Many of you know that former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Penny White, former Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joe Riley and I have a seminar company called "Justice Programs." We offer a 15 hour CLE program each Fall that permits attendees to meet all mandatory CLE obligations for the entire year and, more importantly, gives civil trial practioners the opportunity to gain valuable information for their practice.
Here is the outline for our course in 2008:
Tort Law / Comparative Fault – John Day
John’s review of the most recent tort and comparative fault opinions will give you an up-to-the-minute picture of the current state of the law in this practice area. John will offer an analysis of emerging trends, and how those trends can (and will) affect your practice going forward.
U.S. Supreme Court Review – Joe Riley
Joe reviews the significant U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued during the 2007-08 term. What is their significance to your practice? What can we expect in the future from the court? What appears to be the judicial philosophy of the various justices?
Criminal Law Update – Joe Riley
Any lawyer needs to have a general understanding of recent developments in criminal law. Joe takes an insider’s look at recent Tennessee Supreme Court opinions and their impact upon our judicial system. Are recent appointees to the court likely to change the direction of the development of our criminal law?
Authenticating and Admitting Electronically Stored Evidence – Penny White
Penny will guide you through the admissibility of all types of electronic evidence – emails, webpages, internet postings, digital photographs, and computer generated documents and data files. Why go through all the trouble of discovering this stuff if you can’t get it admitted? And on the other hand, how can you keep it out?
Depositions: Law & Practice – John Day
Lawyers in all areas of practice will benefit from John’s practical review of developing a deposition strategy, preparing both expert and lay deponents, and focusing your examination (or cross) for maximum effectiveness. John will also cover the law of depositions in Tennessee.
Significant Recent Cases/Legislation – Penny White
Penny reviews the significant decisions in the areas of employment law, family law, workers’ compensation, estates and property and summarizes significant state legislation.
Trial Simulation: Thorny Evidence Issues – Penny White, Joe Riley, John Day
Evidence issues arise quickly and unexpectedly in the heat of trial. By use of a trial simulation, John, Joe, and Penny will explore some of the thornier evidence issues that come up in every trial.
Ethics: The Secrets That We Keep – Joe Riley
Joe examines a "Sixty Minutes" segment concerning two lawyers who kept secret their client’s admission of committing a murder. By doing so, an innocent man was tried, convicted and sentenced to life. Upon the death of their client, they revealed the long-kept secret. Joe takes a no-holds-barred look at confidentiality and the public’s perception of this unique lawyer/client relationship.
Ethics: The Lies We Must Reveal – Penny White
After Joe’s discussion of the rigorous demands of confidentiality, Penny will explore under what circumstances lawyers have a duty to tell. When do you know that your client has told a lie? When does it matter? What do you do when you client lies at a deposition or at trial? What if the liar is not a client, but a witness?
Ethics: The Questions We Want Answered – Penny White, Joe Riley
Penny and Joe give you the opportunity to submit the most difficult ethics/professionalism questions you want answered. They will also explore previously submitted questions from inquisitive lawyers from other parts of the state. This is an interactive session with possible solutions to these dilemmas being provided by other participants at the seminar.
Here is our schedule:
Chattanooga, TN
Thursday, November 6, 2008, thru
Friday, November 7, 2008, at 8:30 A.M. each day.
Knoxville, TN
Thursday, November 13, 2008, thru
Friday, November 14, 2008, at 8:30 A.M. each day.
Nashville, TN
Thursday, November 20, 2008, thru
Friday, November 21, 2008, at 8:30 A.M. each day.
Memphis, TN
Thursday, December 11, 2008 thru
Friday, December 12, 2008 at 8:30 A.M. each day.
We hope that you will join us. Register here. Registrants also receive a discount on A Handbook for Tennessee Tort Lawyers 2009, which will be available in ;late October 2008.