First Friday Ethics: September 2025

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: What is a Lawyer’s Responsibility in a Democracy Under Duress? How should lawyers respond to actions that threaten democracy and the rule of law? Michael D. Curry, Attorney-Mediator - Austin, TX AI Update (Replay) Artificial intelligence has been in the legal and cultural zeitgeist for a few years now. Explore the transformative effects (and lack thereof) of artificial intelligence on the legal industry in that time. Examine both the advancements and limitations, highlighting how AI has streamlined processes, improved efficiency, and where it still falls short in replacing human expertise. Henson Adams, Haynes Boone, LLP - San Antonio, TX Texas Business Courts: The First 6+ Months (Replay) A view from the Business Court & Fifteenth Court of Appeals: rules, procedures, and cases. Hon. Sofia Adrogué, Texas Business Court Eleventh Division - Houston, TX Hon. Scott A. Brister, Fifteenth Court of Appeals - Austin, TX Ethics Lessons from HBO’s Succession (Replay) HBO's hit series "Succession" follows a fictional media company led by a legendary patriarch. As the title suggests, the patriarch's children are angling to seize the throne and succeed their father as the company's CEO. Track the power plays of the company's C-level executives and general counsel, explaining whether their on-screen actions comply with specific ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (spoiler alert: most of the time, they don't.). Brent A. Turman, Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP - Dallas, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 3.00 hrs | 3.00 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 9/30/2026
  • First Friday Ethics: September 2025
    4.25 out of 5 stars
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    An excellent discourse regarding lawyers special role, opportunity and duty to participate in the protection and enhancement of the democratic principles and processes on which this country was founded and so many have died defending.

$165   Add to Cart

Answer Bar: Oil, Gas and Energy Agreements and Contracting Essentials

Session 1: The Oil and Gas Lease, Part I: Classification, Scope of Grant and Duration - An in-depth focus on how an oil and gas lease is classified in law and on the key clauses of the lease. Session 2: The Oil and Gas Lease, Part II: The Royalty Clause in an Oil and Gas Lease - In Texas, the calculation of the royalty obligation created under an oil and gas lease is determined by looking at the specific language contained in the royalty clause. Royalty terms in the lease such as "market value at the well" or "amount realized" establish how the royalty payor must measure and calculate royalty, and what post​-production costs can be allocated to the lessor interest. This presentation reviews some of the principal phrases used to describe such obligations and how the Texas courts have interpreted them, and examine​s how that same language has been interpreted differently in other jurisdictions. It analyze​s the impact of division and transfer orders and royalty payment statutes on royalty obligations contained in the lease. Session 3: The Oil and Gas Lease, Part III: Implied Covenants - Examination of the law of implied covenants, including the duties imposed, elements necessary to establish a claim, and remedies and defenses available. Session 4: The Oil and Gas Lease, Part IV: Other Clauses - Review other clauses in an oil and gas lease, including surface use clauses and riders, retained acreage and proportionate reduction clauses, and savings clauses such as continuous operations, dry hole, force majeure, and shut-in gas royalty clauses. Session 5: Carbon Capture and Sequestration Permitting and Contract Issues - Address recent developments in state and federal regulation of the rapidly evolving carbon capture industry in Texas and recent trends in negotiating pore space agreements.  Session 6: The Meaning of ‘Other Minerals’ and Other Incidents of Mineral Ownership - A reexamination of the granting clause and the meaning of “other minerals” as they pertain to other incidents of the mineral estate, including produced water, lithium, and porous space. Session 7: Indemnity Provisions in MSAs: Texas vs. New Mexico - A practical review of the application of indemnity provisions in Texas vs. New Mexico. Session 8: Texas Business Courts: The First 6+ Months - A view from the Business Court & Fifteenth Court of Appeals - Rules, Procedures, Cases & Know-How.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 5.00 hrs | 1.25 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 9/30/2026
  • Answer Bar: Oil, Gas and Energy Agreements and Contracting Essentials
    5 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?
$235   Add to Cart

