MSBA Convention

- Last Updated 05/29/2008 -

CLE Opportunities

Monday

Who Will Get What? A status report on the pending claim, litigation, and legislative issues surrounding the collapse of the 35W bridge and its aftermath
Sponsor: MSBA Civil Litigation Section
Presenters: Kyle Hart, Fabyanske Westra Hart & Thomson, PA (plaintiff); and Richard Nygaard, Schwebel Goetz & Sieben PA (Defendant)
Two prominent Twin City attorneys representing some of the parties on both sides will discuss the status of the litigation surrounding the collapse of the 35W bridge and the resulting claims arising from this tragedy. There will be a discussion of the viability of various immunity defenses, statute of limitations and applicable monetary caps. The attorneys will also discuss the status of the pending legislation in the Minnesota Legislature.
Monday 7:30am-9:00am | 1.5 Standard credits will be applied for

Get More For Less: Using fastcase, mndocs and practicelaw
Sponsor: MSBA
Presenters: Greg Luce, MSBA Practice Development Director; and Nancy Hupp, MSBA Practice Development Editor
The MSBA has added significant practice technology tools for members in the past year, including Fastcase, mndocs and practicelaw, all at little or no cost to members. Join MSBA staff for a highly informative session that will outline the new resources, provide tips and practice tools on how to use them, and give you a front-row seat in previewing what's next. Learn about free online legal research, document automation, and the hundreds of forms and other resources available through the MSBA and practicelaw. Includes an insider's view on the continuing evolution of the MSBA's professional networking site, mypractice.
Monday 8:00am-9:00am | 1 Law Office Management credit will be applied for

MN Attorneys and MN Cultures
Sponsor: MSBA Sesquicentennial Task Force
Presenter(s): TBD
This session will look at the history of lawyers working with and for various cultures in Minnesota. It will begin with a quick look at Native American cultures and the tribal courts and then look at immigrant groups from Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the more recent arriving groups from Asia and Africa. We will conclude with a look to the future impact on the state and the law.
Monday 8:00am-9:00am | 1 Elimination of Bias credit will be applied for

Indian Law 101
Sponsor: Minnesota American Indian Bar Association
Presenters: Jennifer Beck-Brown, Hennepin County Attorneys Office; President-Minnesota American Indian Bar Association Sarah Wheelock, Faegre & Benson; and Tadd Johnson, Special Counsel for Government Affairs Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
With eleven Indian tribes in the state of Minnesota, and over five hundred sovereign governments throughout the fifty states, lawyers are encountering Federal Indian law more than ever before. With the development of Indian gaming, now a $25 billion industry in the United States, interest in tribal sovereignty, governance and economic development on reservations is at an all time high. This presentation will look at the fundamental principles of Federal Indian Law, including early cases, shifts in Federal Indian policy, modern tribal governments and the evolution of Indian gaming.
Monday 8:00am-9:0am | 1 Elimination of Bias credit will be applied for

The "Other" in Minnesota: From Prejudice to Acceptance
Sponsor: MSBA
Presenter: Professor Hy Berman
Professor Hy Berman will review the historical process by which Minnesota was transformed from a State that worshiped conformity and believed in cultural assimilation to one which welcomed diversity and preached cultural autonomy. This process was accelerated by the post WWII revelations of genocide and in part triggered the Civil Rights movement. Minnesota was in the forefront of this effort.
Monday 9:00am-10:00am | 1 Elimination of Bias credit will be applied for

Greening Your Law Office: Tips and MSBA-wide Challenge
Sponsor: MSBA Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Section
Presenter: Dr. Elise Amel, University of St. Thomas
Businesses across the country are adopting cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly practices as part of the effort to achieve a more sustainable way of life. Come learn how you can make your law practice more “green.” This session will also kick-off an MSBA-wide challenge to name the “Greenest Law Office” at the 2009 MSBA Convention.
Monday 9:00am-10:00am | 1 Law Office Management credit will be applied for

