The field of healthcare law is complicated, involving federal, state and even local regulations.  This program will explore the basics the non-healthcare practitioner needs to know when confronted with issues related to healthcare law, such complying with HIPAA, what constitutes protected health information, and how to obtain information you may need in a case you are handling.

For several years this program has been indispensable for attorneys who practice in the area of employment law and for attorneys who are employers. Join us for an in-depth look at key developments in employment law for 2023 with an emphasis on practical tips for employers to increase compliance and decrease liability.  

Substantive updates in the areas of custody, support, division or property and more.

The Civil Judges from the San Joaquin County Superior Court will discuss best practices for filing motions as well as arguing them in Court. They will also discuss pitfalls to avoid.

Mr. Meath will review the differences between different types of intellectual property including copyright, trademark, trade dress, patent, Internet domain names, and trade secrets, the rights afforded them, their limitations, and the methods for registering and protecting various forms of I.P.

A discussion of racial bias in juror decision making, including implicit bias, and suggestions for addressing it to ensure fair and impartial decisions by jurors and enhance the public’s confidence in our justice system.  Note: The presenters are asking that ALL attendees take the following Harvard Implicit Association Test (IAT) for race prior to the program.  https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

Different rules apply in litigation against local government that often surprise even seasoned litigators.  Doctrines frequently invoked in litigation between private parties may not apply at all, while rules applicable only in agency litigation may prove case dispositive.  Two attorneys experienced in governmental entity litigation share insights into such issues as claims presentation compliance, immunities, rules governing agency decision-making authority, and the consequences of those rules.

Want to be ethical in your practice of law, make a decent living, and stay healthy while you’re at it? Come learn and get practical advice on how to do it all. This program will review the ethical obligations a small legal firm has to its clients, ethical ways to charge clients and manage your accounts to make a profit, and how to take care of oneself while still taking care of your client’s legal needs. You won’t want to miss out!

Both the State Bar of California and the ABA have a rule on all lawyers’ requirement to be “Competent,” and even then, the requirement may not be as clear as one would think. In an attempt to understand how our legal community interpreted their requirement of “Competence,” a survey was conducted, and hopefully you filled it out! This program will review the rules on competence, but even more importantly, it will give you practical advice, from our local attorneys, on how to achieve competence and feel competent throughout your practice of law.

You may have heard the terms “structural, systemic or institutional racism” and wondered what is that and how does it impact society today? In this program, panelists will provide:  (1) a historical discussion of African-American and Hispanic migration patterns in our country during the 1900s;  (2) a legal discussion of various discriminatory housing practices during that time period, including redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and discriminatory statutes; (3) a review of statutes and caselaw addressing this form of institutional racism; (4) the historical influences on housing patterns and the continuing influences of past discriminatory housing practices today.  

Practical guidance from a seasoned litigator and appellate specialist who has handled many bench trials and appeals from bench trials. Topics include: threshold decision-making, the importance of trial briefs in bench trials, motions for judgment in the bench trial context, statements of decision, and avoiding application of the doctrine of implied findings.        

Navigating through a personal injury case can be a complicated process.  This program will explore the essential steps necessary to ensure that your client’s claims are not only properly protected, but that the claims are assigned the maximum value.  A seasoned personal injury litigator will share with you his insights from intake to trial or settlement.        

Mr. Meath will discuss 2021-22 decisions of the United States Supreme Court with a focus on decisions of interest to legal practitioners. Topics Discussed will be the overruling of Roe v. Wade (Dobbs); Enforcement of Municipal Sign Codes; Compensatory damages for emotional distress for victims of discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act and the Affordable Care Act; The “public charge” rule of the Immigration and Nationality Act; State Medicaid program to recover reimbursement for Medicaid’s payment from the beneficiary’s tort for future medical expenses; Free Speech and Free Exercise rights regarding teacher’s prayers in public schools; Concealed-carry licenses and showing of need for self-protection; Flying a private religious organization’s flag, which depicts a cross, on a city flagpole, and the First Amendment; Civil rights claims based on an officer’s failure to provide Miranda warnings; A case in which the Court held that the Environmental Protection Agency lacks the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions;  and the Armed Career Criminal Act and sentencing enhancements.

Annual probate update for trust and estate practitioners. This program will explore new statutes, rules, and cases you need to know.