Available Online CLE Courses

The regulatory status of PFAS chemicals is a rapidly changing environment as numerous states have decided to chart their own regulatory path, U.S. EPA continues to make progress on their PFAS Action Plan, and U.S. EPA has issued a Draft Interim Guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS substances. The panel will provide an update on current PFAS regulations in various states and discuss the recent memorandum detailing an interim National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting strategy for addressing PFAS in EPA-issued wastewater permits. The U.S. EPA Draft Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of PFAS substances also will be discussed.

Date Recorded: March 30, 2021

Speakers: Paul Tomiczek, Thomas Maher, David Rockman

Close Course Details

Uncovering the truth in the information available from those data sources can have a significant impact in the ability to successfully prosecute or defend a criminal or civil case. This is especially true in today's world of remote work, use of mobile devices, cloud-based collaboration tools and other digital platforms as they continue to grow.

However, many attorneys are often unaware of the types of artifacts that can be forensically recovered from a custodian's digital footprint. Join this session to learn about what types of digital evidence often lies beneath the surface, how to defensibly (and efficiently) collect that evidence and what forensic analysis of that evidence can tell you about your case.

Specifics to be covered include:


- What forensic analysis can tell you about hidden and other data
- How to collect that data in a manner that will satisfy authentication standards under rules of evidence
- How a lawyer's duty of technical competence can be met with increased knowledge of these subjects
- The pitfalls and limitations of forensically collecting various evidence types, including recovery of deleted evidence
- Actual examples where digital forensics has creatively helped in the prosecution and/or defense of cases

Date Recorded: April 27, 2021

Speakers: John Unice, Brett Creasy, Lauren Godfrey

Close Course Details

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven pharmaceutical companies around the world to shift their focus on developing a safe and effective vaccine and/or therapeutic treatment as quickly as possible. However, the urgency and speed at which research and trials are being conducted leaves little time for companies to assess legal risks – including potential patent infringement. This program will provide an in-depth discussion of the options available to the Federal Government to shield potential infringers from liability in order to accelerate vaccine delivery and meet public demand. Also discussed will be how patent damages may be assessed in light of this unprecedented situation if companies are not immunized of infringement by the government.

Date Recorded: October 14, 2020

Speakers: David Duski

Close Course Details

 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to use unmanned aircraft in support of medical services have evolved rapidly in just the past six months. The pace of change is expected to continue to accelerate.

Throughout the pandemic, the Federal Aviation Administration has been working proactively to ease restrictions in order to preserve air commerce. Among these initiatives, the FAA has enabled drone use for COVID-19 response efforts within its existing regulations and emergency procedures.

Beyond the current rules, the FAA also provides a process to obtain the necessary waivers to operate aircraft beyond the visual line of sight of the pilot, over people and in congested areas. These waivers can be leveraged to provide additional opportunities and value for unmanned aircraft operations. Finally, the FAA will be completing work on two important rulemakings later this year regarding flight over people, night operations and the remote identification of aircraft. These new rules will further standardize procedures, providing new flexibility and opportunities.

Understanding both the law and the technology is key to making informed decisions about how unmanned aircraft can be used effectively by the medical industry. Join Mark McKinnon for an update on what has been happening in the unmanned aircraft industry.

Date Recorded: November 11, 2020

Speakers: Mark McKinnon

Close Course Details

What exactly is Elder Law? An experienced panel will give an overview during this CLE. The program is ideal for young attorneys looking to learn more about the practice area, as well as experienced attorneys from other practice areas looking for a refresher.

Specifics to be covered include:

- What is Elder Law? An explanation
- Documents associated with elder law: POAs, Wills, Advance Health Care and Trusts
- Medicare, Medicaid and asset protection
- Guardianships, filial responsibility
- Guardianships, filial responsibility
- Tax implications of Elder Law practice

Date Recorded: December 14, 2020

Speakers: Carol Sikov Gross, Robin Frank, Christine Long, Lori Capone, Michael Marks, Craig O'Connor

Close Course Details

This panel will focus on important cases and bankruptcy decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, 3rd Circuit, and the Western District of Pennsylvania that have been reached over the last year. In addition, we will mention cases that are moving toward the Supreme Court, with splits in the various Circuits, that may be worth keeping an eye on. The cases will be helpful to both the commercial and consumer practitioner, covering multiple chapters of bankruptcy.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: Kenneth Steidl, Anthony Moody, Lois Vitti

Moderators: Lauren Lamb

Close Course Details

This program will provide a "behind the scenes" perspective of the typical residential real estate transaction in Metropolitan Pittsburgh. Rather than being "lawyered" up, the panel of experts is made up of not only lawyers, but also a home inspector, a mortgage broker/banker, an appraiser and a real estate broker.

Topics include:

- The fiduciary relationships (as well as lack thereof) of real estate licensees to the consumer in a residential real estate transaction.
- The full role of the home inspection in the residential real estate transaction
- The intricacies of the behind the scenes efforts of the mortgage process, including the appraisal, from pre-approval to closing.
- The intricacies of the behind the scenes efforts of the title/closing process in the residential real estate transaction.
- How various aspects of the above are impacted by many of the standard forms utilized in a residential real estate transaction.

Date Recorded: December 15, 2020

Speakers: R. Kevin Brown, Bradley Dornish, Jonathan Freed, Brian Mischler

Close Course Details

Ron Schuler, the author of "The Steel Bar: Pittsburgh Lawyers and the Making of America," will join Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark to discuss the different yet difficult journeys of women and African Americans into the Pittsburgh bar and ultimately into leadership positions within the legal community. He will talk about George Vashon's unsuccessful attempt to enter the bar before the Gilded Age. Additionally, he will discuss technology as an impetus for the successful entry of women into the profession, as well as taking a look at the careers of some of the pioneering women, such as Sarah Soffel, Anne Alpren, Ella Graubart Arensberg, Sarah Soffel and more. The program also will cover the limitations that have been imposed on women and African Americans within the profession, how some of them have been surmounted, and the challenges that lie ahead.

Date Recorded: February 11, 2021

Speakers: Ronald Schuler, Hon. Kim Clark

Close Course Details

Please join us for a fun Western District case retrospective. Regardless of the genre of your practice, whether you are a consumer or commercial attorney, you will find a colorful mix of case law and tales from the past including Bud Post the erstwhile lottery winner, the repossession of the Donzi's nightclub barge and the criminal shenanigans of the LeNature's insiders. The hour will round out with more recent and relevant issues such as the emerging treatment of nunc pro tunc approval and issues relating to defensive use of the automatic stay and violations of the stay. Finally, the panel will touch on impactful
rulings in the area of mortgage litigation.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: Hon. Jeffrey Deller, Jana Pail, Julie Frazee Steidl, Robert Lampl

Close Course Details

This six-credit symposium offers a comprehensive review and edification of the law, practice and rules concerning capital cases. The course is designed for attorneys who practice in the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division, as well as those with an interest in criminal law; Rule 801 credits shall be received for this program.

The program also will cover what the Commonwealth must prove to make out certain aggravating factors. Additionally, presenters will discuss how the jury can be forced to find a mitigating factor and the law concerning mitigating factors. Further, the program will cover how those mitigating factors can be argued to the jury.

Additionally, the program will offer tips for finding mitigation evidence and the ethical issues concerning capital cases.

Date Recorded: October 1, 2021

Speakers: Lisa Middleman

Close Course Details

This six-credit symposium offers a comprehensive review and edification of the law, practice and rules concerning capital cases. The course is designed for attorneys who practice in the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division, as well as those with an interest in criminal law; Rule 801 credits shall be received for this program.

The program also will cover what the Commonwealth must prove to make out certain aggravating factors. Additionally, presenters will discuss how the jury can be forced to find a mitigating factor and the law concerning mitigating factors. Further, the program will cover how those mitigating factors can be argued to the jury.

Additionally, the program will offer tips for finding mitigation evidence and the ethical issues concerning capital cases.

Date Recorded: October 1, 2021

Speakers: Thomas Farrell

Close Course Details

This six-credit symposium offers a comprehensive review and edification of the law, practice and rules concerning capital cases. The course is designed for attorneys who practice in the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division, as well as those with an interest in criminal law; Rule 801 credits shall be received for this program.

The program also will cover what the Commonwealth must prove to make out certain aggravating factors. Additionally, presenters will discuss how the jury can be forced to find a mitigating factor and the law concerning mitigating factors. Further, the program will cover how those mitigating factors can be argued to the jury.

Additionally, the program will offer tips for finding mitigation evidence and the ethical issues concerning capital cases.

Date Recorded: October 1, 2021

Speakers: Dr. Deborah Mucha

Close Course Details

This six-credit symposium offers a comprehensive review and edification of the law, practice and rules concerning capital cases. The course is designed for attorneys who practice in the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division, as well as those with an interest in criminal law; Rule 801 credits shall be received for this program.

The program also will cover what the Commonwealth must prove to make out certain aggravating factors. Additionally, presenters will discuss how the jury can be forced to find a mitigating factor and the law concerning mitigating factors. Further, the program will cover how those mitigating factors can be argued to the jury.

Additionally, the program will offer tips for finding mitigation evidence and the ethical issues concerning capital cases.

Date Recorded: October 1, 2021

Speakers: Thomas Farrell

Close Course Details

This six-credit symposium offers a comprehensive review and edification of the law, practice and rules concerning capital cases. The course is designed for attorneys who practice in the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division, as well as those with an interest in criminal law; Rule 801 credits shall be received for this program.

The program also will cover what the Commonwealth must prove to make out certain aggravating factors. Additionally, presenters will discuss how the jury can be forced to find a mitigating factor and the law concerning mitigating factors. Further, the program will cover how those mitigating factors can be argued to the jury.

Additionally, the program will offer tips for finding mitigation evidence and the ethical issues concerning capital cases.

Date Recorded: October 1, 2021

Speakers: Hon. Bruce Beemer

Close Course Details

"This program is designed for practitioners who wish to learn about federal criminal cases; it's the second in a two-part series, though no prerequisite is required.

Attendees will learn about the pre-sentencing and sentencing phases of a criminal case in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Attendees will hear from experts on all sides – judges, prosecutors, defense counsel and probation officers. This program will focus on what goes into a presentence investigation report and how it is used. The program also will cover the sentencing hearing as well as how to prepare your client for sentencing.

Additionally, the program will offer tips for finding mitigation evidence and the ethical issues concerning capital cases."

Date Recorded: November 5, 2021

Speakers: Tracy DeMartino, Troy Rivetti, Michael Novara, Sarah Levin, Hon. Mark Hornak, Linda Cohn, Douglas Maloney

Moderators: John Schwab

Close Course Details

Presented by the ACBA Criminal Litigation Section
A Look at the Ethics of Physical Evidence at a Crime Scene
This CLE will be a review and discussion of the legal and ethical problems when physical evidence of a crime is given or otherwise known to defense counsel.

Specifics to be covered include:

-The duties to preserve physical evidence
-Ethical responsibilities of a defense attorney when counsel possesses physical evidence
-The nuances of the law as applied to various types of evidence
-The possible penalties that are faced by counsel
-How to speak to a client when the client explains he/she possesses physical evidence
-What information obtained by a private investigator or attorney must be turned over to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This course is essential for anyone that handles criminal defense work. A serious criminal defense practitioner needs to fully understand what their responsibilities are when they or their investigator comes across physical evidence or evidence from a witness.

Date Recorded: July 22, 2020

Speakers: Thomas Farrell, Kevin McCarthy

Close Course Details

The advance directive is a critical document in any estate plan. For years the ACBA has offered advance directive forms to attorneys and the public.

The ACBA's advance directive form has recently been updated, and during this seminar, a panel of attorneys will discuss the changes and why they're important. The panel also will discuss the importance of this valuable resource to the community.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and other national emergencies, attorneys can start off the year with knowledge of advance directives such as Living Wills and Health Care Powers of Attorney.

The program will be beneficial to all attorneys, but in particular to those working with low income clients who are in need of advance directives for end-of-life planning.

Date Recorded: January 14, 2021

Speakers: Grace Orsatti, Sr. Mary Traupman, Karen Timko

Close Course Details

The Name Change Project of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund came to Pittsburgh in 2013 and has helped more than 100 transgender people navigate the legal path to a name that matches their gender identity. Name Change Project attorneys Stefan Dann and Gregory Vose of Reed Smith will discuss how to navigate the name change process, including special concerns for transgender clients, and how volunteer attorneys can get involved.
 
This year marks the launch of a new Local Rule in Allegheny County, creating a special track within the Civil Division of the Court of Common Pleas for name changes involving vulnerable populations. This was created largely in response to the experiences of transgender people in the name change process. Administrative Judge Christine Ward will discuss why the new Rule was created, how the procedure for name changes will work and how it can also protect clients who are victims of abuse, harassment, or other crimes, whether transgender or cisgender.

Date Recorded: June 1, 2018

Speakers: Stefan Dann, Gregory Voss

Close Course Details

This presentation will provide an overview of fundamental policy provisions, judicial and legislative updates, and practical claims considerations relative to COVID19-related business interruption insurance claims in Pennsylvania.

This will be a "neutral" presentation that is balanced as it relates to industry vs. policyholder issues.

Date Recorded: July 9, 2020

Speakers: Christopher Jacobs

Close Course Details

This program will provide a high-level overview of the False Claims Act. The liability provisions, remedies and common fraudulent schemes will be discussed. Unique elements of FCA practice will also be covered, including the sealed FCA complaint and working with the Department of Justice.

Date Recorded: July 27, 2021

Speakers: Charles Lamberton

Close Course Details

Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit will discuss and answer questions regarding the Court's notable decisions of the past year and will provide an update regarding significant events, including updated court procedures and practices. A distinguished panel of practitioners will moderate the event and will engage the Judges in discussion of important new civil, constitutional and criminal decisions. The discussion also will cover appellate and federal practice and procedures.

Date Recorded: May 25, 2021

Speakers: Hon. D. Brooks Smith, Hon. D. Michael Fisher, Hon. Thomas Hardiman, Hon. David Porter, Hon. Peter Phipps, Hon. Stephanos Bibas

Moderators: Hon. Cynthia Reed Eddy, David Strassburger, Tina Miller, David Berardinelli

Close Course Details

This program critically examines and discusses the findings of a recent American Bar Association sponsored study exploring the pressures, internal and external, affecting the retention of women in the legal profession. Comprised of an overview PowerPoint presentation and followed by a panel discussion, this program will explore the ways in which the study's findings have manifested in the local legal community and what initiatives have been and can be taken to improve professional longevity for female practitioners. This program aspires to challenge attendees to think critically about these issues and to consider how they can contribute to the cultivation of a legal profession that seeks to retain all of its talent – male and female alike.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: Helen Ward, Alexis Leventhal, Hon. Patricia Dodge, Hon. Carlota Bohm, Leanne Meyer, Lisa Stauffer

Moderators: Kelly Neal

Close Course Details

This program covers Act 33 and how certain juveniles can and will be charged as adults. The process of certification of juveniles into adult court and the procedure of decertification of a juvenile from adult court to juvenile court will be fully analyzed. This course is a must for any lawyer who handles criminal cases.

