eCourses

Learn about considerations and challenges unique to charity litigation: the role of the board and executive management in responding to and managing litigation; counsel's difficult role in representing the organization (not the individual officers and directors), a charity's duty to protect bequests in will contests, insurance policy issues, the role of states' attorneys general; and current priorities of attorney general investigations and lawsuits in Texas.

Includes: Audio Paper Slides

Using a recent case, explore the business disparagement claims asserted against a prosthodontist and his dental practice, and the subsequent dismissal of these claims with a Chapter 27 Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss. Stemming from a series of Instagram live videos, Kenneth Wilstead a/k/a “Dr. Kenny Smiles” sued Dr. Ortiz for business disparagement and invasion of privacy. However, using publicly available information, Wilstead’s claims were rebutted by informing the court of a likely and entirely unrelated basis for why Wilstead’s business had declined: his character and practices had been called into question by certain of his current and prospective female patients.

Includes: Video Audio Paper

THIS MONTH: Storytelling and Themes • Gen AI Regulation and Legislation – Federal, State, and Global • Trademarks and Intellectual Property: What Does the General Business Lawyer Need to Know? • Handbooks/Employment Policies • Introduction: Avoiding Burnout

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: (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Mum's the Word: Maintaining Client Confidentiality and Dealing with Ethical Challenges while Working from Anywhere and Everywhere (Replay) Working remotely and virtual meetings are here to stay. This presentation provides practical suggestions for structuring engagement letters, addressing conflicts of interest, and safeguarding client communications across all mediums. Braxton Wilks, Winstead PC - Austin, TX   (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Serving Two Masters (Replay) Discuss conflicts that arise between “clients,” the tripartite relationship, Tilley and its aftermath, the ethical dilemmas lawyers face, and knowing who you really represent. Gayla Corley, MehaffyWeber, P.C. - San Antonio, TX   (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Generative AI: Developments and Ethical Implications (Replay) Harnessing the power of AI to drive new ways of doing business and increasing growth is something all organizations are trying to do. The use of generative AI creates risks to organizations including violation of privacy, inaccurate or false representations, and unethical practices, to name a few. Implementing the right controls and ethics training alongside generative AI is necessary – so where do you start? Brooke A. Hopkins, Alvarez & Marsal - Dallas, TX Emily R. Apte, King & Spalding - Austin, TX Robert Denby, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX Daniel Meyers, TransPerfect Legal - Dallas, TX Matt Wernz, Federal Trade Commission - Dallas, TX (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Sanctions and Privileges (Replay) Sanctions: How to get them or avoid them. Privileges: How to keep them or lose them. Hon. H. DeWayne "Cooter" Hale, Retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge - Dallas, TX Trip Nix, Holland & Knight LLP - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: Non-Economic Damages, Post-Gregory - In June of 2023, the Texas Supreme Court issued Gregory v. Chohan, a blockbuster new opinion on non-economic damages that raised as many questions as it provided answers. Where do we now stand in the wake of Gregory?  Session 02: Texas Auto Policies - Statutory and case law that impact different coverage under Texas automobile policies.  Session 03: Important Cases in the Prosecution and Defense of UM / UIM Cases Session - This presentation addresses recent cases impacting UM/UIM cases, as well as strategies and tips for prosecuting and for defending uninsured and under-insured motorist claims and bad faith litigation. Session 04: Stowers, Soriano, and Dealing with Policy Limits - Stowers and Soriano are well-recognized cases dealing with the payment of policy limits, but other case authorities have impacted those decisions including in bankruptcy. This presentation addresses Stowers and Soriano principles, recent decisions involving policy limits, and dealing with excess policies in the context of policy limits.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: How to Use Your Expert Witness as a Fact Witness and Find Other Valuable Damages Testimony - Get the most out of the plaintiff’s healthcare providers by changing your approach to which ones you use and how you use them. Develop a stronger damages model by getting creative with how you mine the case for witnesses and testimony.   Session 02: Proving Causation and Sufficiency of Evidence - Ever wonder why great verdicts get reversed and rendered? Don't learn the hard way: we'll show how to meet your burden of proof, present your expert, when to object, and what ipse dixit means!   Session 03: How to Defend a Corporate Representative Session 04: Storytelling and Themes - This presentation includes real-world, trial-tested stories and story techniques that have been successfully used 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 Paper Slides