Answer Bar: Maximizing Technology in Your Law Practice

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: AI Update - Artificial intelligence has been in the legal and cultural zeitgeist for a few years now. Explore the transformative effects (and lack thereof) of artificial intelligence on the legal industry in that time. Examine both the advancements and limitations, highlighting how AI has streamlined processes, improved efficiency, and where it still falls short in replacing human expertise. Session 5: Use of AI in Litigation - Understanding the basics of how AI works, the dangers and pitfalls with current AI technology, and ways AI can (or should not) be used in litigation.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 3.75 hrs | 3.00 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 8/31/2026
  • Answer Bar: Maximizing Technology in Your Law Practice
    4.05 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?
$185   Add to Cart

First Friday Ethics: July 2025

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) Use of AI in Litigation (Replay) Understanding the basics of how AI works, the dangers and pitfalls with current AI technology, and ways AI can (or should not) be used in litigation. J. Hoke (Trey) Peacock III, Susman Godfrey LLP - Houston, TX (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) When Lawyers Make the News: It’s Not About You. It’s About Your Client. (Replay) With the guidance provided by the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and existing ethics opinions, this presentation focuses on ethical considerations lawyers often face when handling cases that make the news and will offer practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls that arise when your case makes the spotlight. Consider lessons learned from stories and examples of lawyers who themselves made headlines and faced legal trouble for ethical lapses in the scope of client representation. Thomas P. Brandt, Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt & Kutchin, P.C. - Dallas, TX John Husted, Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt & Kutchin, P.C. - Dallas, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Who’s Your Client? (Replay) Identifying your client seems like a simple issue, but it is frequently complicated, particularly with organizational clients such as partnerships, LLCs, corporations or trusts, or even simply joint return filers. The client’s identity in turn bears on all sorts of ethical and practical issues, including conflicts, where your duties lie, how to advise organizational clients, protect client confidences and privileges, handle communications with others and common interest agreements, etc. Christopher S. Rizek, Holland & Knight - Washington, DC (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Updated Texas Disciplinary Rules: What You Should Know (Replay) New and amended disciplinary rules took effect in October 2024, adding a number of clarifications and additional provisions. Hear a summary of rule changes relevant to Texas practitioners. Olga Kobzar, Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 3.00 hrs | 3.00 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 6/30/2026
  • First Friday Ethics: July 2025
    4.44 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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    Generally straightforward, understandable and practical. Materials were helpful.

$165   Add to Cart

Hooked on CLE: July 2025

THIS MONTH: Is the Clock Ticking? A Discussion of TikTok's Legal Issues and the Platform's Future  • ​Interacting and Dealing with Difficult People: Ethically Working with All Kinds of Others • Demographic Trends and Characteristics in Texas • The Human’s Guide to Acquiring/Selling AI Companies: So What’s So Different? • Updated Texas Disciplinary Rules: What You Should Know

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 4.00 hrs | 1.00 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 6/30/2026
  • Hooked on CLE: July 2025
    4.04 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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$99   Add to Cart

Utilities’ Impact on Land Use Development

Session 01: How Utilities Can Intentionally or Unintentionally Influence Land Use - A panel discussion with attorneys representing utilities, developers, and municipalities addressing conditions of utility service, the regulatory framework surrounding utilities on the ground and the interplay between land development inside and outside municipal limits when utility service is at play. Session 02: The PUC Electric Grid Resiliency Program and What It Means to Development - An overview of the State’s recent focus on grid resiliency, the investor-owned utility electric utility resiliency programs recently approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and a discussion on how these initiatives could impact development.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 1.50 hrs
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 6/30/2026
  • Utilities’ Impact on Land Use Development
    4.63 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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$95   Add to Cart

First Friday Ethics: June 2025

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) Deep in the Heart of the Texas Business Courts: What Attorneys Need to Know (Replay) Hear the ins and outs of the new Texas Business Court, including its jurisdiction, its judges, and its unique procedures. Mitch Ackal, Gray Reed - Houston, TX Brock Niezgoda, Gray Reed - Houston, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Developing an AI Governance Program (Replay) Practical guidance and considerations in developing and implementing governance around the internal use of AI. Emily Westridge Black, Shearman & Sterling LLP - Austin, TX Steven Gyeszly, Houston, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Avoiding Burnout (Replay) Delve into the crucial importance of wellness and burnout prevention in the legal profession. Discover why safeguarding your well-being is essential for sustaining a successful and fulfilling legal career. Kiele Linroth Pace, Pacefirm Consulting, LLC - Austin, TX Michelle Fontenot, Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program - Austin, TX

Includes: Video Audio Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 3.00 hrs | 3.00 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • First Friday Ethics: June 2025
    4.28 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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$165   Add to Cart

2025 Oil and Gas Case Law Update

Session 01: Case Law Update: Part One - Review recent decisions dealing with oil and gas leases, royalties, mineral conveyances, joint operating agreements, state regulation, and related topics. Session 02: Case Law Update: Part Two - Review recent decisions dealing with oil and gas leases, royalties, mineral conveyances, joint operating agreements, state regulation, and related topics.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 1.25 hrs | 0.25 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • 2025 Oil and Gas Case Law Update
    4.17 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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    Great

$85   Add to Cart

Carbon Capture and Sequestration Permitting and Contract Issues

Hear about recent developments in state and federal regulation of the rapidly evolving carbon capture industry in Texas and recent trends in negotiating pore space agreements. 

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Carbon Capture and Sequestration Permitting and Contract Issues
    4.15 out of 5 stars
    What was the overall quality of the course (presentation, materials, and technical delivery)?
    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?

    Great info

$65   Add to Cart

Current Issues in Mineral Ownership and Conveyancing

Session 01: The Meaning of ‘Other Minerals’ and Other Incidents of Mineral Ownership - A reexamination of the granting clause and the meaning of “other minerals” as they pertain to other incidents of the mineral estate, including produced water, lithium, and porous space. Session 02: Recent Developments in Deed Interpretation Issues in Mineral Conveyancing - A presentation with a focus on recent developments in deed interpretation issues common to mineral conveyancing, including the “four corners” doctrine and “surrounding circumstances,” and an examination of recent case law implicating such interpretive issues. Session 03: Leasing and Development of State Lands and Minerals - Broad-ranging discussion regarding the leasing of approximately 13 million acres of state land in Texas managed by the General Land Office. Topics include oil and gas leasing, pooling, allocation wells, and lease audits, as well as brine mining, geothermal leasing, and leasing for carbon sequestration. Session 04: Accommodating Concurrent Real Estate and Mineral Development in Urban Areas and Beyond - Revisiting surface use agreements and Chapter 92 of the Texas Natural Resources Code. Session 05: Mineral Interest Pooling Act - A short history of the MIPA and discussion of its current application and use.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 2.50 hrs
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA, PA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Current Issues in Mineral Ownership and Conveyancing
    4.53 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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$135   Add to Cart

Navigating Lease Termination Claims in Active Development Plays

Review some of the more common varieties of oil and gas lease termination claims, and discuss practical considerations for continued development of disputed properties in the midst of pending litigation.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Navigating Lease Termination Claims in Active Development Plays
    4.38 out of 5 stars
    What was the overall quality of the course (presentation, materials, and technical delivery)?
    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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    Great stuff

$65   Add to Cart

Pore Some More: Ownership Rights of Subsurface Pore Spaces

Learn about ownership rights in Texas of subsurface pore spaces.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Pore Some More: Ownership Rights of Subsurface Pore Spaces
    4.25 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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$65   Add to Cart

Pulling the Brake on Predatory Litigation

Our legal system is being exploited to generate unreasonable jury verdicts and unjust settlements that are inconsistent with fairness, efficiency, and the rule of law.  What are the root causes of this crisis and what strategies are available to counteract these abuses and promote fairness and predictability?