Date Recorded: March 26, 2021

Speakers: Melissa Hong-Barco

Close Course Details

Nonprofit organizations often make use of alcohol during fundraising and other events, but nonprofit leaders are not always sure what is and is not permitted under Pennsylvania law. In this program, attendees will learn the fundamentals involved in serving alcohol at events, selling alcohol, giving alcohol away for free and raffling off alcohol, among other matters. This presentation will be very useful to anyone who counsels nonprofits, works at a nonprofit, sits on a nonprofit board, or volunteers for nonprofits.

Date Recorded: February 18, 2020

Speakers: Mark Flaherty, Stanley Wolowski, Eric Altpeter

Close Course Details

This program will analyze the various ways of determining the need for, amount of and duration of Alimony. The analysis will be based not only upon the length of the marriage but taking into account the other alimony factors at 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3701, including the size of the marital estate and income generated therefrom, the incomes or earning capacities of the parties, and the actual expenses (needs) of the payee spouse.

Date Recorded: August 13, 2020

Speakers: Judge Cathleen Bubash, Master Melaine Rothey, Beth Mascetta, Alex Kindler, Deborah Iwanyshyn

Close Course Details

A panel of judges and experienced trial attorneys will provide critical insight on the rules and current procedures for voir dire in Allegheny County. Learn about best practices in selecting jurors.

The seminar will cover topics including peremptory strikes and objections for cause, any potential impact of Trigg v. Children's Hospital of UPMC, ethical issues that may arise in voir dire and how Covid-19 may affect the jury selection process. New trial attorneys and experienced practitioners will benefit from attending this seminar.

Date Recorded: August 18, 2020

Speakers: Hon. Arnold Klein, Hon. Patrick Connelly, Christina Gill Roseman, Jonathan Stewart, Patrick Reilly

Close Course Details

"There are many public misconceptions surrounding trusts. Some clients associate trusts only with tax avoidance. Others believe trusts are reserved for the ultra-wealthy. In truth, trusts are versatile estate-planning tools that are more commonly used in certain circumstances to achieve non-tax goals. Whether a trust is appropriate requires a nuanced conversation between an attorney and client.

This program will focus on basic trust concepts for the non-trusts and estates attorney. Additionally, panelists will discuss potential trust solutions through issue spotting."

Date Recorded: August 26, 2021

Speakers: David Finui, Nicholas Urban, Scott Porterfield, Christiana Chmielewski

Close Course Details

As part of the Consolidated Appropriations and American Rescue Plan (CARES) Act, there is a new federal payroll tax credit that businesses can use on wages paid during most of 2020 and all of 2021. The Employee Retention Tax Credit is a relatively unknown area of the Internal Revenue Code for a plethora of reasons but is widely available to most businesses.

This program will focus on determining business eligibility and the computational aspects of the credit. Additionally, we will discuss the practical tax implications of obtaining this credit and most importantly how to file for and actually receive these credits. This particular credit is somewhat staggering for a business and can be worth up to $33,000 per employee.

Date Recorded: June 14, 2021

Speakers: Michael Weber

Close Course Details

This CLE will discuss the bankruptcy basics of Chapter 11 for the non-bankruptcy practitioner. This distinguished panel will discuss the automatic stay and its effect on other lawsuits. The session will review the bankruptcy process in general as well as discuss dealing with bankruptcy issues if your client is the debtor or a creditor. If you have cases or clients where bankruptcy may be an issue or a concern, you do not want to miss this CLE.

Date Recorded: April 9, 2021

Speakers: Hon. Gregory Taddonio, Kirk Burkley, John Lacher

Moderators: Alexis Leventhal

Close Course Details

This panel will focus on the CARES Act and its impact on bankruptcy cases. Including, the procedures associated with COVID and the way that those procedures are changing the current legal landscape and how those changes will continue into the future, even after COVID is erradicated. An update will be provided from the bankruptcy court, including the new procedures, Zoom trials, and mediations.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: John Kroto, Elizabeth Slaby, Hon. Thomas Agresti, Ryan Cooney, Christopher Frye, Ronda Winnecour

Close Course Details

Anyone printing out paper or handwriting notes and not using Adobe and Word in a manner that saves them time and makes them more efficient should take this course. Presenter Deborah Iwanyshyn has been paperless for over 10 years and will teach you how to be as well.

Learn how to be technically savvy with the use of Adobe, which is no longer a stagnant PDF creator. No one should have to send an Adobe motion to court with a Word Proposed Order of Court. No one should have to print paper as pre-trial statements or exhibits. This course will show you how to do it without ever lifting a pen or needing toner for your printer.

Date Recorded: April 26, 2021

Speakers: Deborah Iwanyshyn

Close Course Details

With there being no end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic, courts are becoming more agile and inventive in finding ways to try civil cases. From non-jury trials over Microsoft Teams to full-blown, in-person trials with social distancing and masks in place, the wheels of justice are still turning out there.

This program will cover new courtroom procedures, strategies and techniques that are being employed here in Western Pennsylvania in the era of COVID-19.

Date Recorded: December 16, 2020

Speakers: Hon. Christine Ward, Hon. Alan Hertzberg, Hon. Jackie Bernard, Brendan Lupetin, Michael Feeney

Moderators: Gina Zumpella

Close Course Details

Expert witnesses often play a critical role in intellectual property litigation proceedings. From assisting in discovery, formulating financial analyses and determining damages, to testifying at deposition and trial, experts can provide the information and insight necessary to make or break a case.

This program explores best practices litigators should consider when looking to retain and working with IP damages experts. Learn from two experts at BDO as to how you may be able to leverage an expert's skills and experience in order to help secure a favorable outcome for your client.

Date Recorded: August 31, 2020

Speakers: James Carroll, David Duski

Close Course Details

Financial expert witnesses often play a critical role in commercial disputes and cases involving economic damages. From assisting in discovery, formulating financial analyses and determining damages, to testifying at deposition and trial, experts can provide the information and insight crucial to supporting the case.

This program explores best practices litigators should consider when looking to retain and work with financial experts. Learn from BDO how you may leverage an expert's skills and experience in order to help resolve litigation matters. Objectives of this course include:

• Understanding the role of a financial expert witness
• Understanding considerations to optimize the use of financial expert witnesses
• Understanding the analyses and methods employed by financial experts
• Discussing case studies that demonstrate the effective use of financial experts

Date Recorded: May 4, 2021

Speakers: John Petrancosta, James Carroll

Close Course Details

History shows that lawyers continually make big mistakes during trials, which negatively influences the jury and/or judge.

The Honorable Beth Lazzara has had extensive experience in the courtroom as an advocate and as a trial judge, and she's sharing lessons learned to members of the bar to help lawyers avoid committing these blunders.

Specifics to be covered include:


Professionalism or how to act in the courtroom to positively influence
The significance of being prepared
How to exude positive presence in the courtroom for the benefit of your client
The importance of passionate advocacy
How to be a better trial lawyer.

It does not matter how long you have been a trial lawyer, this program will help make you a better one. Judge Lazzara will remind attendees of the rules that attorneys know, but sometimes forget to follow. She will also cover new techniques that even experienced trial attorneys might not be aware of.

This program is a must for any trial lawyer.

Date Recorded: August 26, 2020

Speakers: Hon. Beth Lazzara

Close Course Details

Over the last year, civil rights have become a topic of national discussion. Related legal issues pop up every day and are going to arise more frequently with the increased attention on how our government interacts with its citizens. Any lawyer representing government employees or the public needs to be ready for these questions.

Whether you are looking to wade into the field of civil rights or just want an understanding of the basics, a panel of experienced government and private attorneys will give you a primer on what it takes to bring and defend a civil rights lawsuit. From Section 1983 claims to qualified immunity and Good Samaritan laws, learn the difference between disgruntled neighbors and a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

Date Recorded: May 14, 2021

Speakers: Sarah Simkin, Alexander Wright, Cassidy Neal

Moderators: James Baker

Close Course Details

For many, philanthropy is a big part of estate planning. This program will offer guidance for attorneys on how to have conversations related to philanthropy and estate planning.

The panel will discuss starting and having the client discussion. How much do you know about your client? How much do you know about your charitable community? How much do you know about planning options and techniques?

Other specifics to be covered include:

What's happening to create these opportunities
Disclaiming a charitable remainder trust interest
Why and when to convert a private foundation
The SECURE Act and changes that can foster charitable planning
Estate planning strategies

Date Recorded: August 25, 2020

Speakers: R. Douglas DeNardo, Gregory Allison

Moderators: Kate McKenzie

Close Course Details

This session will examine two hypothetical insolvencies involving commercial real estate in the COVID-19 era. The panelists will discuss the effect the pandemic has caused on cash flows for businesses and real estate entities in two settings. In examining the problems caused by COVID-19, the panelists will consider various insolvency situations, including Chapter 11 and state court receiverships, valuation issues, and will compare and contrast the current commercial real estate climate with the 2008 financial crisis.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: Helen Ward, Matthew Herron, Juliann Haynes-Held, Kelly Neal

Moderators: Keila Estevez

Close Course Details

Comprehensive Estate Planning Tax Essentials for 2021

The recent changes to tax laws and tax codes have been monumental, and those changes impact estate planning.

This program will provide an overview of relevant law related to the Federal Transfer (Gift, Estate, GST) Tax, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, the SECURE Act and the CARES Act. The program also will cover the Pa. Inheritance Tax and the 2020 changes (0% rate parent to child under 21), the Pa. Multiple Party Accounts Act, the Pa. Uniform Trust Code and the Pa. Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.

Identifying and understanding your assets and beneficiaries and related planning considerations and techniques also will be discussed, including tax, retirement, and long term care planning considerations. Coordinating asset ownership and beneficiary designations will be covered as well.

Date Recorded: March 5, 2021

Speakers: Nora Chatha

Close Course Details

According to a recent survey from the American Bar Association, more than 75 percent of new and young lawyers have at least $100,000 in student loans at graduation. This debt burden has led to postponed life plans, unwanted career paths and emotional angst. This webinar will cover practical methods you can use to avoid costly mistakes, quickly pay down student loans and conquer your law school debt once and for all.

Date Recorded: August 11, 2021

Speakers: Timothy Cummings, Benjamin Lacomis

Close Course Details

This session will be a potpourri of consumer topics, ranging from updated student loan case law to the CARES Act and forbearances to mortgage litigation. The panelists will be reviewing and discussing various consumer issues related to mortgages, vehicles and other types of claims and issues that attorneys are dealing with on a day to day basis. If you are a consumer bankruptcy practitioner (whether debtor or creditor), you do not want to miss this in-depth session of various topics related to your practice.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: Hon. Carlota Bohm, Kenny Steinberg, Thomas Reilly, Ronda Winnecour

Moderators: Keri Ebeck

Close Course Details

Contract Drafting Overview: Tips and Tricks for Corporate Attorneys
Understanding the essentials of contract drafting is a necessity for all attorneys. Lawyers and their clients depend upon contracts to establish and enforce rights and to aid in obtaining their goals. A well-drafted contract avoids misunderstanding, helps guide the parties in the course of their relationship, and can help avoid (or at least mitigate) litigation costs.

This CLE will address the essentials of good contract drafting, starting with the goals of contract drafting, and including specific drafting tips. Key topics to be discussed:


Understanding the agreement and the deal points
Understanding the real world implications surrounding the contract
Tips and tricks of the drafting process

Date Recorded: October 26, 2020

Speakers: Jeffery Friedrich

Close Course Details

Learn about common issues for corporate lawyers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and generally. We all know of someone whose business or employment was negatively affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. And, if you haven't had a friend, relative, or acquaintance ask you about the legal implications of these economic impacts yet, you likely will. This program will give attendees the working-knowledge to be able to provide basic guidance and pinpoint potential legal pitfalls when that day comes. Topics to be discussed include:

- The legal impact of PPP loans and the long-term outlook of the PPP program.
- How COVID-19 has impacted Force Majeure clauses.
- What to look for in contract warranties and representations.
- Fundraising transactions for the purchase and sale of companies.

Date Recorded: January 21, 2021

Speakers: Gregory Teufel, Catia Kossovsky

Moderators: Corey Bauer

Close Course Details

There are countless legal angles regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, but this program will take a look at the issue from the point of view of Pennsylvania teachers and educators.

A panel featuring a retired public school teacher-turned-attorney, an attorney representing members of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers (PFT) and an ethics trainer with the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association will cover an array of related topics, including:

-Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) 6-4-20 "preliminary guidelines" for re-opening schools
-The concerns Pennsylvania Educators have on re-opening schools during COVID
-Changes to Arbitration Hearing Process for Section 1133 Terminations during COVID
-PDE's record setting number of Educator Misconduct Complaints in recent years
-PMEA's ethics training today
-Professional Standards and Practices Commission January, 2020 recommendation to Pa. State
-Board of Education for mandatory ethics training for Pennsylvania Educators
-PDE discipline process for educator misconduct complaints before commission
-Pennsylvania professional code of practices and conduct for educators
-Sample ethics training slideshow and case study for Pennsylvania educators

This CLE is ideal not only for solicitors representing schools and educational institutions, but also attorneys who are parents of school aged children.

Date Recorded: July 16, 2020

Speakers: Thomas Bailey, Noah Jordan, Paul Fox

Close Course Details

COVID-19 has impacted nearly every area of life, with the workplace being one of the places most affected.

This one-hour CLE will provide an update on the current COVID-19 issues impacting employers and employees. Specific topics may include employer COVID-19 vaccine plans, issues relating to offering employees incentives for vaccination and an OSHA COVID-19 standard, among others. The panel will consist of one defense-side employment practitioner, one plaintiff-side employment practitioner and one in-house counsel practitioner.

Date Recorded: April 20, 2021

Speakers: Nicholas Kennedy, Jessica Michael, Patrick Dennison

Close Course Details

This program will provide practical insights into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on forensic accounting procedures and analyses performed for litigation and disputes. In addition, this program will address related considerations and methods to reduce and/or resolve the impact of the pandemic on forensic accounting procedures and related areas such as:

-Attorney and Client Communications
-Documentation and Evidence Gathering
-Assessing Causation in Damage Calculations
-Business Valuations

Program Objectives:

-Gaining an understanding of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on forensic accounting procedures and analyses
-Understanding considerations to reduce and/or resolve the impact of the pandemic to forensic accounting procedures and other related areas
-Understanding methods to reduce and/or resolve the impact of the pandemic to forensic accounting procedures and other related areas
-Review working with a forensic accountant to address the impact and considerations of Covid-19 on their work.