THIS MONTH: Interest Rates and the Mortgage Market: What’s Next? • Navigating Sensitive Employment Complaints​ • How to Use Your Expert Witness as a Fact Witness and Find Other Valuable Damages Testimony • Cybersecurity Legal Incident Response Preparedness in Today’s Threat Landscape • My Mind Has A Mind of Its Own: Why Even Good Lawyers Are Lured Into Unethical Behavior by the Way Their Brains Work

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: Pre-Suit Negotiation Strategies: Working with your Adjuster - Learn how to ensure you have properly prepared your adjuster, and the insurance company, to get the case settled for your client before mediation or negotiations. Session 02: Low Property Damage Cases - Prosecuting and defending personal injury cases with minor property damage can present challenges. This presentation discusses the experiences and strategies from the plaintiff and defense perspectives. Session 03: Anatomy of a Police Report - Police reports are often the beginning of your case, not the end. Session 04: 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 05: What Happens After the Counter Affidavit? - Pulling back the curtain on the pros and cons of filing and fighting a defense counter affidavit.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

A discussion about conflicts that arise between “clients,” the tripartite relationship, Tilley and its aftermath, the ethical dilemmas lawyers face, and knowing who you really represent.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

It’s not what they pay, it’s what your client keeps that matters.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 1: Intellectual Property: The Essentials of Copyrights and Trademarks for Creatives - Understand the basic copyright and trademark principles and identify where they apply in music, television/film, podcasting, and influencer deals. Session 2: ​Exploring the Expansion of Criminal Antitrust Enforcement and What Recent Criminal Investigations and Trials Tell Us About the Government’s Tools, Tactics, and Targets - Panelists discuss the expansion of criminal antitrust enforcement and recent investigations that delve into the government's tools, tactics and targets. Session 3: Getting the Most Out of Your Mediation: Tips to Maximize Your Mediation Time - Join Scott Baker as he explores ways to help attorneys make the most of a mediation session as well as the mediator’s skills to help their clients resolve disputes. He'll delve into written mediation statements, pre-mediation conferences, joint sessions and opening statements, negotiations, and mediated settlement agreements. Examples, trends, and case law will be discussed and used to provide practical tips and suggestions to attorneys who represent or counsel clients who use mediation to resolve disputes. This presentation is designed to provide useful information to attorneys of all experience levels.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 1: The Duty of Technology Competence - Understand the importance of technology competence for your practice and the ethical obligations to be competent. Explore the current landscape and recent decisions in this area, as well as common problem areas for attorneys. Session 2: Conducting Cost-Effective E-Discovery and the Use of Technology Assisted Review (TAR) - Examine how technology-based processes, specifically technology assisted review (TAR), can be cost-effective and efficient solutions for e-discovery in litigation. This session highlights situations where TAR is often the preferred tool over attorney review and flags times that it is not, and discusses how to address contentious issues that may arise in TAR-related negotiations with opposing counsel.  Session 3: Communication - Attorneys have a duty to keep client communication secure. Get practical tips on conducting communication with the courts or with opposing counsel, as well email filtering and its impacts on communication including filing deadlines, etc. Session 4: Cybersecurity and Protecting Against Cyber Scams - An informative program about the legal standards that govern a compliant cybersecurity program as well as an update about the ethical duty of technology competence that affects all Texas lawyers. Session 5: ChatGPT Ethics - Topic description generated by ChatGPT: Using ChatGPT for legal purposes promises efficient information processing, yet raises ethical concerns including client confidentiality and the risk of providing inaccurate advice. It is paramount that attorneys ensure adequate supervision, maintain professional discretion, and stay vigilant about the tool's limitations to uphold their ethical obligations.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 01: What’s It Going to Take: Settlement Value/Monetizing Your Case - As lawyers return to the courtroom after the pandemic slow down, we are seeing large verdicts being returned by juries. Has that affected the settlement value of employment cases? The late Phil Durst had a very popular presentation as to how lawyers value cases. We will apply the Phil Durst Principles to see how lawyers are valuing cases today.  Session 02: The New Balkans: Non-Compete and Restrictive Covenants Under Siege Yet Still Commonplace - Differences amongst the 50 states regarding non-competes creates uncertainty for 30 million employees. Now, the Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule to ban non-competes. Discuss these developments and focus on recent Texas cases.  Session 03: Why It's Best to Have a Lawyer on the Other Side: Dealing with Pro Se Plaintiffs and Lawyer-Less Defendants - A discussion of the ethical considerations when dealing with pro se litigants and zealously representing your client.

