Archive for category: Previous Event

When: February 24, 2020
Where: ISBA Mutual Offices, 20 S. Clark St., Ste. 800, Chicago, IL
What: Lunch and Learn: Managing and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

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A significant part of any effective screening of potential clients and new matters necessarily involves a careful conflict-check process. No final decision about retention should be made without first identifying whether a conflict exists and, if so, determining whether a conflict waiver can be used to appropriately manage the conflict.

Conflicts of interest are one of the primary causes of legal malpractice claims in Illinois. Claims may arise when checks are not undertaken or are performed ineffectively, where conflict waivers are either not used or fail to identify or explain the conflict properly, or where conflicts that arise during the course of an engagement go unaddressed.

Conflicts can generally be divided into two broad categories:

• Situations where one client’s interests are adverse to those of another client (past or present); and
• Situations where the lawyer’s own interests are inconsistent with those of the client.

Many traditional conflict of interest systems are designed to identify the first type of conflict, but not the second. The second type, however, is appearing more frequently in legal malpractice claims.

This lunch and learn was focused on helping lawyers avoid both types of conflicts, through appropriate conflict check systems and via effective conflict waivers.

Participants learned:

• How to establish a conflict of interest system
• Tips for dealing with the “Unrepresented Party”
• What to watch out for when representing multiple parties
• Conflicts to avoid at all costs
• Self-dealing conflicts of interests to avoid
• Under what circumstances a conflict may be effectively waived

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Speaker:

• Jeremy N. Boeder, Partner, Tribler, Orpett & Meyer P.C.

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Handouts:

• Avoiding Conflicts of Interest – handouts

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Every lawyer who attended this free lunch and learn will receive 1.00 hours of approved MCLE credit, which includes 1.00 hours of professional responsibility MCLE credit. MCLE will be emailed to attendees by March 24, 2020.

This is part of a series of Lunch and Learns hosted by ISBA Mutual.

When: November 7, 2019
Where: Chicago
What: 23rd Annual Jerry Mirza Memorial Risk Management Conference.

Every lawyer who attended all of this free conference will receive 2.50 hours of approved general MCLE credit, which includes 1.50 hours of professionalism MCLE credit and 1.00 hour of mental health and substance abuse credit.

Presentations:

• Under Pressure: Ethical Considerations for Struggling Lawyers
• ARDC Grievances: Making the Most of a Difficult Situation
• Preparing for the Unexpected: Backup Lawyers for Solo & Small Firms

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Speakers:

• Dr. Diana Uchiyama, JD, PsyD, Executive Director, Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program
• Samuel Manella, ARDC Counsel for ISBA Mutual and Clinical Professor at DePaul University
• Jeremy N. Boeder, Tribler, Orpett & Meyer P.C.

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Handouts:

• 23rd Annual Jerry Mirza Memorial Risk Management Conference Handouts

Upon renewal of their ISBA Mutual policy, insured firms will receive a $100 premium credit for every lawyer who attended and completed the entire conference, subject to the following conditions.

• Each premium credit will be issued in the name of the participating lawyer and is not transferable. The premium credit may only be used by the lawyer to whom the credit was issued.
• The premium credit may only be redeemed once per lawyer, per policy renewal on policies with renewal dates after the conference date in which the lawyer attended.
• Lawyers can only use one policy credit per policy renewal, regardless of the number of events they attended. If a lawyer attends more than one session of the Jerry Mirza Memorial Risk Management Conference, the total credit applied will not exceed $100.

When: October 24, 20190
Where: ISBA Mutual Offices
What: Lunch and Learn: Essentials of Trust Accounting: IOLTA Accounts & Beyond

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This session addressed lawyers’ duties when handling client funds, starting with the requirements of Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 (often referred to as the safekeeping of property rule). The presenters explored the specifics of Rule 1.15 and offered practical guidance on issues including what types of funds must be placed in a client trust account, using an IOLTA account, keeping required trust account records, and employing best practices and trust account management to ensure client funds are protected and lawyers stay out of trouble.

1.25 hours of approved MCLE credit, including 1.25 hours of professional responsibility MCLE credit.

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Speakers:

• Mary Andreoni, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, Ethics Education Counse
• David Holtermann, Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, General Counsel

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Handouts:

• ISBA Mutual Essentials of Trust Accounting – IOLTA and Beyond

When: September 11, 2019
Where: ISBA Mutual Offices
What: Civility: Difficult People & Conversations in the Workplace

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Difficult people are everywhere, however when we have them in the workspace it can create major issues which influence personal health and wellness. The legal field alone can be a very stressful work setting; adding a hostile person in the work environment can make it feel impossible to cope. This program supported attorneys in understanding the psychological, physical, and emotional impact of dealing with difficult people at work while simultaneously providing helpful skill sets to manage individual experiences. This presentation provided concrete and practical actions which help lawyers be more empowered and in control.

Every lawyer who attended the entire course will receive 1.00 hour of approved MCLE Credit which includes 1.00 hour of Mental Health and Addiction credit (currently pending approval).

This is part of a series of Lunch and Learns hosted by ISBA Mutual.

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Speaker:

• Dr. Diana Uchiyama, JD. Psy.D., Assistant Deputy Director, Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program

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Handouts:

• Civility; Difficult People and Conversations in the Workplace Handouts

When: July 25, 2019
Where: ISBA Mutual Offices
What: Civility: Difficult People & Conversations in the Workplace

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It takes just one dysfunctional lawyer to ruin a firm’s reputation and its malpractice claims history. The tragedy of the troubled or problem lawyer is usually compounded by the inaction of the firm. Yet in most cases, the firm could have taken measures to detect and deal with the problem. Mental illness and substance abuse are treatable, particularly if treated early. Even the challenges of aging can be mitigated when lawyers face them directly and take control of their well-being.

This presentation will propose a five-step practice for identifying and supporting impaired employees, while maintaining the integrity of the workplace and its operations. This presentation will also cover essential topics of maintaining confidentiality, protecting the workplace from impaired employees, and the use of workplace mentors and peer support volunteers. Tools and techniques that can monitor and identify potential risks of treatment failures will be demonstrated.

Every lawyer who attends the entire course will receive 1.00 hour of approved MCLE Credit which includes 1.00 hour of Mental Health and Addiction credit.

This is part of a series of Lunch and Learns hosted by ISBA Mutual.

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Speakers:

• Tony Pacione, LCSW, CSADC, Deputy Director, Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program

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Handouts:

• 2019 Impairment Proofing The Firm – Handouts