Includes: Video Audio Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Pulling the Brake on Predatory Litigation
    4.1 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?

    Very well done. The speaker was excellent.

$65   Add to Cart

Purchase and Sale Agreements: What’s New (2025)

Learn about recent developments and trends in purchase and sale transactions in the energy sector.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Purchase and Sale Agreements: What’s New (2025)
    3.5 out of 5 stars
    What was the overall quality of the course (presentation, materials, and technical delivery)?
    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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$65   Add to Cart

Royalty Updates and Issues

A summary of decisions and emerging issues in royalty-related disputes.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Royalty Updates and Issues
    3.88 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?
$65   Add to Cart

Texas Business Courts: The First 6+ Months

A view from the Business Court & Fifteenth Court of Appeals - Rules, Procedures, Cases & Know-How

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.75 hr | 0.75 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Texas Business Courts: The First 6+ Months
    4.27 out of 5 stars
    What was the overall quality of the course (presentation, materials, and technical delivery)?
    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?

    Especially enjoyed Chief Justice Brister's comments.

$80   Add to Cart

The Curious Case of the Modern Non-Participating Leasehold Co-Tenant

Unlike traditional leasehold co-tenancy, modern leasehold co-tenancy in horizontal wells presents unique challenges. Following the holding in Apache v. Devon, where the court determined that an operator not in privity with another leasehold owner has no duty or obligation to pay the royalties on that leasehold owner’s leases, practical questions have emerged over the payment of royalty to the non-participating leasehold co-tenant’s lessors and mineral owners, which questions include: Who has the obligation to pay the royalty? When does the obligation to pay royalty accrue?  What happens if a well doesn’t pay out?  What is the statute of limitations and how is it measured? How are royalties calculated in absence of production and price information?

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • The Curious Case of the Modern Non-Participating Leasehold Co-Tenant
    4.75 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
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    Very interesting topic, excellent presentation

$65   Add to Cart

The End of Chevron Deference: Implications for the Oil & Gas Industry

After 40 years, the Chevron doctrine has been overruled, fundamentally changing how the oil and gas industry navigates federal regulations as federal courts stand ready to play a more active role in interpreting regulatory statutes. Explore the impacts of this shift in power on the industry as a whole.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • The End of Chevron Deference: Implications for the Oil & Gas Industry
    4.47 out of 5 stars
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    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?
$65   Add to Cart

Updated Texas Disciplinary Rules: What You Should Know (2025)

New and amended disciplinary rules took effect in October 2024, adding a number of clarifications and additional provisions. Hear a summary of rule changes relevant to an oil and gas practitioner.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.50 hr | 0.50 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Updated Texas Disciplinary Rules: What You Should Know (2025)
    4.32 out of 5 stars
    What was the overall quality of the course (presentation, materials, and technical delivery)?
    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?

    Very helpful.

$75   Add to Cart

Use of AI in Litigation

Understanding the basics of how AI works, the dangers and pitfalls with current AI technology, and ways AI can (or should not) be used in litigation.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

  • Total Credit Hours:
  • 0.75 hr | 0.75 Ethics
  • Credit Info
  • TX, CA
  • TX MCLE credit expires: 5/31/2026
  • Use of AI in Litigation
    4.36 out of 5 stars
    What was the overall quality of the course (presentation, materials, and technical delivery)?
    Rate the overall teaching effectiveness and presentation skills of faculty for the course.
    How would you rate the value of the materials provided as part of the course?

    Very helpful. AI is now inescapable.

    Very informative.

    This was a good presentation. He was knowledgeable and had a good powerpoint that provided information which his spoken word complimented instead of repeated.

$80   Add to Cart