eCourses

Session 01: First Contact, Case Evaluation, and Client Expectations - Learn how to assess who has a claim, potential conflicts, how to evaluate the potential liability, damages, and costs of the case, and how to manage your client's expectations about their case. Session 02: Investigation and Insurance - Examine critical aspects of the crash investigation, including the identification of potential parties and the myriad of potentially applicable insurance coverages. Session 03: ​Important Cases in the Prosecution and Defense of UM / UIM Cases - A review of recent cases impacting UM/UIM cases and the strategies for prosecuting and defending uninsured and under-insured motorist claims. Session 04: Low Property Damage Cases - Prosecuting and defending personal injury cases with minor property damage can present challenges. This session discusses the experiences and strategies from the plaintiff and defense perspectives. Session 05: Commercial Vehicle Accidents 101 - Learn about commercial vehicle litigation from the plaintiff and defense perspective. The presentation includes litigation involving tractor-trailers, commercial vehicles, and commercial buses. Session 06: Subrogation and Liens: Medicare, Medicaid and Hospitals - Health insurers and providers compete with claimants for personal injury recoveries. How do attorneys protect plaintiffs and defendants from subrogation interests and medical liens? The CLE paper covers all state and federal topics (ERISA, worker’s comp, child support, attorney liability, etc.) but the presentation drills down on three big subjects. Session 07: ​Negotiating with Insurance Adjusters - Learn how to maximize case value through preparation and presentation of the demand package. Session 08: Recurring Ethics Issues in Car Crash Cases - This session discusses recurring ethics issues in car crash cases affecting attorneys representing plaintiffs and defendants. Session 09: Recent Changes to the Advertising and Solicitation Rules: The Highlights - Comprehensive changes to the Texas Disciplinary Rules governing advertisements and solicitations became effective in 2021. This presentation highlights some of the most notable changes.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: Trial Preparation 101 - Stressed in trial prep and at trial? Inevitable? Yes. Manageable? Absolutely. Learn tips and strategies from an experienced plaintiff and defense attorney for developing a case and preparing for trial. Session 02: Discovery: Beyond Bullet Points - A discussion about the discoverability and admissibility of medical records, medical bills, and related data that focuses on the increasing role of “reasonableness” in the determination of what is discoverable and admissible and the added complexity and expense this adds to the litigation process. Session 03: Discovery: Best Practices and A View from the Bench - Practical advice for how to conduct effective, ethical and efficient discovery. Session 04: Overcoming “Bad Facts” A Plaintiff and Defense Perspective - Tips and tricks to deal with low property damage, pre-existing conditions, gaps in treatment, lack of medical bills, DWI, criminal clients, and more at trial. Session 05: ​Seatbelts and Police Opinions: Two Outcome Determinative Issues - Evidence about seatbelts and the investigating officer’s opinions has the potential to be outcome-determinative in a car crash case. What evidence should come before the jury, and what should be kept out? Session 06: Medical Bills in Car Crash Cases - Whether you’re an experienced trial lawyer or tackling your first car crash case, proving and challenging medical expenses can be daunting. Break down the nuts and bolts of this critical damages element, as well as more advanced strategies and recent case law impacting this ever-evolving area of the law. Session 07: Trying Cases Without Medical Bills - Texas law has made it difficult to try cases with our medical bills. That burden creates an avenue to trying cases without them and opening doors to greater potential verdicts. Session 08: Jury Selection: What, Why, and How? - What information are you truly trying to obtain during voir dire, why do you need that information for your specific case, and how are you asking questions to get it? Intentional strategies to help plan your approach to jury selection and execute it. Session 09: Storytelling and Themes - How to use stories and themes from voir dire through rebuttal to expose the defense’s use of psychology in trial. This presentation includes real-world, trial-tested stories and story techniques that have been successfully used all over the country in red, blue, and purple counties for car wreck verdicts big and (relatively) small. Session 10: Proving Up Future Damages - Including medical and lost wages. Session 11: Developing a Winning Deposition Strategy - Discuss the fail-safe tricks to ensure you have a winning strategy at depositions. Session 12: Overcoming the Problem Witness - How to handle the difficult witness, yours or theirs. Session 13: Beating the Expert - Find out how to take an expert’s deposition—how to avoid being intimidated and how to set realistic, attainable goals when you depose the "expert." Session 14: Developing Your Trial Cross Through the Adverse Deposition? - Learn to take admission-seeking depositions of adverse witnesses so that they are effectively limited in their testimony at trial. Session 15: Preparing Your Witness for Deposition - Witnesses win cases—and lose them. Learn how to keep your witness from giving it all up in a deposition and how to use the deposition to help prepare your witness to be a winner at trial.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 1: Lawyers Behaving Badly - The hosts of the Lawyers Behaving Badly podcast share true but outrageous stories about lawyers being less than their best selves. Session 2: The Unruly Client - Ethical duties and practical advice for working with clients who don’t see eye to eye with you. Session 3: DOJ Hot Topics and Recent Developments - Panelists discuss recent enforcement trends by the DOJ and how announced priorities are playing out in the real world. Session 4: Does Intelligence Equal Competence? Navigating Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law - Artificial Intelligence may be embedded in tools, or may even be a tool itself, that helps lawyers better meet client needs. But, it is no different than other conventional tools and technologies used by lawyers—they must be used in conjunction with a lawyer’s duty to provide competent representation. Session 5: Persuasive Oral Argument Techniques - Hear tips from two of Texas’s best on what to do (and not to do) in oral argument.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 1: Ted Lasso Ethics - Five lessons lawyers should learn from Ted Lasso. Session 2: Consideration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Agency Affairs - The 88th legislature and directives from the Governor banned offices and programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion at publicly funded colleges and universities. This mandate will reshape what agencies can and cannot do. Examine recent legislation and its potential impact on agency affairs. Session 3: Mediation Strategies, Solutions and Lessons Learned - The success of mediation is influenced by the information exchanged in advance, the type of mediation (remote or in-person), the inclusion or exclusion of a joint opening session, and many other factors. This panel discusses best practices for opening lines of communication, getting past the impasse, and finding a resolution. Session 4: Texas Public Information Act and Texas Open Meetings Act: How They Work - An overview of the requirements and procedures under Texas’ government transparency statutes and a look at some common issues.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

THIS MONTH: Contracting with Third-Party Vendors: Top Risk and Privacy Law Considerations • IRAs In Estate Planning, or Trust Me, I'm an EDB for RMDs After the RBD • Beating the Expert • Running Your Law Firm as a Business • The Unruly Client

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) The Unruly Client (Replay) Ethical duties and practical advice for working with clients who don’t see eye to eye with you.    Paul Wingo, Hamilton Wingo, LLP - Dallas, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Ethics in the Age of AI: Legal Practice Transformations (Replay) Gain insight into the ethical dilemmas that arise when utilizing ChatGPT and similar generative AI technologies in the legal field. Hear a discussion addressing the potential pitfalls and evolving responsibilities of Texas partnership attorneys in this new era. Robert R. Keatinge, Holland & Hart LLP - Denver, CO Kayla Landeros, Baylor Law School and West, Webb, Allbritton & Gentry, PC - Waco, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Implicit Bias: What Your Brain is Up to When You’re Not Paying Attention (Replay) Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our thoughts, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. Because they occur without a person’s awareness or control, they can have a significant and potentially negative impact on the day-to-day lives of lawyers and judges. Hon. Audrey Moorehead, Dallas County Criminal Court #3 - Dallas, TX Jonathan E. Smaby, Texas Center for Legal Ethics - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: Texas Auto Policies - Explore how to get the most from your coverage. Session 02: ​Important Cases in the Prosecution and Defense of UM / UIM Cases - A review of recent cases impacting UM/UIM cases and the strategies for prosecuting and defending uninsured and under-insured motorist claims.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: ​Negotiating with Insurance Adjusters - Learn how to maximize case value through preparation and presentation of the demand package. Session 02: ​Seatbelts and Police Opinions: Two Outcome Determinative Issues - Evidence about seatbelts and the investigating officer’s opinions has the potential to be outcome-determinative in a car crash case. What evidence should come before the jury, and what should be kept out? Session 03: Medical Bills in Car Crash Cases - Whether you’re an experienced trial lawyer or tackling your first car crash case, proving and challenging medical expenses can be daunting. Break down the nuts and bolts of this critical damages element, as well as more advanced strategies and recent case law impacting this ever-evolving area of the law. Session 04: Jury Selection: What, Why, and How? - What information are you truly trying to obtain during voir dire, why do you need that information for your specific case, and how are you asking questions to get it? Intentional strategies to help plan your approach to jury selection and execute it. Session 05: Storytelling and Themes - How to use stories and themes from voir dire through rebuttal to expose the defense’s use of psychology in trial. This presentation includes real-world, trial-tested stories and story techniques that have been successfully used all over the country in red, blue, and purple counties for car wreck verdicts big and (relatively) small.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Learn about commercial vehicle litigation from the plaintiff and defense perspective. The presentation includes litigation involving tractor-trailers, commercial vehicles, and commercial buses.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Session 01: Discovery: Beyond Bullet Points  - A discussion about the discoverability and admissibility of medical records, medical bills, and related data that focuses on the increasing role of “reasonableness” in the determination of what is discoverable and admissible and the added complexity and expense this adds to the litigation process. Session 02: Discovery: Best Practices and A View from the Bench - Practical advice for how to conduct effective, ethical and efficient discovery.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Understanding the law and importance of the alcohol over-service case.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Gain insight into why clients purchase life insurance and confirm that life insurance is an asset that (i) requires and can benefit from active management as the contract matures, (ii) can be sold similar to other financial assets and (iii) may have a value to the policyowner that is significantly greater than the cash surrender value. Review the various types of insurance commonly used in estate planning, the evolution of universal life insurance that has contributed to the development of the life settlement market, the tax treatment of life settlements should a policy be sold in a life settlement, options for working with a life settlement for clients who need additional funds for retirement and a discussion of trust owned life insurance and how the life settlement option is of particular importance for fiduciaries to understand to avoid potential liability for a policy surrender or lapse.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Prosecuting and defending personal injury cases with minor property damage can present challenges. This session discusses the experiences and strategies from the plaintiff and defense perspectives.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

This session discusses recurring ethics issues in car crash cases affecting attorneys representing plaintiffs and defendants.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Health insurers and providers compete with claimants for personal injury recoveries. How do attorneys protect plaintiffs and defendants from subrogation interests and medical liens? The CLE paper covers all state and federal topics (ERISA, worker’s comp, child support, attorney liability, etc.) but the presentation drills down on three big subjects.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Ethical duties and practical advice for working with clients who don’t see eye to eye with you.   

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

A company’s benefit plans can be a key tool for recruiting and retaining employees, but can also carry hidden risks and liabilities when administered improperly. Hear a high-level overview of common legal risks associated with operating benefit plans and the key components that a corporate counsel will want to learn about their benefit plan design and features.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

THIS MONTH: Commercial Contracts and The Most Heavily Litigated Provisions • Reproductive and Maternal Care in an Ever-Changing Legal Landscape • The Monroe Doctrine: The Duty to Defend under Texas Law and When Insurers Must Pay for Counsel • Bad Facts: Making Lemonade From Lemons • ​Protecting Individual Trustees Who Protect Beneficiaries

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Things are looking up in the world of cyber insurance. Hear a discussion on the latest market trends, what’s happening on the claims and coverage front, and tips and updates on the procurement process.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Session 1: Ted Lasso Ethics -  Five lessons lawyers should learn from Ted Lasso. Session 2:  How Smart People Deal with Difficult People -  In these polarizing times, we must rely on intelligence when interacting with difficult others. We'll discuss the science behind avoiding contempt, recognizing motive attribution asymmetry, and learning to coexist with disagreement so that we can behave ethically—even when we don't feel like it. Session 3: Readable Legal Writing - Creating readable legal writing requires several techniques: accessible format, clear organization, manageable sentences, and correct mechanics. This presentation addresses each of those briefly, offering current recommendations and best practices. Session 4: Dr. Strangehearing, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Virtual Proceeding - Are you “zoomed” out yet? Hear from state and federal judges on the role, if any, they see for virtual hearings or trials in a post-COVID legal world.

Includes: Video Audio Slides No Materials