2026

First Friday Ethics (September 2026)

STUDIO WEBCAST Sep 4, 2026 $145 Individual

Overview

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 of AI and Automation on the Practice of Law

AI and automation are reshaping how lawyers draft, communicate, manage information, and run their practices. This session explores practical, real-world uses of automation and generative AI to create more consistent workflows, improve efficiency, and provide better client service. It also addresses the ethical, confidentiality, and practical risks lawyers need to understand before incorporating these tools into their practices.

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, TX

Rick 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!

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning, Sep. 4, 2026
10:00 am

1.00 hr ethics

Don’t Mess with AI: Texas-Sized Impacts of AI and Automation on the Practice of Law

AI and automation are reshaping how lawyers draft, communicate, manage information, and run their practices. This session explores practical, real-world uses of automation and generative AI to create more consistent workflows, improve efficiency, and provide better client service. It also addresses the ethical, confidentiality, and practical risks lawyers need to understand before incorporating these tools into their practices.

John R. Strohmeyer, Strohmeyer Law PLLC - Houston, TX

John R. Strohmeyer, Strohmeyer Law PLLC - Houston, TX
11:00 am

5-Minute Break
11:05 am

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

Jennifer M. Trulock, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP - Dallas, TX
11:50 am

5-Minute Break
11:55 am

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

Joseph T. Clees, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Phoenix, AZ
12:40 pm

5-Minute Break
12:45 pm

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, TX
Rick Freeman, Austin, TX

Jefferson K. Brim III, Brim & Brim, P.C. - Austin, TX
Rick Freeman, Austin, TX
1:15 pm

Presentations Conclude

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Jefferson K. Brim III

Brim & Brim, P.C.
Austin, TX

Joseph T. Clees

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Phoenix, AZ

Rick Freeman

Austin, TX

John R. Strohmeyer

Strohmeyer Law PLLC
Houston, TX

Jennifer M. Trulock

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Dallas, TX

Credit Info

STUDIO WEBCAST

MCLE Credit

Texas – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.

California – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

To claim California MCLE credit, California credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Oklahoma – Expected – 3.50 hrs | 3.50 hrs Ethics

To claim Oklahoma MCLE credit, Oklahoma credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #169) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Oklahoma Bar Association for MCLE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the webcast.

Pennsylvania – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

To claim Pennsylvania MCLE credit, Pennsylvania credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks after credit is claimed and submitted. Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other States – Expected – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State

If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

To claim Other States MCLE credit, Other States credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records and to provide to other licensing authorities as needed.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Key Dates

STUDIO WEBCAST – Sep 4, 2026

STUDIO WEBCAST

Individual
$145.00

Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Aug 28, 2026
$0 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Aug 31, 2026