Date Recorded: March 17, 2021

Speakers: James Carroll, David Duski

Close Course Details

This program will offer a tax-focused update on recent legislation passed in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The seminar will cover paycheck protection program loans, tax credits available to employers under the CARES Act, payroll tax deferral and changes made to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Date Recorded: July 28, 2020

Speakers: Christine Green

Close Course Details

This presentation will provide a brief update on the status of COVID-19 vaccinations in Pennsylvania and the U.S., and address several vaccine-related employment issues, including:

The major content areas being covered are:

• Whether employers can mandate COVID vaccination
• ADA and Title VII issues with mandating vaccines
• The use of vaccine incentives
• Collective bargaining obligations related to vaccines
This presentation will provide a brief update on the status of COVID-19 vaccinations in Pennsylvania and the U.S., and address several vaccine-related employment issues, including:

The major content areas being covered are:

• Whether employers can mandate COVID vaccination
• ADA and Title VII issues with mandating vaccines
• The use of vaccine incentives
• Collective bargaining obligations related to vaccines
This program will be immediately followed by a one-hour CLE at 1:15 p.m. "What Have We Learned About Virtual Meetings." There is no pre-requisite to attend either program, but the material of each session will complement the other.

Date Recorded: July 15, 2021

Speakers: David Mitchell, Hobart Webster

Close Course Details

Top notch criminal appellate lawyers will provide a review of all the new case law that has
occurred in the past year. Their presentation will provide a direction for practitioners in the criminal division to be on top of their game.

Date Recorded: March 26, 2021

Speakers: Kevin McCarthy, Martin Dietz

Close Course Details

This CLE is intended to provide attorneys who do not practice criminal law the basics on what happens to individuals who enter the Criminal Justice System. Many attorneys will at some point in their career get questions from friends, current clients, or potential clients about that individual's criminal case. This program will provide attorneys with the information necessary to keep their client safe until they can speak with an attorney who specializes in criminal defense. The program will cover the following specifics.


The Criminal Justice System Process – It is important for an attorney who does not regularly practice in criminal defense to understand where the defendant is in the process before being able to have an informed discussion with the individual.

Diversion Programs and Specialty Courts – This segment involves specialty courts and programs such as Mental Health Court, Drug Court and ARD). Many attorneys are unaware of the full options available to criminal defendants. It can be useful for these defendants to understand that they will have opportunities to handle whatever problems that lead to their involvement in the Criminal Justice System rather than worrying that they will automatically be locked away. This could also be useful to instruct clients who have mental health issues or got caught up in the opioid crisis to seek treatment before the case gets too far as that may help their case going forward.

Should a defendant speak to the police? – Whether a defendant should ever speak with police and their rights when police call an individual to the police station will be discussed. Many times, defendants do not understand their rights in relation to police questioning or interrogation. Attorneys should know the basic rights involved and explain how a defendant can clearly invoke these rights before the defendant goes to speak with police without consulting a criminal defense attorney first.

Preservation of Evidence – By the time a criminal defendant gets to a preliminary hearing, any videos or witnesses could have easily been erased or disappeared. It is imperative to the criminal defendant to preserve as much evidence as possible before speaking with a criminal defense attorney, and attorneys can save their clients potential criminal consequences by offering this advice.

Incarcerated Clients – Attorneys who do not practice criminal defense are likely unaware of the effects of bond or other matters, such as detainers, on the ability of a client to attend court hearings or the pressure of a client to plead to an offense that may affect their rights in a civil or family court lawsuit.

Date Recorded: January 28, 2019

Speakers: Anne Marie Mancuso, Professor David Harris, Francis Wymard

Moderators: James Baker

Close Course Details

Crises can take many forms for companies and individuals, and these crises can have quite an impact in the public eye. This is evident now, more than ever, as the globe deals with a pandemic. But, whether they are accidental, financial, legal or something else entirely, there is one thing that all affected businesses and people have in common: a critical need for a crisis response.

In the 21st century, crisis communication is driven by today's fast-paced, digital environment. Crisis communication requires specialized strategic and tactical knowledge, skills and experience. The challenges posed by a 24/7 news cycle, the internet, and increased pressure from internal and external stakeholders demand a holistic crisis response that transcends the legal framework.

By attending this CLE class, attorneys will develop a deeper understanding of core crisis communication concepts and tools, gain valuable insight into harnessing the power of traditional and social media in times of crisis, and learn how crisis communication and legal strategies complement one another.

Date Recorded: June 8, 2020

Speakers: Anne Linaberger, Oliver Schmidt

Close Course Details

Whether you're a non-bankruptcy practitioner considering your first debtor's case, a hardened bankruptcy veteran or a third-party professional retained by the estate, understanding how to get paid is a critical skill. While pro bono work is the professional duty of every attorney, nobody wants to find out they've volunteered their time after submitting their invoices.

This seminar will break down the fee process in both consumer and commercial bankruptcies, highlight effective strategies and mistakes to avoid and review relevant topics in recent jurisprudence ranging from fee denials in large chapter 11 cases to access-to-justice implications of deferrals in chapter 7. Featuring a diverse panel of local members of the bench and bar, a prominent professional fee examiner and counsel for the Office of the U.S. Trustee, the program will offer both introductory concepts and sophisticated practical insights to benefit attorneys of every experience level.

Date Recorded: June 18, 2021

Speakers: Hon. Gregory Taddonio, Abagale Steidl, Jodi Hause, Francis Corbett, Prof. Nancy Rapoport

Moderators: George Fitting

Close Course Details

This program, led by Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, addresses the alarming prevalence of substance abuse and mental health disorders in the legal profession. People are dying because it is too painful to ask for help.

This course dispels the stigma associated with mental health, which is a roadblock to legal professionals reaching out for help. It provides a comprehensive overview of risk factors and symptoms of depression, compelling reasons detailing why attorneys with depression should seek help and intervention strategies for attorneys with colleagues in need of support.

Andrea Farney will be sharing her riveting personal story and journey during this program, which will further emphasize that the stigma associated with mental health is truly an illusion. Finally, the presentation will outline the confidential, free, safe and supportive resources that are available through Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania.

Date Recorded: April 23, 2021

Speakers: Laurie Besden, Andrea Farney

Close Course Details

The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate on July 13, 2020. Known as RUFADAA, the Act provides a means to allow fiduciaries, including executors and agents under powers of attorney, to manage digital assets owned by decedents or incapacitated individuals. This program will review the purpose of the Act and how it applies to trusts, estates, powers of attorney and guardianships. The program will also cover planning considerations.

Date Recorded: May 25, 2021

Speakers: Nora Chatha

Close Course Details

This program will provide the opportunity for participants to navigate the online filing interface that the Allegheny County Department of Court Records offers to probate and Orphans' Court practitioners. Many filings that used to require a trip to the City-County Building can now be done easily online. Instruction will include hands-on interaction with the website in real-time; participants will use their own computers and devices.

Topics for instruction will include tutorials on how to electronically file documents typical in estate administration, including: Certifications of Notice, Inventories, Inheritance Tax Returns and Status Reports. The presenters will also provide instruction on electronically filing documents common in Orphans' Court practice, including various Petitions, Motions and Objections as well as instructions for compliance with the AOPC Public Access Policy.

Date Recorded: June 16, 2021

Speakers: Daniel Seibel, Thomas Dempsey, Michael McGeever, Ravi Chellaiah

Close Course Details

Join The Hon. Philip Ignelzi and a team of seasoned litigators to discuss the Judge's recent opinion in Lau v. AHN, announcing wide ranging, new discovery practices in Allegheny County covering these areas:

• "Meet and confer" requirements
• Excessive written discovery
• Opinion questions posed to party witnesses
• Counsel's conduct during deposition
• Speaking objections during deposition
• Instructing a witness not to answer

John P. Gismondi, a well-known trial attorney and a former ACBA president, will serve as moderator. He and Judge lgnelzi will be joined on the panel by veteran litigators Mimi Patchen Cullen providing a defense perspective and Jon Perry providing a plaintiff perspective on the new practices.

This program is a "must" for anyone handling litigation in Allegheny County, as the new procedures to be instituted by Judge Ignelzi will impact discovery in all civil cases.

Date Recorded: May 21, 2021

Speakers: Hon. Philip Ignelzi, Mimi Patchen Cullen, Jon Perry

Moderators: John Gismondi

Close Course Details

Join a panel of distinguished speakers for a thoughtful discussion about the lack of diversity in probate and trust law practice and what steps can be taken to improve. The program will include discussion of the following:

- National law school demographics
- Law school enrollment and barriers encountered by diverse students
- Employment and career development data for diverse and women lawyers
- Diversity initiatives within the profession
- Diversity and inclusion efforts within firms and corporate legal departments
- Creating opportunities for diverse probate and trust lawyers
- Promoting estates and trust practice among diverse lawyers

Date Recorded: December 18, 2020

Speakers: Nicola Henry-Taylor, Quintarra Morant, Tony Thompson, Nancy Conrad, Danielle Conway, Daphne Goldman

Close Course Details

"Do you know how your presentation skills are helping or hurting your success in the courtroom and in your practice?

The way people are perceived verbally, vocally and visually are critical to successful communication and achieving professional and personal goals.

In this interactive class, attendees will learn the art and science of successful presentation skills, including how to grab an audience's attention, effectively conveying ideas and overcoming presentation apprehension.

The program also will cover:

10 key points to successful presentation skills
The "Three Vs" of successful communication
Presentation content preparation
How to avoid "Death by PowerPoint"
And more"

Date Recorded: August 25, 2021

Speakers: Anne Linaberger

Close Course Details

Most attorneys recognize that, like many other professionals, their lives are filled to the brim with stress. It's important to be proactive in dealing with stress. The consequences of shrugging it off can be catastrophic, not only for them but for their families, staff and friends.

And then there's trauma. The ramifications of trauma aren't discussed as frequently as those of stress and thus, for many attorneys, trauma is a topic in need of attention. While many experience trauma directly, it also can be secondary or vicarious. Trauma also results from a personal loss, such as the death of a family member or a close friend.

As the globe deals with the unexpected impact of a generational and societal traumatic event – the COVID-19 pandemic – it's important to recognize the signs of trauma in yourself as well as in your office staff, family and clients.

During this session, hear from an experienced speaker who will share his personal story of trauma. Attendees will learn to recognize the unhealthy and potentially life-threatening shadow it can cast.

Date Recorded: October 22, 2020

Speakers: Brian Quinn

Close Course Details

In today's day-and-age, electronic evidence is a critical aspect of many types of cases.

The type and location of electronic evidence and data that may be relevant in an employee investigation or trade secret lawsuit is ever growing and changing. Employers and employees routinely use business and personal computers and email, mobile devices containing call logs, texts, photos, HR and accounting databases, ShareFile, as well as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Instagram, cloud storage, Google Docs, WhatsApp, and other applications. And that's just some of them.

Potentially relevant evidence may be exclusively in the control of the employer, while other relevant data may reside solely with an employee or third party. During this presentation, electronic evidence experts from bit-x-bit will discuss how they forensically collect, preserve and review data on a variety of devices, platforms and systems.

Date Recorded: February 6, 2020

Speakers: Brett Creasy, Joseph Decker

Close Course Details

"The world is moving at an exponential rate. In fact, by 2040 it is predicted that you will be able to buy a $1,000 computer, which can process as fast as the brains of all 9 billion people on the planet at that time.

Imagine the change that will occur to legal documents, search and workflow with this power. All of this technological progress will absolutely have an impact on the legal business. During this presentation, you will see what effect the major emerging technologies will have on law firms. Specifics to be covered include:

• Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning)
• Blockchain Technology and Digital Identity
• Data Analytics
• Workflow Solutions
• VR/MR/AR VPA – Bots "

Date Recorded: July 14, 2021

Speakers: Joseph Raczynski

Close Course Details

Retired attorneys can continue to use their skills to assist individuals with low incomes under Pennsylvania's emeritus rule. Adopted by the Pa. Supreme Court in 2018, the rule allows retired attorneys to be specially licensed for the purpose of doing pro bono work. Join a informative panel and learn about the history and purpose of the rule, as well as the process for obtaining emeritus status. Attorneys who have completed the process will discuss their experiences. Attendees also will learn about volunteer opportunities to put their licenses to work, and about the resources available from the Pro Bono Center of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation.

Specific topics to be covered include:


Pennsylvania Rule of Disciplinary Enforcement 403
Pennsylvania CLE Rule 105(d)
Process for obtaining emeritus status
Practice tips for emeritus attorneys
Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1
Volunteer opportunities and resources for pro bono attorneys

Date Recorded: September 14, 2020

Speakers: Zelda Curtis, Jennifer Fox Rabold, Barbara Griffin, Thomas Farrell

Moderators: Kathryn McKee

Close Course Details

This program is designed for non-employment law attorneys who are a small employer themselves, as well as for attorneys who advise businesses with 14 employees or less.

Oftentimes, small businesses are unaware of the various employment laws that apply to them. This program is designed to give a quick overview of employment laws that can generally apply to businesses with less than 14 employees including:

• Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
• Pittsburgh Municipal Ordinance
• Pittsburgh Paid Sick Leave
• Criminal History Record Information Act
• FLSA
• Wage Payment and Collection Law
• Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act
• Unemployment Compensation
• Medical Marijuana
• Workers' Compensation

Date Recorded: May 28, 2021

Speakers: Rachel McElroy

Close Course Details

Often, the hardest and most important decisions regarding utilization of the Medicare system arise at the point in which individuals first become eligible to enter Medicare. It might appear to be relatively straightforward, but "when to enter Medicare" and "how to use the system effectively" is, in fact, quite complex (and confusing and frustrating).

During this presentation, renowned Medicare expert William McKendree will examine the rules governing enrollment into Medicare and why individuals may wish to delay enrollment. He also will cover how the process of enrolling into Medicare has become significantly more difficult during the Covid Pandemic.

Date Recorded: May 18, 2021

Speakers: William McKendree

Close Course Details

At both the federal and state levels, there are numerous environmental law and regulatory changes, developments, and updates every year, and 2020 was no exception. During this program, panelists will review significant federal and state environmental law developments from 2020 and look at environmental law issues likely to be on the horizon in 2021.

Specifically, panelists will review and analyze 2020 environmental decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Third Circuit, and 2020 environmental decisions from the Pennsylvania appellate courts and the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board. Additionally, 2020 changes to federal and state environmental regulations and guidance will be discussed, as will the potential impact of key federal and state environmental regulatory changes in the year ahead. The program will be of particular interest to individuals whose practices touch on environmental law, energy law and administrative law.

Date Recorded: January 26, 2021

Speakers: Brandon Coneby, Brian Greenert

Close Course Details

The federally enacted All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) ruling dramatically impacts due diligence on a contaminated site. This ruling will ultimately affect all organizations and individuals involved in evaluating contaminated properties.

For the insurance industry, this ruling affects both the underwriting and claims adjusting business. Some potential impacts include policy exclusions and errors and omission. This short one-hour course provides a detailed discussion of the ruling and focuses on the impacts to the insurance industry. Case studies and examples are used for illustrative purposes.

Date Recorded: November 19, 2020

Speakers: Kieran Purcell

Close Course Details

A panel including policy experts, cannabis entrepreneurs and a legislator will explore the disparate impact of Pennsylvania's criminal laws and cannabis business regulations on minority populations. Topics to be discussed include equal access to cannabis businesses for communities of color, and social and policy initiatives to address barriers that prevent social and economic equity in the industry.

Date Recorded: June 17, 2021

Speakers: Dionne Kellier, Shanita Penny, Senator Sharif Street

Moderators: Barbara Griffin

Close Course Details

Few things in law are as contentious as a family fighting over a deceased loved one's property. Sometimes, all it takes is a lawyer able to craft a thorough Will to avoid a decade of infighting.

During this program, the panel will brush up on the basics of drafting wills and other testamentary documents and adopt attendees into the practice of Orphans' Court. With their experience, you will learn to ask questions you didn't know to ask.

When the only certainties in life are death and taxes, why not freshen up on the only area of law that covers both? And if you're looking for a great resting place for your career, consider learning estates and trusts…

Date Recorded: June 7, 2021

Speakers: Carol Sikov Gross, Michelle Ross, Mallory Sikora

Moderators: Natalia Holliday

Close Course Details

Many attorneys in Allegheny County and across the country were forced to work from home for the first time in their careers following Governor Tom Wolf's order closing "non-essential businesses" in March 2020. Nearly a full year later, many lawyers in the area still find themselves working away from their offices more often than not. This CLE will focus on the ethical obligations incumbent on lawyers who are working from locations other than a commercial office and provide some practical considerations and solutions for attorneys continuing to adjust to the proverbial "new normal."

Date Recorded: February 12, 2021

Speakers: Tracey McCants Lewis, Thomas Cocchi

Close Course Details

This program will provide an overview of the non-profit sector, the roles and responsibilities of board members, and ethical and other complications attorneys may face as part of a nonprofit board.

Date Recorded: March 23, 2021

Speakers: Lawrence Castner, Hayley Haldeman, Jean Novak

Moderators: Richard Ernsberger

Close Course Details

Drafting contracts is one of the core job functions for many attorneys. But how often do you stop to consider the ethical implications that attorneys should follow when drafting these documents? This program examines these ethical dynamics.

Specifically, this course will present a study of inadvertent unilateral and joint drafting errors; intentional modification of "standard" forms; incorrect recitations of law; and omissions by error of an agreed-upon term, and the ethical duties of the drafting and receiving lawyers in each situation. Additionally, practice strategies to guard against such situations will be discussed. Specifics to be covered include:


Competence – knowing what you're doing.
Conflicts of Interest.
Doing business with client.
Dealing with unrepresented persons.
Conduct involving dishonesty fraud deceit and misrepresentation.

This course includes citation to numerous applicable model rules and state rules.

The discussion will be led by Claude Ducloux, who has four decades of experience as a civil litigator and is now a nationally recognized legal educator.

Date Recorded: May 28, 2019

Speakers: Claude Ducloux

Close Course Details

During their careers, many lawyers make "lateral moves" for a variety of reasons. However, lateral moves come with a host of ethical dynamics and considerations that attorneys must keep in mind when switching firms and going into/coming out of public service.

This program will cover specific rules of professional conduct in addition to exploring the recent ethics opinions on the topic. It also will include discussion of practical steps lawyers should take when accepting new roles. The program also will explore a firm's ethical responsibility when an attorney leaves. The panel includes attorneys who have taken lateral moves as well as attorneys who can speak to these moves from the firm's perspective. Panel members will share their experiences and tips for best practices for complying with the ethics rules when considering a change of employment.

Date Recorded: October 16, 2020

Speakers: Zachary Gordon, Art Stroyd, Aleksandra Kocelko, Theresa Miller-Sporrer

Close Course Details

""My client just handed me the murder weapon."

"My client in a civil case just handed me a tape of an illegally recorded phone conversation."

When attorneys encounter these scenarios, do you have a duty to turn it over, despite the risk of incrimination? Don't rely on Perry Mason for ethics advice. Sign up for this one-hour program featuring ACBA Professional Ethics Committee members John Riordan and Adrian Roe along with Samuel Napoli with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel."

Date Recorded: September 23, 2021

Speakers: John Riordan, Samuel Napoli, Adrian Roe

Close Course Details

Conflict between state and federal marijuana laws has created ethical conundrums for attorneys. In this one-hour CLE, members of the ACBA Medical Marijuana and Hemp Committee, with assistance from their colleagues in the ACBA Professional Ethics Committee, will give guidance in the often confusing, ever evolving area of medical marijuana law.

Specific topics include:

• Can an attorney provide advice to medical marijuana businesses without violating the Rules of Professional Conduct?
• How much advice can an attorney provide to such businesses?
• Can an attorney own or invest in a medical marijuana business?
• Should an attorney make such an investment?
• Can an attorney be a registered patient and a practicing attorney?
• What should a patient-attorney know about the Rules of Professional Conduct and how those rules may apply when the attorney is a patient?

Date Recorded: April 12, 2021

Speakers: Catia Kossovsky, Jeffrey Wertz, Patrick Nightingale, Scott Eberle

Close Course Details

"One of the many responsibilities for law firms is to understand the amount of time and money it requires to recruit and onboard new attorneys and other employees. The search entails finding a candidate with the right experience, education and work ethic and one who is a good cultural fit. That's no easy task, especially when the search is for a key executive. Law firms and their clients want to avoid or reduce the time and expense related to recruiting, hiring and training.

Protect your firm – or help protect your clients – by establishing a plan to retain key employees by implementing a competitive executive benefits program. Executive benefits consist of an additional layer of offerings on top of traditional employee benefit programs, such as a company-sponsored retirement plan (401k) or health care insurance. There are various types of executive benefit programs that can include compensation bonuses, often with tax benefits to both the employer and the employee. Additionally, these programs have no government regulations."

Date Recorded: August 25, 2021

Speakers: William Wolfe, Robert Fragasso

Close Course Details

This program will cover what you need to know about civil litigation in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. An experienced panel of judges, law clerks, ADR neutrals and practitioners will explain the applicable rules and provide practice pointers and tips as they walk through the life of a case from the commencement of the action to perfecting an appeal.

This program will be useful for new federal court litigators and experienced practitioners alike with tips on the following:

• Effective pleading and motion practice
• Selecting ADR and working with a neutral
• Effective discovery
• Pretrial and trial practice
• Appeals

Date Recorded: May 19, 2021

Speakers: Katherine Vaky, Michelle Markowitz, Paige Forster, Carole Katz, Hon. Cynthia Reed Eddy, Lauren Melfa Catanzarite

Close Course Details

The topic presentation will discuss the concept of Force Majeure, a point that was sometimes considered to be an "afterthought" of contract drafting, and how that point, along with other defenses/excuses of performance, have now become important provisions to be given extra scrutiny in the COVID landscape.

The presentation will review elements of a contractual force majeure clause and related common law doctrines of frustration of purpose and impossibility/impracticability of performance.

Date Recorded: July 24, 2020

Speakers: Maxwell Briskman Stanfield

Close Course Details

This course will provide an overview of relevant fundamental forensic accounting and accounting concepts for lawyers. The program will cover generally accepted accounting principles, key financial statements and the stories they tell, reviewing the accounting cycle and equation, and an overview of techniques for forensic accounting analysis. The program also will include effective methods to obtain, cull and analyze the vast landscape of data.

Date Recorded: June 23, 2021

Speakers: James Carroll, John Petrancosta, Garry Pate

Close Course Details

Instance of fraud have spiked amid the pandemic. The session will feature a panel including FBI agent Matthew Solomon who will discuss an increase in fraud related to COVID-19, the CARES Act and PPP loans. One reason businesses suffer fraud losses is that they generally do a poor job of proactively detecting fraud. Less than 10 percent of small businesses have anonymous fraud reporting systems, internal audit departments that conduct surprise audits, or conduct fraud training for their employees and managers. Most business frauds are detected by accident than by any other means.

Cyber criminals have modernized their techniques in order to take advantage of these gaps. With digital phones creating new ways to perform financial transactions, this brings new conveniences and abilities for attackers to commit their crimes. Being prepared in advance is the best defense against a fraud or cybersecurity attack.

This session will cover the following:

- A "state of the union" on fraud and statistics to show the impact
- How to identify common fraud schemes particular to internal accounting, cybercrimes and financial institutions today
- How to identify the warning signs of fraud and how to prevent data and identity theft
-Understanding that due diligence and prevention practices are needed for fraud risk assessments and an anti-fraud framework at the company
-Ethical issues and best practices for lawyers advising clients with respect to data security issues as well as protecting their own firm
-How wire fraud can be prevented with strong password rules and monitoring activity
-Education of the staff on what the company is facing in security threats is extremely important and needed to help them be part of the solution.

Date Recorded: September 30, 2020

Speakers: Heather Baranowski, Josh Lefcowitz, Judy Murtha, Matthew Solomon

Close Course Details

U.S. productivity in the second and third quarters of 2020 rose 10.6 and 4.6 percent, respectively, marking the largest six-month productivity gain since 1965. It's no coincidence that this surge occurred during the Coronavirus pandemic. Sudden workplace shifts, when forced upon the labor market, locked the lid on the pressure cooker, and innovations that would have taken years to implement when "time allowed," suddenly took hold – and to great effect. As it turns out, it wasn't that hard to change, after all, was it?

Catapulted out of their offices and into their homes for remote work, attorneys have been forced to face-off with the "new normal" where marketing, intake, case management, billing and other elements of their law practices don't work like they once did. But for an underdog industry long seen as "behind the times," lacking the technical prowess of other faster-moving sectors, the legal industry has displayed remarkable gusto and resilience.

In this session, five experts from leading legal technology, casework and marketing solution providers will provide a rundown of the highest-impact changes attorneys can make in their firms right now to not just survive, but thrive. After all, resilience may be sufficient to sustain firms in the short run, but in the long run, substantial business growth – best achieved through incremental, intentional changes – is what's truly desired.

Focusing on your profits and your productivity, the panel will cover:

• How to take advantage of legal practice management software, including key workflows and integrations
• New marketing tactics, channels and trends to capitalize on – plus, current marketing strategies to de-emphasize
• New business models that center on non-hourly fees, leverage freelance lawyers and expand profit margins
• Screening, scheduling and intake systems that move better potential clients into your book of business, faster
• Billing and payment solutions that help attorneys capture more earnings, automatically

Date Recorded: June 17, 2021

Speakers: Maddy Martin, Nefra MacDonald, Jordan Turk, Mark Homer, Kristin Tyler

Close Course Details

Substance abuse isn't the only form of addiction. Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession. The statistics are compelling and clearly indicate that 1 out of 3 attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers. What about that "other" addiction – Gambling?

In 2018, the United States Supreme Court, in Murphy vs. NCAA, held that sports gambling was legal in all of the United States. By 2019, Pennsylvania had added online gambling accessible by cell phone, computer and tablets, thus becoming the second largest commercial gambling state outside of Nevada. With it came the compulsive gambler.

This program will explore not only gambling disorder, but also the connection between gambling and the more well-known forms of impairment and why lawyers are at higher risk to develop problems. This problem has only been exacerbated by the stress, anxiety and isolation caused by the Coronavirus crisis. The results are startling.

Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers will discuss the issue, including the following specifics:

- The early warning signs of impairment and how they relate to gambling disorders. Special attention will be given to the connection between Coronavirus and its impact on social isolation, stress, anxiety, depression and gambling disorders.
- The free services that Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers provides to lawyers, judges, their family members and law students.
- A close look at what barriers exist that prevent lawyers and judges from seeking the help they need will be provided.
- The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with addiction an d mental illness in the legal profession.
-Special emphasis will be placed on what callers to the LCL Confidential Helpline can expect, regardless of whether it is a self-referral or a request for intervention assistance.

Date Recorded: March 18, 2021

Speakers: Brian Quinn

Close Course Details

Typically, lawyers – like all professionals – want to get paid for their work. This program will cover strategies to help attorneys get paid for the services they provide.

Specifics to be covered include:

• Best practices for fee agreements and various types of retainers
• Guidelines for safeguarding entrusted funds and property belonging to clients or third parties
• Major factors for collecting attorneys fees on a timely basis
• What an attorney can do ethically if a client refuses to pay agreed upon fees
• Rules governing payment of referral fees and sharing fees with others

Date Recorded: April 22, 2021

Speakers: Gregory Teufel, Tara Hutchinson, Brooke McMorrow

Close Course Details

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the practice of law, from working remotely to virtual client meetings to promoting your online office. This program will offer strategies designed to help your practice thrive amid the pandemic.

Digital marketing and legal research professionals will discuss ways your law firm can adapt – and even thrive – amid the new working environment. The panel will discuss topics such as making sure your firm and your brand are visible, using social media and conducting meetings through online platforms and virtual resources to help firms be more flexible and thrive during these times.

Date Recorded: June 26, 2020

Speakers: Bryan Barto, Mark Melago, Craig Vaughn

Close Course Details

This course is designed to help participants understand the effects of marijuana use, how those effects relate to driving impairment and how toxicology can help to understand test results relative to drug use and impairment. Those attending the course also will gain a better understanding of the controversies surrounding the current legal thresholds – and the science supporting them – so that liability may be more clearly identified

Date Recorded: September 21, 2021

Speakers: Christopher Spaeth

Close Course Details

This presentation will cover how smaller law firms can market their practices to safeguard referrals, keeping? their firms top of mind with current and past clients as well as position their firm to reach new legal consumers. Presenters also will educate small firms on how they can be more profitable using new tools to the small law firm space – not only when reacting to new client inquiries but also in being proactive to current client's needs.

Date Recorded: September 29, 2021

Speakers: Mark Melago, Bryan Barto

Close Course Details

This program will provide an overview of trends in immigration law, both substantive and procedural, under the Trump and Biden administrations. Many changes have been substantive, including asylum law and employment visas, but other changes have been procedural. The Biden administration has already moved to reverse many Trump policies. Other changes, such as comprehensive immigration reform, remain on the table.

Date Recorded: May 10, 2021

Speakers: Katherine Drabecki, Adrian Roe, Matthew Phillips

Close Course Details

COVID has impacted more than public health. It also has impacted international taxation.

This presentation will cover an overview of the CARES Act, various U.S. international tax updates and considerations related to foreign income tax updates.

Date Recorded: February 26, 2021

Speakers: Reid Meyer, Andrew McKinley

Close Course Details

Following a difficult year, pro bono attorneys are needed now more than ever. This CLE is for anyone who is interested in volunteering their services but isn't quite sure where to begin. The program will offer several bite-size presentations about active pro bono projects that are currently in need of volunteers. Attendees will hear directly from program coordinators about the type of work they do, the time commitment a volunteer can expect and how each project has changed over the past year. Attendees will also learn how to get started and have a chance to ask any questions they may have about volunteering and pro bono work.

Date Recorded: June 17, 2021

Speakers: Barbara Kern, Gregory Vose, Antoinette Oliver, Edward Stokan, John Cavicchio, Barbara Griffin

Close Course Details

This CLE is for anyone who is or plans to be interviewing for a new job in the future. The program will cover what is legal and what is appropriate during the interview/hiring process. Attendees will learn related substantive law from an experienced employment law practitioner and hear from a panel of young lawyers and advisors about real life interviewing perils and pitfalls. Attendees also will work through scenarios with the presenters during this interactive session.

At the end of this session, attendees will come away prepared to handle any potentially inappropriate or illegal interview tactics with professionalism and integrity.

Date Recorded: April 15, 2021

Speakers: Jean Novak, Asra Hashmi, Taylor Gillan

Moderators: Alysia Keating

Close Course Details

Ripped from the pages of "The Steel Bar: Pittsburgh Lawyers and the Making of Amercia," this program will cover the remarkable story of how two Pittsburgh lawyers came to argue the U.S. Supreme Court case that sustained the National Labor Relations Board as the arbiter of collective labor activity in the United States. This case came against the backdrop of an economic depression, intense labor strife and a president's threat to pack the court. The historical discussion will be followed by a moderated discussion by two noted Pittsburgh labor lawyers about the future of the NLRB.

Date Recorded: January 29, 2021

Speakers: Ronald Schuler, Joseph Hornack, Joseph Quinn

Close Course Details

This program is designed for those lawyers interested in becoming certified Landlord-Tenant Arbitrators, Mediators and/or volunteer lawyers who will participate with the Allegheny County Housing Court Pilot Program.

Participants will learn from experienced landlord-tenant practitioners who will cover landlord-tenant law, the procedural rules relating to filings, establishing supersedes, appeals from magisterial district courts and evictions.

Additionally, the program will include mediation training where the key traits and best practices of a successful mediation will be explained. During the mediation training session, The Hon. Alan Hertzberg will outline factors that can be used to encourage resolution in landlord-tenant disputes.

Date Recorded: October 2, 2019

Speakers: Hon. Alan Hertzberg, Daniel Vitek, Deborah Miskovich, Antoinette Oliver, Anna Majocha

Moderators: Dianne Wainwright

Close Course Details

Essentially all attorneys want to grow their practices. But getting there is not always a tangible process. This program will focus on the specific numbers and metrics attorneys need to make their practices grow.

Specific topics to be covered include:


Creating your individualized money map to get the life you want.
Dashboarding the 28 key performance indicators you need to make strategic decisions for practice/firm. (Stop guessing and only dealing with what's on fire).
Seeing how patterns provide clues to peak performance.
Getting free excel dashboards to get you from where you are to where you want to be.

Date Recorded: February 5, 2020

Speakers: Wendy Witt

Close Course Details

The course will address the numerous legal considerations relative to the listing and sale of properties which has (or may have) gas, oil and mineral rights.

In this program, attorney Brad Dornish will cover the history of oil and gas rights in Pa., as well as advising clients completing the oil, gas and mineral rights disclosure and addendum to the agreement of sale. Additionally, the program covers excepting and reserving oil, gas and mineral rights in Pennsylvania deeds, title insurance, relocation transactions, and protecting buyers and sellers in transactions.

Date Recorded: February 23, 2021

Speakers: Bradley Dornish

Close Course Details

The change management process empowers organizations to remodel traditional operating procedures, embrace innovations and acquire new, profitable skills. This includes the adoption of legal technology. In fact, law firms that adopt legal technology will outperform non-adopting practices in the coming years.

With that in mind, one question remains: How can law practices best adopt legal technology and manage the changes that accompany it? This program will explain how.

Date Recorded: June 3, 2020

Speakers: Dorothy Radke

Close Course Details

 This CLE will provide a Title VII overview. On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination. Prior to this ruling, it was not clear in many states whether LGBT employees had protections from employers firing an individual merely for being gay or transgender.

Date Recorded: November 30, 2020

Speakers: Michale Komo, David Garraux, Nicole Stockey

Close Course Details

Over the last year, life and disability insurance has reached the highest market demand. This session will detail what products are available, who the target market is for each product – including attorneys – and why it has never been more important to have in place.

Date Recorded: April 21, 2021

Speakers: Robert Avin, Jack Devero

Close Course Details

Life care plans and medical cost projections are becoming more common in many types of legal work, including workers' compensation matters and personal injury litigation.

Life care plans are dynamic documents, based on published standards that offer concise plans for current and future needs for individuals who have experienced catastrophic injury or have chronic healthcare needs. Medical cost projections are unbiased third-party estimates on the total medical value of a claim.

During this program, experts will examine life care plans and medical cost projections and their roles in legal practice. Vocational liability cases also will be examined.

Date Recorded: September 16, 2020

Speakers: Michelle Repman-Pifer

Close Course Details

When it comes to labor contracts, an attorney's work isn't done when the collective bargaining agreement is signed. This program will explore those aspects of a labor contract that are most relevant after the agreement is in place.

Administering the contract, interpreting the contract, discipline issues and enforcing the contract.

Administering the contract: This portion of the program will focus on such topics as zipper clauses, management rights, union structure (role of shop stewards, etc.), labor-management committees and more.

Interpreting the contract: After a contract is in place, disputes are sure to arise. The panel will cover past practice, plain language rules, unfair labor practices arising out of contract administration, work rules and policies and more.

Discipline: During this segment of the program, the panel will cover investigations, seniority dynamics, bargaining unit work, last chance agreements, the duty of fair representation, the grievance process (stages, players, arbitration clause) and more.

Enforcing the contract: This segment of the program will focus on the arbitration process, trilogy cases, binding v. non-binding arbitration (fact-finding), The National Arbitration Act / The Uniform Arbitration Act, and arbitration clauses. Panelists will cover grievance (rights) arbitration v. interest (contract interpretation) arbitration, arbitrator selection, reasons for arbitrator disqualification, the duty to disclose conflicts, the arbitrator's authority and more. Arbitrability, preparing for the hearing and the arbitration hearing process and outcomes also will be discussed.

Date Recorded: September 25, 2020

Speakers: Sally Cimini, Ernest Orsatti, Marijane Treacy, Jack Yoedt

Moderators: Jared Simmer

Close Course Details

Building a law firm takes more than just an idea and some work. It takes vision, passion and the recognition that law is not just a practice, it's a business. But it's also different than a regular business because lawyers have fiduciary and ethical obligations. During this program, experienced practitioners will offer tips and advice that you can implement in your own practice. The program is especially relevant for solo or small firm practitioners; go from just being a lawyer to building the business that you want to have.

Date Recorded: July 29, 2020

Speakers: Amy Coco, Nicola Henry-Taylor

Close Course Details

You are most likely being bombarded with messages about the Coronavirus, whether on television, social media, or in your community networks. At uncertain times like this, anxiety, stress, fear and negative thoughts can easily take control. You may be worried about being in crowds, your loved ones, your seniors, your office, your clients, your finances or how to manage whatever the future holds as we prepare to return to the "new normal" in our personal and professional lives.

Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, addiction and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession. The statistics are compelling and clearly indicate that 1 out of 3 attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers. Accordingly, unexpected events like those we are facing as a society will have an even greater impact on lawyers and those who work with them.

In light of this unprecedented crisis, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers will cover the following topics:

-The prevalence rates of impairment in the legal profession due to substance use and mental health issues prior to COVID-19
-Causes and symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety
-The impact of COVID-19 crisis on mental health issues and the role isolation plays
-Fear associated with the uncertainty surrounding the future of the legal industry
-Well-being strategies to reduce or alleviate these conditions
-Tips for maintaining a healthy and productive work/life balance
-Ethical dilemmas created by the Coronavirus crisis, including remote supervision of attorneys and staff, record and timekeeping, data security and confidentiality in the remote office setting.
-Why legal professionals are at higher risk to develop mental health and substance use disorders
-Challenges and barriers facing legal professionals from seeking help
-The free, confidential services provided by Lawyers Assistance Programs to lawyers, their family members, judges and law students
-The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with addiction and mental illness in the legal profession
-Resources available to both lawyers and support staff with emphasis on COVID-19 issues

Date Recorded: February 4, 2021

Speakers: Brian Quinn

Close Course Details

This presentation is an overview of the Medicare system and how it can be used effectively to obtain affordable quality health services. William McKendree – who is highly regarded for his Medicare knowledge – will examine the following topics:


- Medicare's eligibility and enrollment criteria
-The various parts that comprise the Medicare system
- How these parts function and interact with each other and coordinate with non-Medicare health care benefits
- How to compare and evaluate the available options to achieve the most effective and affordable health care coverage.

Date Recorded: April 13, 2021

Speakers: William McKendree

Close Course Details

Every lawyer needs malpractice insurance, and in this day and age, cyber liability insurance goes hand-in-hand with malpractice.

During this CLE, a knowledgeable panel from the ACBA Insurance partners at USI Affinity will discuss lawyers professional liability insurance, including what to look for in a policy and what coverages will be important post-pandemic. How to avoid risk and specific risk management best practices for law firms also will be discussed.

The panel also will discuss why cyber liability insurance is important for lawyers. Speakers will review cyber liability exposures for law firms and cover how to protect your firm against cyber-attacks.

USI Affinity is pleased to provide an additional benefit for select ACBA CLE programs. Simply complete the information form that will be emailed with the materials, and you may qualify for up to a 7.5% risk management credit per lawyer on your next CNA Lawyers' Professional Liability Insurance renewal, endorsed by the ACBA. The credit will be applied at the next renewal date and is good for two consecutive policy terms.

Date Recorded: February 24, 2021

Speakers: Michelle Logan, Mark LeFever

Close Course Details

As marijuana's presence expands to medical-use and legal recreational-use, attorneys encounter more cases involving these substances and their roles in impairment.

What are the differences between marijuana metabolites? What are some pearls in interpreting drug testing results? How do the various sources of marijuana (such as edibles, joints and oils) differ in potency and effects on the body? What is the science behind the marijuana breath testing device? What are synthetic cannabinoids and how do they compare with marijuana? These and other questions will be answered in this one-hour presentation.

Specifics to be covered include:


- The scientific names of the parent marijuana compound and major metabolites
- Similarities and differences between marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids
- Why determining impairment based on marijuana levels (or its metabolites) is challenging

Date Recorded: October 13, 2020

Speakers: Allison Muller

Close Course Details

Medicare Simplified is all about demystifying Medicare for retirees. The program will cover the following:

- The various aspects of Medicare
- The difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantages plans
- Tips to help you discover which plan might be appropriate for you and your clients
- How much you and your clients can expect to pay for your health coverage during retirement
- How to minimize your total health insurance cost during retirement
- The laws which started Medicare and Medicaid, the laws that govern IRMAA charges for both Part B and Part D and how to go about appealing those IRMAA charges

Date Recorded: December 7, 2020

Speakers: Ashby Daniels

Close Course Details

Ron Schuler, the author of "The Steel Bar," presents a one-hour substantive CLE on corporate issues arising out of the tempestuous business relationship between Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick. The program will cover issues arising from the Johnstown Flood and the Homestead Strike through the "World's Greatest Lawsuit" and the founding of U.S. Steel. The program will examine issues such as the limits of corporate authority and powers, limited liability, buyout agreements and M&A through the lens of 19th century Pennsylvania corporation law.

Date Recorded: January 17, 2020

Speakers: Ronald Schuler

Close Course Details

Conflicts between parents over parenting decisions can occur both before and after divorce. During this session, Dr. Deborah Gilman will discuss action-oriented processes that shift the focus to what can be done rather than simply focusing on preventing problems. The program will explore motivational interviewing techniques that encourage ownership and self-efficacy and assume competency. The course will identify cognitive and evaluative processes people apply to progress through change. It will explore core motivational skills, identify various states of readiness and identify skills to incorporate as a lawyer/mediator.

Date Recorded: September 18, 2020

Speakers: Dr. Deborah Gilman

Close Course Details

Do you advise a client where a sizeable portion of their compensation is represented by an employee stock option plan? Before exercising these options, there is much to consider, such as vesting schedules, hedging, wealth transfers and tax implications. In this seminar, two financial representatives who are Certified Private Wealth Advisors® will analyze these critical considerations and aid you in identifying the various courses of action in order to benefit your client.

Date Recorded: April 14, 2021

Speakers: Brandon Schwan, Michael Fertig

Close Course Details

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to many areas of life, including the workplace. This program will cover employment law issues in the COVID era, with a focus on the law and regulations affecting workers who have pressing home and family obligations.

In particular, the CLE will examine the impact of COVID on workers who are caregivers and parents of school-age children. What leave can people take? What are flexible options for retaining people with different schedules? How should policies and protocols be written or adapted to accommodate the needs of working parents in the COVID era?

The panel will address these questions and other employment issues arising in these challenging times. Various perspectives will be covered by panelists, including employer and employee perspectives. This session will be informative for employment attorneys counseling clients on legal and regulatory issues. It also will be useful for law firm management committed to ensuring the retention and advancement of women in the profession at a time when progress for women in the field is threatened by the pressures of working in a pandemic.

Major content areas: Labor and employment law generally; paid leave laws; FFCRA; Governor's orders on COVID issues; diversity and inclusion.

Who should attend: Employment lawyers; in-house counsel; diversity and inclusion officers; anyone impacted by the COVID situation for their own situation.

Date Recorded: November 20, 2020

Speakers: Bobbi Tucker, Emily Town, Terry Roberts

Moderators: Julie Vanneman

Close Course Details

 
For the last 25-plus years, confusion has existed as to what actual, legal relationships (fiduciary and otherwise) may exist between a real estate licensee and a buyer and/or seller of real estate. This confusion continues today, on a local, regional and national level. With both local and national speakers, this class will address:

- The "Agency Mess" on a local, regional and national level
- The various fiduciary and non-fiduciary duties that can/cannot exist in a real estate transaction
- The impact on a real estate transaction the noted confusion it can have
-The impact these various relationships can have in litigation involving a real estate transaction.
- Education efforts, locally, regionally and nationally, to educate the real estate "consumer" on these various relationships and corresponding duties

Date Recorded: March 24, 2021

Speakers: Steven Brobeck, Jonathan Freed, Tom Wemett, Bradley Dornish, Manasseh Lapin

Moderators: Kevin Brown

Close Course Details

This program will cover the basics of what it takes to properly manage oil and gas risks on pad sites, as well as compliance for service contractors who service the site. The program will walk through why proper MSA terms are important and how risk management and transfer have evolved. Mitigating risk is a huge benefit to members of the legal community who practice in this field, and this program will cater to them. It will be a blend of how the legal works with the insurance community to protect both the oil and gas businesses and their employees.

Date Recorded: June 17, 2019

Speakers: James Miller, Phillip Glyptis

Close Course Details

Do you use social media just to "like" and "share" cute animal videos and memes? Does this program have you wondering, "What even is LinkedIn?" or "How could I use social media in a professional yet productive manner?" and of course, "Is this ethical?" Then this program is for you.

The Internet is more than a collaboration of trolls. It's also the next huge platform in the digital age for your law firm's outreach to prospective clients (and of course, those trolls). An expert panel will describe the ins and outs of effective social media outreach and marketing, as well as various tips and tricks for navigating the many social media platforms out there, giving advice on effectively and ethically using these tools. Find out what it takes to boost your social media persona from a follower into an influencer and what that means for your law practice.

Do it for the 'Gram – follow like and repost us. Turn your social media into professional media and learn how to boost your firm's presence on the social media frontier.

Date Recorded: June 15, 2021

Speakers: Shaheen Wallace, Valerie Levanduski

Moderators: Maria Coladonato

Close Course Details

This one-hour CLE will provide a general overview of the benefits available to veterans.

This is an ideal program for those who practice veterans' benefits law or for those who are simply interested in learning more about this area of practice.

The presenter, Susan Paczak, has practiced Veterans Benefits Law for nearly 30 years; she is accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and has argued before both the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Date Recorded: May 27, 2021

Speakers: Susan Paczak

Close Course Details

"Work from home" is more of a thing now than ever before, and many experts think it's here to stay, at least in some capacity. Safety concerns, cleaning procedures and even elevator capacity are now major factors in the workplace.

What impact does all of this have on the market for downtown office space?

During this highly visual presentation, Dan Adamski, Senior Managing Director at JLL Pittsburgh, will provide an update on how the Pittsburgh market has been affected by the global pandemic, with special focus on law firms. Adamski will also offer a guide to re-entering the office, and how tenants can navigate the new market dynamics.

Date Recorded: August 26, 2020

Speakers: Dan Adamski, Tobiah Bilski, Nick Francic

Close Course Details

Have you thought of the day when you no longer want to practice law? It's only natural for all lawyers to think about this. But stopping your practice will involve a well-thought-out "exit strategy." Have you given this any thought?

When you completed your most recent Pennsylvania attorney registration form, you were asked whether you had a Succession Plan. In order to protect your clients' interests, as well as to protect your family and your own interests, you should prepare a Succession Plan for the time when you leave the practice of law.

Whether you're close to that point of your career or not, it's important to start thinking about and understand the dynamics that go into an exit strategy.

This seminar will help attendees understand the whys and hows of leaving the practice, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, the steps that are required to take, and other steps attorneys should consider taking. By the end of this seminar, attendees will have already begun to plan an exit strategy and have an understanding of what happens if you do not plan. Attendees also will have an understanding of the resources available to help with this process. This seminar will address issues that apply to lawyers of all ages, no matter the size of the firm or years of experience, and whether to considering retiring or simply changing careers.

Date Recorded: December 19, 2019

Speakers: Angela Mitas, James Ryan, Keith Cameron, Dr. Samuel Schachner, William Friedman, Michelle Logan, Amy Coco

Close Course Details

Police misconduct cases are more high-profile than ever, and qualified immunity is the single most common defense in cases brought under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 and is critical to any analysis of such cases for plaintiffs and defendants alike.

This CLE will address both substantive and ethical concerns relating to qualified immunity. The substantive component will address the creation and prevalence of qualified immunity in police misconduct cases. The ethical component will address when, why and how attorneys should handle qualified immunity in a variety of cases.

Date Recorded: August 19, 2021

Speakers: Alexander Wright, Paul Krepps

Close Course Details

"The presenter, an expert witness working with attorneys on cases related to drugs, will share information encountered in autopsy reports and other postmortem findings that are trying to tell the story of what happened to a person prior to death. Was there a drug overdose? Was a prescription medication responsible for the fatality? Was the person impaired prior to a fatal accident? Did use of a street drug contribute to the death?

This one-hour session will go over the basics of what attorneys need to know: What happens in the body after death? How do postmortem changes affect drug levels? What are the different sources of drug levels in dead people (and why is eyeball fluid being tested anyway)?

The program will also cover procedural components and careful drafting, causation "due to" vs. "arising out of…" and expressing negligence and fair notice requirements. The presenter also will provide a final checklist for drafting indemnity clauses."

Date Recorded: October 21, 2021

Speakers: Allison Muller

Close Course Details

The POWER Act, passed by U.S. Congress in 2019, requires the chief judge for each judicial district to conduct public events to promote pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The Act also requires the judge to organize public events aimed specifically at survivors belonging to trial organizations, if any live within their jurisdiction. A chief judge must, in conducting public events, seek to maximize the local impact and the provision of high-quality pro bono legal services to survivors, according to the Act.

This program will bring awareness to domestic violence situations in the community and provide opportunities for members of the bar to offer pro bono legal services to survivors.

Date Recorded: June 18, 2020

Speakers: Susan Abramowich, Hon. Maria McLaughlin, Margaret Prescott, Hon. David Spurgeon

Moderators: Hon. Cynthia Eddy

Close Course Details

This is the ideal program for those considering taking on an in-house role or for those who have recently transitioned into being an in-house lawyer.

An esteemed panel of leaders will share their insights about being effective in-house attorneys. Specific topics to be covered include:


- Choosing an in-house attorney role
- Cultivating success
- Overcoming challenges as an in-house counsel
- Managing outside counsel
- Practical tips and takeaways

Each panelist will share three things that they wish they knew before going in-house. If you are considering a career as an in-house attorney, this is a CLE you won't want to miss.

Date Recorded: May 17, 2021

Speakers: Aparna Nemlekar, Christina Johansen, Laura Mullen, Elizabeth Hughes

Moderators: Keethri Mundrati

Close Course Details

Three members of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel explain various disciplinary pitfalls that have occurred in the criminal division. The speakers will provide insight and knowledge as to keeping an ethical practice and the difficulties in practicing in the criminal section where being brought before Disciplinary Counsel by disgruntled clients can be normal.

Date Recorded: March 26, 2021

Speakers: Thomas Farrell, Angie Mitas, James Fox

Close Course Details

Demonstrative evidence can be a major part of a case. What types of tools are out there to be used in presenting this evidence? And what are the ethical considerations?

This program will explore this topic. Specifics to be covered include:

- Explaining the Differences between Demonstrative Evidence and Demonstrative Aids
- Types of Demonstrative Evidence
- Examples of typical uses, including summaries, timelines
- Law covering demonstrations and simulations
- Themes and Scripts
- Story boards – Simplifying the complex case
- Inexpensive Techniques and use of "Teaching Witness"
- Rulings and Discretion of Trial Judge
- Use of Evidence in Closing Argument
- Learning styles - How to communicate with Judge/Jury
- Ethical Rules governing use of false evidence and Duty to Correct

Date Recorded: December 8, 2020

Speakers: Claude Ducloux

Close Course Details

The purpose of this program is to explore the role of vocational experts in social security disability hearings, thereby helping the Claimant's attorney to prepare for examination of the vocational expert witness. Attendees will hear from experienced Social Security practitioners and from vocational experts. This program will be directed to new and moderately experienced practitioners. Well-seasoned representatives may also obtain a few insights.

Specifics to be covered include:

- Addressing the Claimant's work history and educational history
- Insights on how vocational experts prepare for hearings
- Hearing preparation/vocational expert examination
- Questioning vocational experts at a hearing

Date Recorded: January 25, 2021

Speakers: Leah Fink, Frank Grzywinski, Chales Cohen, Frances Kinley

Moderators: Glen Sinko

Close Course Details

This program will provide an overview on the Rule of Professional Conduct regarding pro bono service, as well as statements from the judiciary about the importance and need for pro bono service. Neighborhood Legal Services will provided information about how attorneys can sign up for VetLex to provide pro bono legal services to veterans and service members, as well as the different areas of need that NLS tends to see. The Duquesne University School of Law Veterans Clinic will provide information about its services, the legal needs of veterans who seek out their services and ways for attorneys to support the clinic and local veterans and service members.

Date Recorded: June 18, 2021

Speakers: Wesley Speary, Amy Carpenter, Daniel Kunz

Close Course Details

"September 11, 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States of America. Given the occasion, the Historical Committee of United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, together with the Allegheny County Bar Association Federal Court Section and the Women's Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania, will be hosting a Program of Remembrance reflecting upon the sacrifices made by great Americans on both September 11, 2001, and during the attacks' aftermath. The Program of Remembrance will honor the heroes on Flight 93 and the people of the Western District of Pennsylvania who assisted in the federal law enforcement effort with respect to the events that unfolded, those who undertook related investigatory and/or judicial functions, and those that later came together to acknowledge and honor the heroes of Flight 93.

The program will be moderated by Tom McMillan, author of Flight 93: The Story, the Aftermath, and the Legacy of American Courage on 9/11. The program will additionally feature a video message from President George W. Bush, as well as participation by some of the family members of Flight 93 passengers."

Date Recorded: September 9, 2021

Speakers: Hon. D. Brooks Smith, Hon. D. Fisher, Hon. Donetta Ambrose, Hon. Kim Gibson, Mr. James McLean, Linda Kelly, Father James McCaffrey, Tom McMilan

Close Course Details

This virtual workshop will explore Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit QDROs as well as QDRO-like Orders (Governmental, FERS/CSRS, and Military) related to divorces. This workshop will review various retirement plans and the type of Order needed for your client's division of retirement assets. The program will review needed settlement agreement language and the most common mistakes to avoid saving countless hours, headaches and limiting liability exposure.

Specifics to be covered include:

- The differences in retirement plan types and benefit options
- The different ways to divide retirement plans (shared vs. separate interest)
- Language needed when representing the employee spouse and former spouse
- Language differences between drafting regular QDROs vs. Governmental, FERS/CSRS and Military Plans
- Ways to avoid common QDRO mistakes

Date Recorded: January 27, 2021

Speakers: Donna Cheswick

Moderators: Dorothy O'Neil

Close Course Details

This CLE will cover the basics of Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and teach attorneys of all practice areas the best ways to help submit information requests on behalf of clients. The CLE also will discuss how attorneys representing government agencies can ensure these agencies follow the law. The program will cover:

- The timeline of submitting and responding to a request
- How to phrase a request to be specific
- Common reasons requests are denied
- The basics of the administrative appeal process
- An overview of the Court Process to challenge an administrative decision

Date Recorded: December 4, 2020

Speakers: Zachary Gordon, Elizabeth Rubenstein

Close Course Details

Few things are evolving more rapidly than the laws and regulations surrounding the cannabis industry. This program will cover recent case law and legislative proposals concerning Section 280E and cannabis-related businesses. Specific topics to be addressed will include the prohibition on deductions, the success and failures of taxpayer arguments in case law, business structuring issues and legislative updates

Date Recorded: September 22, 2021

Speakers: Christine Green

Close Course Details

Join an experienced attorney for some pro tips on contract drafting. Specifics to cover include:

- Defining how boilerplate differs from essential clauses
- Examples of typical boilerplate and potentially dangerous provisions
- Steps to understanding, examining and communicating to your client
- Choice of Law
- Forum selection
- Notice (method for giving notice to other side)
- Non-reliance ("Integration Clause")
- Waiver of Consequential damage
- No Third-party Beneficiary
- Choice of Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution – Arbitration/Mediation
- Severability
- Contract Ethics – Duties of Competence, Conflicts of Interest, Doing Business with Client and Duty of Truth in Statements to Others
- Best Practices when reviewing boilerplate

Date Recorded: October 22, 2021

Speakers: Claude Ducloux

Close Course Details

Social media is more than a fad. It's one of the primary ways people communicate today. But what impact does this still-new form of communication have on litigation?

This program will cover:

• Inappropriate use of social media by lawyers
• Necessary changes to law practice, client control and case selection due to use of social media
• Malpractice cases based upon inappropriate use of social media
• Disciplinary cases resulting from use of social media
• Monetary damages which may result from use of social media
• Dangers of spoliation of evidence by modifying websites; and necessary instructions to clients concerning modifying social media history
• How inappropriate use destroys the attorney client privilege

Date Recorded: February 18, 2021

Speakers: Claude Ducloux

Close Course Details

This CLE will cover fair housing laws regarding support and assistance animals in residential housing, with an emphasis on residential rental housing. The CLE will help attorneys to understand what support and assistance animals are in the housing context and how to handle reasonable accommodation requests regarding support and assistance animals.

Also, the CLE will include brief distinctions between support-assistance animals under fair housing laws and support-service animals under other laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. In addition, the CLE will include examples of common issues that arise in fair housing cases, as well as best practices for housing providers.

Finally, the CLE will include a discussion and information about some of the challenges and obstacles that people with disabilities experience in housing.

Date Recorded: April 29, 2021

Speakers: Wesley Speary, Rita Porterfield, Samantha Vollrath

Close Course Details

The U.S. Supreme Court has made numerous recent decisions that impact labor and employment law. This program, led by attorney Terry Murphy, will provide an overview and offer insight on these recent decisions.

Date Recorded: October 26, 2021

Speakers: Terrence Murphy

Close Course Details

During this program the Administrative Chair for the Board of Viewers, attorneys handling exemption and assessment appeals and a certified real estate appraiser will cover the following:

- Practice tips
- Best evidence
- Effective use of appraisals
- Trends in valuation for commercial properties
- The new procedure for tax exemption appeals
- Recent cases and legal developments

Great CLE for attorneys representing property owners or taxing bodies, nonprofits or tax exempt entities, or for any attorney with an interest in real estate in Allegheny County.

Date Recorded: March 25, 2021

Speakers: Michelle Lally, Megan Turnbull, Jennifer Cerce, Anthony Barna

Moderators: Kate Diersen

Close Course Details

This program will discuss the impact of the 2020 election on the U.S. tax system. It will provide a brief update of 2020 filing requirements, as well as, planning opportunities for tax year 2021.

This CLE will cover corporate tax, estate and gift tax, individual tax, current tax legislation update and COVID-19 Tax Update. Program material will be adjusted as things continue to unfold in light of the election and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date Recorded: January 19, 2021

Speakers: Justin Steele, Gregory Allison

Close Course Details

This CLE will address the tax treatment of carried interest under Section 1061 of the Internal Revenue Code, which was added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The primary consequence of Section 1061 is lengthening the long-term capital gains holding period requirement for certain types of carried and profits interests. The Treasury has since finalized regulations under Section 1061 that provide a complex set of rules to implement Section 1061. Specifically, this CLE will review what a "carried interest" is, when Section 1061 applies to a carried interest, the exceptions to Section 1061 treatment and the regulatory Look-Through Rule.

Date Recorded: June 1, 2021

Speakers: Christine Green

Close Course Details

In July, the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued final regulations under section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").

As enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and as amended by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136) (the "CARES Act"), section 163(j) generally limits the deductibility of net business interest expense to 30 percent of adjusted taxable income for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.

The final regulations remove a number of problematic items from the overbroad definition of interest in the Proposed Regulations. The result is a definition of interest that is more consistent with other parts of the Code and general tax principles and generally will be easier to implement for taxpayers Specific topics to be covered include the basic architecture of the regulations, key substantive provisions, changes from prior regulations, remaining key open questions, effective dates. The program will be geared towards tax and finance professionals in either a client service role or an in-house role.

Date Recorded: September 21, 2020

Speakers: Michael Bauer, Thomas Carpenter

Close Course Details

So much of the practice of law involves decision-making, and convincing others to make better decisions based upon fact rather than emotion. This course is intended to help attendees understand how they involuntarily make decisions. It also aims to guide them to recognize and prevent bias, and to know how to effectively communicate with persons whose bias affects others. This course was awarded recognition by the American Inns of Court in Washington, DC to be one of the six "Outstanding Presentations" of 2018 in the U.S.

Specifics to be covered include:

• The biology of human decision-making, including emotion, mood, complex cognition, and reasoning
• The psychology of decision-making, heuristics, issue-framing
• The seven steps to effective decision-making
• Self-serving bias, confirmation bias, and epistemic closure
• The backfire effect of receiving contradictory evidence
• Crushing your insular cortex to relieve the stress of unacceptable truth
• Justification and Politicization; and False Consensus
• Tipping Points to Change misperceptions
• Professional training received by judges
• Strategies to prevent bias in your own decision-making
• Strategies in communicating to third-parties
• Reframing Issues, and overcoming misunderstandings

Date Recorded: November 9, 2020

Speakers: Claude Ducloux

Close Course Details

"If there is one word heard more during our journey through the pandemic – and one that continues to be head more than any other term as we navigate into the Post-COVID "new normal" world – it is "burnout."

But what is burnout? What does it look like and feel like? More importantly, what can be done to prevent the normal stress and "lawyer anxiety" so common in the profession from developing into this physically and emotionally draining state?

Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, addiction and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession. The statistics are compelling and show that one of three attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers.

During this program, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers will discuss
The early warning signs of impairment, with special emphasis on stress and burnout.

Symptoms of stress and burnout that are particularly prevalent among members of the legal profession.

Basic stress reactions, both physical and psychological; the difference between healthy stress and distress, with emphasis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The transition from distress to burnout and how to recognize and identify the sources of stress in lawyers' lives before burnout develops.

Guidelines for a "master plan," including realistic prevention strategies that work.
Why lawyers and judges are at especially high risk to develop mental health and substance use disorders.

The free services that Lawyers Assistance Programs provide to lawyers, judges, their family members and law students.

The barriers that prevent lawyers and judges from seeking the help they need.

The role that education plays in breaking the stigma and fear associated with alcoholism, substance use disorders and mental illness in the legal profession."

Date Recorded: September 15, 2021

Speakers: Brian Quinn

Close Course Details

Panelists will discuss recent trends in employee organizing to have a collective voice in the workplace, both formally and informally, and often short of full bargaining unit representation under the National Labor Relations Act. The discussion will entail the increased use of worker centers by employees, the formation of minority unions by workers at companies such as Google and the use of informal work councils.

This program will assist employment lawyers in efforts to keep their non-union clients better informed of developing trends. The seminar also will help labor lawyers in efforts to help their labor clients and groups of employees looking to have a voice in the workplace.

Date Recorded: May 20, 2021

Speakers: Mariana Padias, Carsen Ruperto, Cesar Rosado Marzan

Moderators: James Craft

Close Course Details

United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' new Title IX regulations – published May 6, 2020 and effective August 14, 2020 – will substantially change the requirements for the handling of sexual misconduct claims in all institutions that provide educational programs or activities and accept federal funds. Institutional policies, processes and practices surrounding sexual misconduct will all be impacted. As a result, litigation may increase, and litigation strategies will evolve.

In this session, lawyers representing higher education institutions, K-12 schools and teaching hospitals, as well as those representing individuals, will learn from those in the field about the key regulatory changes, balancing the important legal obligations and rights, and other practical tips.

Date Recorded: June 1, 2020

Speakers: Pamela Connelly, Jennifer Fink, Stephen Gilson

Close Course Details

Every building in the famous Pittsburgh skyline started with a vision, turned into a deal, and ultimately became reality. The lawyers of Allegheny County played vital roles at every step of the way, and in many cases, re-wrote the book on how business is done across the country. This presentation will take you inside the boardrooms and tell you the deals that grew a city.

Date Recorded: May 26, 2021

Speakers: Ron Schuler, Michael Bock, Professor Joseph Sabino Mistick

Moderators: Julian Neiser

Close Course Details

The opioid crisis in the community has a significant impact on families and children, and this addiction issue also can have a significant impact on many legal proceeds as a result.

The goal of this program, the third in a series, is to bring attention to the ways that opioid addiction can impact the way attorneys practice law.

During the program, the Hon. Kim Berkeley Clark and the Hon. Elliot Howsie will address the effect of the opioid crisis on children and families in our courtrooms.

Date Recorded: September 23, 2020

Speakers: Hon. Kim Clark, Hon. Eliot Howsie

Close Course Details

An appellant who has lost before a panel of the Superior or Commonwealth Court and seeks further consideration of his or her legal argument is faced with several options. In addition to proceeding immediately to an allocatur petition in the Supreme Court, the unsuccessful appellant can first petition the Superior or Commonwealth Court for reconsideration or re-argument before the court en banc, when the case is heard before all judges of the court.

During this session, a panel of appellate jurists and practitioners will offer an informative discussion on the relative strategic advantages of en banc and allocatur proceedings, the difference between reconsideration and re-argument, the proper content of an en banc petition, pitfalls to avoid and applicable filing deadlines. As an added bonus, the jurists on the panel will provide insight into considerations governing the granting of en banc petitions, the voting process on such petitions and their relative chances of success.

Date Recorded: July 30, 2020

Speakers: Temp Smith, Christopher Parker, Corrie Woods, Hon. Patricia McCullough, Hon. Victor Stabile

Close Course Details

The Honorable Roundtable discussion has been a highlight of the Symposium over the years. Join this group discussion with the Judges of the WDPA and visiting Judges who will provide feedback and tips to promote professionalism and excellence in your bankruptcy and insolvency practices. The Judges have always been agreeable to address an array of topics and issues, including giving their courts' perspectives on matters affecting legal practice and procedures for both consumer and commercial practitioners.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: Hon. Joy Flowers Conti, Hon. Ashely Chan, Hon. John Hoffman, Hon. Michael Kaplan, Hon. Robert Opel

Moderators: Keri Ebeck

Close Course Details

2020 has brought a significant increase in restaurant and retail bankruptcies due to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This panel will discuss various COVID-19 related issues that are arising in restaurant, retail, and service-industry bankruptcy cases. Topics discussed will include: The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Implications, Compliance with Wage and Hour Requirements, WARN Act Implications, Reclamation Claims, Intellectual Property Issues, Franchise Agreements, Force Majeure Clauses, Abstention.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: Kirk Burkley, Donald Calaiaro, Frank Guadagnino, Sloane O'Donnell

Moderators: Maribeth Thomas

Close Course Details

The CLE will cover the impacts, challenges, and legal considerations for students, educators, and administrators regarding remote learning and in-person learning as a result of COVID-19.

The CLE will cover compliance with the IDEA and Section 504; state waivers for compliance with the IDEA; accommodation students with disabilities; addressing equity, equality, and ethical concerns regarding students who do not have Internet access; addressing equity, equality, and ethical concerns regarding students whose families do not have access to the same resources and support services that other families do; and balancing health and safety concerns with the benefits of in-person learning.

Attorneys who work on education and civil rights related matters should attend to get a better understanding of their clients' and (potential clients') rights and responsibilities, as well as ethical considerations for going above and beyond minimum legal requirements.

Date Recorded: February 10, 2021

Speakers: Stephanie Dangel, Joseph Hornack, Ian Michel, Jennifer Price

Close Course Details

The program will discuss the various impacts that COVID-19 has had on the construction industry as well as the practice of construction law.

Specific segments include:

- A panel discussion regarding certain contractual provisions and project/claim scenarios from the perspective of a project owner, general contractor and subcontractor.
- A discussion on how to prepare for COVID-related construction disputes.
- A presentation regarding virtual mediations and arbitrations of construction disputes.

Date Recorded: December 9, 2020

Speakers: Scott Cessar, Lisa Wampler, Michael Klein, Giselle Leonardo, James Miller, Chris Cieslak, Wiley Wright, Matt Stamp

Moderators: Lori Azzara

Close Course Details

This program is designed to educate participants about vehicle accidents, the evidence gathering process and event data recorders. The presentation introduces multiple types of reported vehicle crashes including: phantom vehicles, sideswipes and rear-end crashes. It also covers the process of gathering evidence after an accident, which includes site investigation, properly gathering and maintaining evidence, collecting witness statements and obtaining medical documentation. Participants also will learn about vehicle Event Data Recorders and the use of contained data in crash investigations, and how to identify situations in which a consultant is needed.

Date Recorded: November 12, 2020

Speakers: Gary Osterholt

Close Course Details

This program will offer an overview of Pa. nonprofit law. Specifics to be covered include:

• Historical Origins and Modern Application
• Nonprofit vs. Tax-Exempt
• The Associations Code
• Corporations, Nonprofit Corporations, Associations and Nonprofit Associations
• The Nonprofit Corporation Law and The Nonprofit Board of Directors
• Nonprofit By-Laws
• Entities and Entity Transactions
• The Department of State – Functions and Powers
• Typical Filing Transactions
• Charitable Funds
• Real Property Tax Exemption
• PA Sales Tax Exemption
• Reporting Obligations and Compliances
• Practices that Endanger Nonprofit Status

Date Recorded: April 19, 2021

Speakers: Susan Ott

Close Course Details

"The United States adopted the Paris Agreement in December 2015, along with 195 other countries and the European Union. Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. completed its withdrawal from the agreement in November 2020.

The Biden Administration has re-entered the agreement. Attorney Jennifer Smokelin, a delegate at the Paris Climate Talks, will review its legal basis, its evolution since 2015 and the opportunities and challenges that it could present to the local legal industry."

Date Recorded: May 6, 2021

Speakers: Jennifer Smokelin

Close Course Details

The Partnership Track: Everything You Didn't Learn in Law School
Most attorneys strive to become a partner. This interactive program will review some eye-opening current statistics about law firms and discuss the importance of firms having diverse partners. Additional specific topics to be covered include:


• Being a business asset
• Law firm economics
• Partner personality
• Selling yourself
• Particular obstacles faced by attorneys of color and women

This CLE will highlight the fact that while young practitioners have to pay their dues on the way to making partner, women and minority attorneys face additional challenges. This program is ideal for anyone who wants to know what it takes to make partner, because it is no longer just working hard and producing outstanding work product.

Date Recorded: October 27, 2020

Speakers: Charles DeMonaco, Marie Rivera-Johnson, Carlota Bohm

Moderators: Daniel Conlon

Close Course Details

In this hour, we will examine past and current prominent cases that have impacted/continue to impact the concept of "amateurism" in the NCAA. We will also dive into recent by-laws affecting representation by certified agents (Men's basketball) as well as the overall "need" for agents in the future.

Date Recorded: June 21, 2019

Speakers: Eddie Edwards, Ron Jones

Close Course Details

Join judges, masters and experienced practitioners for this one-hour course reviewing common issues with the admission of evidence in family law proceedings, such as custody trials, equitable distribution trials and other proceedings. The program will also review some of the unique challenges of trying a family law case via remote technology.

Date Recorded: June 16, 2021

Speakers: Hon. Kim Eaton, Hon. Hugh McGough, Master Melaine Shannon Rothey, Daniel Glasser

Moderators: Margaret Prescott

Close Course Details

The Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) took effect on February 20, 2020, in an effort to increase successful business reorganizations by the addition of Article V to Chapter 11. This panel will focus on the last year, as Debtors have started to utilize the SBRA, including the advantages and disadvantages that have emerged in conjunction with the Act.

Date Recorded: December 11, 2020

Speakers: John Lacher, Hon. Gregory Taddonio, Joseph Sisca, David Valencik, George Snyder

Close Course Details

The program will examine the "Second Founding" - the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and related civil rights statutes. The knowledgeable panel will discuss the amendments and the extent to which these amendments were able to remediate the lingering effects of slavery, recognize Black citizenship, protect rights to due process and equal protection for all, and enfranchise African Americans.

In addition, the program will discuss the ebb and flow of racial progress in Pittsburgh during this time period, including within the legal community.

Date Recorded: February 19, 2021

Speakers: William "Chip" Carter, Jr., Ronald Schuler

Close Course Details

In December 2019, the United States Congress passed its first major piece of retirement legislation in almost a decade: the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act – aka the SECURE Act. The goal of the act is to encourage individuals to save for retirement. Key aspects of the SECURE Act and related retirement planning strategies in light of the new Act will be discussed.

Date Recorded: August 10, 2020

Speakers: Ray Vogliano, John Shaffer, Scott Magnuson

Moderators: Elizabeth Altman

Close Course Details

Many lawyers encounter opioids on a much too regular basis when dealing with impairment, fatalities, and criminal matters.

What aspects of science do attorneys need to know about these drugs? How do they work? How do they poison and take the lives of so many? Where do they fit into postmortem cases? Where is fentanyl found? How does naloxone work and when does it work and when does it not? These questions and more will be answered during this one-hour crash course on the science of opioids for attorneys.

Specifics to be covered include:

- The effects of opioids on the body
- Examples of unexpected sources of opioids
- Examples of drugs that can intensify opioid toxicity
- The pitfalls in interpreting drug screen results as they relate to opioids
- Reasons for the presence of morphine in the blood

Date Recorded: September 29, 2020

Speakers: Dr. Allison Muller

Close Course Details

 The intoxication defense under the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act, found in two provisos of Section 301(a) of the law, is the most frequently raised affirmative defense in this no-fault liability statute. This presentation will:


- Identify these laws
- Review the history of the two provisos and examine how they have been construed by the courts
- Review how counsel for the injured worker and employer litigate cases where the intoxication defense has been raised
- Discuss how Pa. law compares to that of other states, noting, especially, a remarkable trend: 21 states have now shifted from the affirmative defense model by creating rebuttable presumptions that a worker found to have a certain blood alcohol content (BAC), or other drug presence, was intoxicated at the time of the injury, and that the intoxication caused the injury.

Workers' compensation lawyers, judges and claims professionals will benefit from the presentation by learning of the unexpectedly complex rules that surround the intoxication defense, and how attorneys and judges treat the defense in practice. Issues surrounding intoxication are of special interest given state legalization of medical marijuana and the possibility that, at some point, recreational marijuana may become legal.

Date Recorded: June 15, 2021

Speakers: Barbara Holmes, George Power

Moderators: Hon. David Torrey

Close Course Details

Unpaid medical bills and liens can be a big part of workers' compensation cases.

This program will provide tips for handling unpaid medical bills and medical liens in the litigation and mediation of a workers' compensation case. It will include a discussion of Neves v. WCAB, No.1431 C.D. 2018 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2020).

Date Recorded: January 14, 2021

Speakers: Glenn Sinko, David Dille, Hon. Anne Crilley, Hon. David Cicola

Close Course Details

If you're a litigator, you probably attended a Zoom training program, and you've probably handled a handful of depositions or motions using an online videoconferencing app. You might, actually, be getting pretty good at it. But, in order to master these tools, you've still got a lot to learn.

This program is not intended for lawyers who need help finding and running Zoom. It is intended for those who are curious about technology, willing to try new things, and excited to be the best online version of themselves. An educated panel will discuss taking your online litigation skills from sophomoric to professional. The goal is to make a seismic jump from the "good enough" product most attorneys are currently cranking out to "how did they do that?"

The panel will discuss teamwork during online depositions and hearings, leveraging the power of back-channel communications to make you a super-litigator. The program will cover the science of distraction to learn the devastatingly effective advantages of online litigation over in-person proceedings. Attendees will watch examples of other lawyers' online litigation work-products to see the amazing things that can be done with the technology.

The program also will discuss equipment, including specific recommendations of items to buy, taking into account product availability at the time of the CLE.

Date Recorded: December 21, 2020

Speakers: Matthew Doebler, Roy Leonard, Sherie Cannin, Coreen Wilson, Brendan Lupetin, Gregory Dobson

Close Course Details

The Britney Spears conservatorship case turned the media spotlight to a lesser-known area of the law. Now, the ongoing publicity surrounding the case has many people calling for her freedom and questioning why she needs a conservator, what rights she still has and what it will take for her case to conclude. If you're a Britney fan, an Orphans' Court fan – or both – this program is for you. Attorneys of all experience levels are invited to explore whether Britney's fame really drove her "crazy" or whether she's surrounded by too many people who want a "piece of her."

Date Recorded: October 7, 2021

Speakers: Robin Frank, Aleksandra Kocelko

Close Course Details

The term "toxicology" gets thrown around a lot in the legal world, but do you know the details of what that actually means?

This program will offer broad overview of what attorneys need to know about the effects of alcohol as well as common street and prescription drugs on the body. The program also will discuss the limitations of drug screens, how alcohol absorption can be delayed or increased, and the connection between drug levels and level of impairment. There is an abundance of information on the science behind drug and alcohol related impairment; this one-hour program will start with some basic principles.

Learning objectives:

- List the expected effects on the body from common street and prescription drugs.
- Differentiate between drug/alcohol levels obtained from blood, urine and breath.
- Identify common false positives when interpreting drug screen results.
- Assess the utility of drug levels for commonly encountered street and legal drugs.
- Describe the correlation between drug and alcohol levels and level of impairment.

Date Recorded: September 15, 2020

Speakers: Dr. Allison Muller

Close Course Details

This program features an in-depth discussion regarding the necessity of careful practice and insurance planning for firms and solo practitioners when the structure of a practice changes. Situations such as a firm merging, a firm bringing in lateral hires, a group of attorneys within a firm "spinning off" or even when lawyers decide to retire all have specific nuances and liability implications. The discussion will include the ethical issues that lawyers face when their practice changes, as well as risk management issues to keep in mind. Presenters also will discuss what to look for in a "claims made and reported policy" and with "tail coverage."

Date Recorded: March 8, 2019

Speakers: Amy Coco, Michelle Logan

Close Course Details

This program will discuss how solo and small firm attorneys (and infrequent litigators) should prepare for that occasional trial.

Presenter Claude Ducloux will start with understanding the business side of setting a fee, then he'll offer a preliminary checklist for limitations, venue, consideration of adding parties and early deals which you should consider.

The program will cover elements of proof (and how to attack them if you are on the defense side), developing a trial theme, putting together evidence, forms to use during trial to keep track of evidence and the court's rulings, and of course, the ethics of presenting evidence. There are 100 ideas to consider in this enjoyable and interesting presentation.

Date Recorded: February 25, 2021

Speakers: Claude Ducloux

Close Course Details

Even for times as unusual as these, the U.S. Supreme Court's term is shaping up to be a most interesting one. In addition to the usual fever-pitched anticipation as high-profile opinions are released, the legal community has experienced the first livestreamed and – the Chief Justice would want to note – very carefully orchestrated arguments by conference call.

Is it better when the arguments are more structured? Are advocates and justices finding new value in the argument? And who flushed the toilet heard round the world?

This session will feature a discussion of the Supreme Court's latest opinions, its experiment with live arguments by telephone, and predictions for the opinions still to be released. Additionally, the discussion will cover what it all might mean for the "least dangerous branch."

Date Recorded: June 18, 2020

Speakers: Ben Minegar, Dean Amy Wildermuth

Close Course Details

U.S. Supreme Court: Review of October 2020 Term
The U.S. Supreme Court review will provide an in-depth critique of the legal implications of the Court's October 2020 term. Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Thomas Hardiman will moderate the program and the panelists will include former Supreme Court clerks Leon DeJulius and Dean Amy Wildermuth. The former clerks will provide a behind-the-scenes perspective on the inner workings of the Court and the decision-making process.

The major content areas being covered are:


- Judicial independence
- Statutory construction
- Immigration
- Article III standing
- Elections
- Bonus — First and Fourth Amendments

Date Recorded: June 24, 2021

Speakers: Leon F. DaJulius, Dean Amy Wildermuth

Moderators: Hon. Thomas Hardiman

Close Course Details

"Join an experienced attorney for an in-depth look at indemnity provisions in contracts. Specifics to be covered include:

Defining indemnity and shifting of loss
Is there common law indemnity? Or only contractual?
Review of the typical agreements containing indemnity clauses
Alternatives (and limitations) to indemnity agreements
Not confusing indemnity with guaranty, contribution, or release
Types of "limitations" within indemnity
Understanding limitation "baskets," "sandbagging" and "carve-outs"
Procedural components and careful drafting
Causation "due to" vs. "arising out of…"
Express negligence and fair notice requirements
Final checklist for drafting indemnity clauses
This is part two of a two-part series. The first part, Seven Ways to Improve Your Contract Drafting will be held immediately prior, starting at 9 a.m. Registration for each program is separate; click here to register for part one. Note that there is no prerequisite to attend either course."

Date Recorded: October 22, 2021

Speakers: Claude Ducloux

Close Course Details

Whether retirement planning for yourself or educating yourself on Social Security for the benefit of your clients, this webinar will provide a comprehensive understanding of Social Security as a retirement income source. Everyone has their own retirement goals and timeframes. Proper planning can identify the most advantageous strategy for your unique situation. This one-hour session will cover many of the most frequently asked questions regarding Social Security, including:


- What is your full retirement age (FRA) and when should I start receiving this retirement benefit?
- Understanding the taxation of Social Security
- How does your longevity impact retirement funds?
- What do you need to know about spousal and survival benefits?

Date Recorded: November 10, 2020

Speakers: William Wolfe

Close Course Details

Litigation under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) covers a broad array of disparate practice areas. However, the underlying requirements for and defenses of the UTPCPL are the same, regardless of practice area.

This program will analyze the current state of the law regarding the UTPCPL, with a focus on the 2021 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in Gregg v. Ameriprise. The panel discussion will provide an overview of the Gregg decision and will offer analysis on UTPCPL issues including whether proof of intent is required to establish a UTPCPL claim, if a claim can arise from conduct after purchase, if justifiable reliance is still required and whether the Gregg decision will result in an increase in litigation under the UTPCPL. Participants will be invited to submit questions to the panel on the UTPCPL throughout the program. This seminar will provide valuable insight for attorneys with experience with the UTPCPL and also attorneys new to the UTPCPL.

Date Recorded: April 27, 2021

Speakers: hon. Alan Hertzberg, Christina Gill Roseman, Kenneth Behrend, Vicki Horne, Thomas Gebler

Close Course Details

This course will use state-of-the-art technology to demonstrate how live video, two- and three-dimensional animation or a combination of these features can be used to present complex information in understandable terms. Using video to investigate the scene of an accident will be covered, and excerpts from productions made for use in trials will be presented as well. This seminar also will present information on the use of video graphics in the settlement of claims and in the courtroom

Date Recorded: November 10, 2021

Speakers: Chris Cuellar

Close Course Details

"Plenty has changed regarding wage and hour laws. This program will cover what you need to know about the recent updates. Experts from the plaintiff, defendant and government perspective will discuss current "hot topics". Specifics to be covered include:

What are the common wage and hour issues affecting remote workers, and how should they be addressed?

How should the "regular rate" and overtime be calculated?

How should you handle bonuses, tips, tip credits and other payments and deductions?

When should a worker be classified as an employee or an independent contractor?

When do liquidated damages apply?

What is the latest on classifying employees as "exempt" from overtime?

What is the best way to investigate potential wage and hour claims?

What developments are on the horizon at the federal, state and local levels?"

Date Recorded: September 28, 2021

Speakers: Gary Lynch, Leah Sell, Brian Lipkin, John DuMont

Close Course Details

It has been a very busy year for water law developments. In this program, a knowledgeable panel will discuss the practical implications of the following key regulatory revisions and case law from 2020 to this point:

• The new definition of "waters of the United States"

• The U.S. Supreme Court's introduction of the "functional equivalent" test in evaluating Clean Water Act liability and permitting obligations for groundwater discharges that reach surface waters

• Proposed revisions to the Pennsylvania Chapter 105 regulations regarding water obstructions and encroachments

Date Recorded: July 29, 2020

Speakers: Lisa Bruderly, Pat Gavaghan

Moderators: Howard Wein

Close Course Details

Planning for retirement is a career-long journey for many, and for attorneys, this process can be more involved as you're also often counseling clients along the way.

The program will cover the topic thoroughly. Specifics to be covered include:

- Understanding the challenges facing today's retirees.
- What is the biggest (and under-planned for) risk in retirement?
- How to establish a retirement spending plan.
- Understanding income streams in retirement to include Social Security and whether annuities might be a worthwhile consideration.
- Managing taxes and getting comfortable spending in retirement.
- Addressing various risks in retirement.
- How to build a retirement income portfolio.

Date Recorded: April 8, 2021

Speakers: Ashby Daniels

Moderators: Leah Sell

Close Course Details

This presentation will provide a discussion of the use of virtual meetings by the public sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and address the following topics:

The major content areas being covered are:

• Best practices for virtual meetings
• Legal requirements for virtual meetings
• Use of virtual meetings after the Governor's emergency order has ended
• Laws that will prohibit or limit the continued use of virtual meetings
This program will be immediately preceded by a one-hour CLE at noon, "Vaccination Concerns for Employers." There is no pre-requisite to attend either program, but the material of each session will complement the other.

Date Recorded: July 15, 2021

Speakers: Alice Mitinger, Alan Shuckrow

Close Course Details

From judicial hearings, fake news and fumbled investigations, sometimes you just don't know what to believe. BUT, when it comes to your firm, you NEED to know if harassment or hostility is driving people away and how to address it. Doing so is simply good business; improving retention rates, productivity, and even your bottom line. Turnover is expensive.
 
With a supportive environment, proper policies and a plan for investigating and dealing with complaints, you can create a culture where you are "in the know." This program will provide another toolkit of concrete actions, policies and strategies to create an environment where people are comfortable coming forward with complaints and ways to properly investigate and address issues. This will also increase your ability to create a positive, professional workplace that cultivates and retains the best talent and protect your assets.
 
The program will explain how to comply with the ethical requirements for professionalism and the judicial ethical requirements for the treatment and management of staff and lawyers.

Date Recorded: June 26, 2019

Speakers: Marie Rivera Johnson, Christine Miller, Tynishia Powell, Dean Stephen Tanzilli

Moderators: Thomas McGough

Close Course Details

It's always a hot-button issue in Western Pennsylvania: property tax assessments. This program is designed not only for those attorneys who practice as solicitors, taxation attorneys and real estate practitioners, but also for anyone who owns property in Allegheny County or any lawyer who represents these property owners.

The panel will feature an attorney representing property owners, a school district solicitor and the Solicitor for the Allegheny County Board of Property Assessments and Appeals Review (BPAAR).

Specific topics to be covered include:

Local Rules for BPAAR
Residential vs. commercial appeals
The best evidence to present during appeals
Managing client expectations
Recent cases and legal developments
Assessment and appeals practice tips

Date Recorded: February 27, 2020

Speakers: Nicole Amick, Kate Diersen, David Montgomery

Close Course Details

This CLE will cover some of the major wage and hour issues in the law today. The specifics to be covered include the current state of the law regarding independent contractor misclassification; joint employer liability; exempt versus nonexempt status; and company mistakes that often result in collective action litigation.

Date Recorded: October 21, 2020

Speakers: Christian Antkowiak, Joseph Chivers

Close Course Details

If you have ever thought about a career in sports law or are interested in the sports industry then you will want to join Nona Lee, one of the most successful women in the sports industry. Lee will discuss what it takes to break into the sports law field, with particular focus on doing so as a woman. She'll also discuss how sports have been impacted by COVID-19.

Date Recorded: April 23, 2021

Speakers: Nona Lee

Moderators: Dan Kunz, Julie Vanneman

Close Course Details

Individuals laboring in "nonstandard work" – temporary/staffing company workers, "gig" workforce actors (like Uber and Grubhub drivers) and other freelancers – make up a population on the rise.

During this session, a knowledgeable panel will review nonstandard work and the workers' compensation doctrine. The speakers will discuss how many workers are engaged in nonstandard work, what type of labor is implicated and the health and safety concerns surrounding such work. The panel also will examine the nature of various nonstandard employment arrangements and will review the tests used in workers' compensation in distinguishing independent contractors from employees. Additionally, the panel will review statutory developments in this realm, both in Pennsylvania and in other states..

Date Recorded: May 13, 2021

Speakers: Hon. David Torrey, Julie Fritsch, James Turocy

Close Course Details

As the business world seems to be returning to the office in some form, many pundits anticipate that remote work will nevertheless remain well beyond the pandemic's demise. For lawyers who continue to work remotely, this triggers additional ethical duties when handling client data outside of the law firm or organization's four walls. It also means that threat actors – who have only increased their attempts to hack into our personal and business lives – will continue to persist. What can lawyers do to satisfy their ethical obligation to secure client data when working remotely? And what practical steps can attorneys take to mitigate the risk of exposing client or firm data to cyberattacks?

Date Recorded: August 24, 2021

Speakers: John Unice, Bethann Lloyd

Close Course Details

The Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal can be both an effective tool and a trap for the unwary. An effective statement should both inform the trial judge of the precise issues to address in the trial court opinion and preserve those issues for appeal.
 
Join a panel of appellate jurists and practitioners for an informative discussion of how to utilize the Rule 1925(b) statement to your client's best advantage. Topics covered will include choosing which issues to raise, limitations on the number of issues to present, effective setting forth of the errors asserted, preservation of subsidiary issues, citing errors in seemingly vague trial decisions and waiver of issues. Examples of effective Statements of Errors will be discussed.

Date Recorded: June 28, 2019

Speakers: Hon. Mary Jane Bowes, Hon. Judith Olson, Hon. J. Nicholas Ranjan, Kevin McCarthy, Lisa Whisler

Moderators: Templeton Smith

Close Course Details

This one hour CLE will review the fundamentals of an appellate brief, with writing tips to propel your brief to the next level, must-follow appellate rules, how to navigate the Superior Court, and how to not only conquer an oral argument, but make a lasting impression. The Hon. Mary Jane Bowes will discuss oral advocacy from the perspective of the judge and also provide some timely hints on effective video oral arguments. Attendees will come away more confident in the knowledge of how to master your first (or any) appe

Date Recorded: April 16, 2021

Speakers: Hon. Mary Jane Bowes

Close Course Details