Includes: Audio Paper Slides

THIS MONTH: When is Ticketing Like Pork Bellies? Current Legislation on Speculative Tickets and Resale Royalties • War Stories, Trial Tips, and Trial Skills Comparison • Key Trends in Private Company Mergers and Acquisitions • Mortgage Concepts for Family Lawyers • Drafting Contracts to Protect Your Company

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

THIS MONTH: The Science of Readable Legal Writing • Techniques for Negotiating With Difficult Counterparties  • Election Year Issues: Political Engagement by Nonprofit Organizations • Bank Failures and Banking Distress • ​Safety and Texas Schools: Their Future Depends on What We Do Today • ​Dealing With the Problem of Opposing Counsel

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Did the FTC really ban all non-competes? What kinds of restrictions are still allowed? What is a de facto non-compete? What happens to pending lawsuits? Will the federal courts block the rule? Is it retroactive? What are the exceptions? What should lawyers for employers do right now? Two specialists in Texas non-compete litigation will answer these and other burning questions about the FTC’s new non-compete rule. 

Includes: Video 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) Let’s Chat About ChatGPT: Ethical Considerations in the Use of Generative AI (Replay) Since the introduction of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, lawyers around the country have been getting into ethical hot water over their misuse of generative AI. Courts have responded with mandatory AI disclosures and certifications by attorneys. What are your ethical obligations in using AI, and how can you stay within the lines? Come find out in this informative and entertaining presentation! Hon. John G. Browning, Of Counsel, The Cole Law Firm, McKinney, Texas and Distinguished Jurist in Residence, Faulkner University School of Law - Plano, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Attorney Wellness: Speaking Up, Reaching Out (Replay) Mental health issues are taboo discussions at the workplace, yet when attorneys consider suicide, it's often a result of work-related stress. Explore real-world tips and information on how to spot a mental health crisis in someone you work with, and what to do once you are aware of a problem. Stephanie Townsend Allala, Townsend Allala, Coulter & Kludt PLLC - El Paso, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) How to Avoid Malpractice in a Post-Pandemic Legal World (Replay) Law practice has been forever changed by the Covid-19 pandemic with the widespread adoption of remote work. While “work from home” has been eagerly embraced by many lawyers, it has caused an increase in age-old ethical problems for lawyers. This course is designed to help practitioners avoid conflicts and unintended clients, safeguard client confidentiality, maintain competence, and form better communication habits with their clients, other attorneys and staff. Robert L. Tobey, Johnston Tobey Baruch, P.C. - Dallas, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Session 1: The Grievance Process and Most Common Violations - The presentation is intended to provide general information regarding the amendments made to the grievance process in 2018, the proper way to respond to a grievance identifying attorney misconduct, and common problems to avoid in practice. Session 2: So You Think You Know Your Evidence and Procedure? - An interactive and entertaining presentation testing your knowledge of the Texas Rules of Evidence and Procedure. Session 3: Research on Legal Writing - Get information about empirical research on legal writing techniques. Research supports plainer writing, reduced use of intensifiers, reduced use of “emotional” words, and use of narrative. Research also supports “connectives” (transitions), priming, and the value of resources, i.e. money. Session 4: Dealing With the Problem of Opposing Counsel - How to avoid intimidation and manage the disruptive, disreputable, and overly zealous opposing counsel in an ethical, civil, and professional manner.

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

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides