolts” (Live Webcast Replay)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Aug 22, 2023

12:00 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. CT (4.25 hr) Essential Employment Law “Nuts and Bolts” (Live Webcast Replay) This half-day live webcast replay cherry-picks some of the best material from our popular Essential Employment Law course, and provides the perfect overview of essential employment law for HR professionals and beginning employment lawyers: Employment-at-Will in Texas Wage and Hour Law and Common Mistakes Drafting Handbooks and Employment Policies Defensive Documentation from Hiring to Firing 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!

First Friday Ethics (July 2023)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Jul 7, 2023

10:00 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. (3.00 hr | 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!   This month includes: 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) What to Do When You Receive a Threat of Legal Malpractice (REPLAY) A presentation on the considerations and steps to take when you are threatened with a legal malpractice claim. A discussion of things you should and should not do or say. Patricia Peterson, Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange - Austin, TX 10:40 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) The Ethics of Practicing Law Remotely (REPLAY) How to ethically navigate the online practice of law post-Covid. Carrie Johnson Phaneuf, Cobb Martinez Woodward PLLC - Dallas, TX   11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics)  Ethics and the Agency Lawyer: Conflicts, Fiduciary Duty, and Confidential Information (REPLAY) A brief refresher and update on these ethical areas, including a discussion of typical scenarios faced by agency professionals. Claude E. Ducloux, Attorney at Law - Austin, TX Franklin Hopkins, Germer Beaman & Brown PLLC - Austin, TX 12:50 p.m. to 1:35 p.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics)  Ethical Obligations in Mitigating and Responding to a Data Breach (REPLAY) Over the past decade, legislatures in Colorado, California, Virginia, etc. and regulators in the European Union have promulgated various data protection laws and practices that have caused much confusion to both lawyers and non-lawyers on how to lawfully respond to a data breach. These laws have presented statutory requirements companies must abide by in order to respond to and remedy security breaches, and within these requirements, are ethical obligations counsel must uphold. This presentation discusses the ethical obligations Texas counsel must abide by in order to respond to data breaches in accordance with the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Conduct. Skyla R. Banks, Amplitude, Inc. - Dallas, TX Arielle S. Comer, Ryan Law - Dallas, TX Lillie Jackson, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP - Dallas, 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!