Minnesota Constitution After 150 Years
Sponsor: MSBA
Presenters: Professors David Schultz and Mary Jane Morrison, Justice Paul Anderson, and Judge Jack Davies
Minnesota’s Constitution was written 150 years ago, but is it still relevant today? Join Justice Paul Anderson and Professors David Schultz and Mary Jane Morrison as they debate whether a document drafted in the in the “horse and buggy” days of the nineteenth century is meaningful to a diversifying population in the high-tech world of the twenty-first century.
Monday 10:30am-12:00pm | 1.5 Elimination of Bias credits will be applied for

MN Data Practices: The Good, the Bad, and the IPAD
Sponsor: MSBA Public Law Section
Presenters: Dale Harris, St. Louis County Attorney Office; and Janilyn Murtha, St. Louis County Attorney Office
Do the words “data practices” cause you to break out in hives, sweat profusely and/or experience the sudden onset of narcolepsy? Join us for an exciting guided tour of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Topics will include the different data classifications, how to make or respond to requests, and a review of key statutory provisions, appellate decisions, and Department of Administration advisory opinions. Remember, X-files fans, the truth is out there (but it could be protected nonpublic data).
Monday 10:30am-12:00pm | 1.5 Standard credits will be applied for

You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me
Sponsor: MSBA
Presenter: Dr. Michael Fowlin
Highlighting issues of race, discrimination, violence prevention and personal identity, Dr. Fowlin’s original and powerful presentation presents a heightened awareness of these issues. They also suggest solutions. Read more
Monday 1:30pm-3:00pm | 1.5 Elimination of Bias credits will be applied for

Demystifying the Judicial Appointments Process
Sponsor: Merit Selection Commission
Presenters: Ronald Schutz, Commission Chair; Leo Brisbois, Commission Member; Lenor Scheffler, Commission Member; and John Hultquist, Commission Staff
Many in the legal profession consider serving as a judge the highest form of public service. But how do lawyers become judges? Although the state Constitution provides for both the election and appointment of judges in Minnesota, most judges are initially appointed.
Judges to the district court bench are appointed by the Governor after recommendations of candidates are made by the Commission on Judicial Selection, a statutory body that consists of lawyers and non-lawyers who review applications and conducts candidate interviews.
This seminar will help answer questions on how the appointment process works. You will learn directly from people who serve on the Commission about the mechanics of applying for a judicial position, the qualities Commission on Judicial Selection members look for in judicial candidates, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Monday 3:30pm-4:30pm | 1 Ethics credit will be applied for

Best Practices: Making Diversity in the Legal Community a Reality
Sponsor: MSBA Diversity Implementation Task Force
Presenter: TBD
Legal employers of all sizes throughout Minnesota are grappling with the challenges of engaging a workforce that is increasingly diverse in terms of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, and religion. This summer, the Minnesota State Bar Association wraps up several years of studying the needs of diverse populations within the legal profession, and is poised to issue a Diversity Best Practices Guide that identifies strategies employers can take to address those needs. This Elimination of Bias CLE, a joint effort of the MSBA Diversity Implementation Task Force and the MSBA Diversity Committee, will review the work and recommendations of the Task Force and lead a panel discussion about the essentials necessary ("what it means") to foster diversity within the Minnesota legal profession.
Monday 3:30pm-4:30pm | 1 Elimination of Bias credits will be applied for

Compassionate Communication Skills for Attorneys
Sponsor: Minnesota Women Lawyers
Presenter: Ann Harrington
Because conflict is a normal and healthy fact of being an attorney, we want better skills to: 1) deal with angry clients and difficult opposing counsel; 2) approach potentially volatile encounters; 3) authentically speak our minds without triggering defensiveness; 4) be both assertive and negotiable without giving in, and; 5) build relationships based on mutual compassion and respect. In this CLE seminar, you will learn about Compassionate Nonviolent Communication (aka NVC). NVC is a way of giving and receiving respect using a specific language skill. Based on a simple 4-part model, it offers new tools and awareness that can transform the way we relate to ourselves, others and constructively navigate conflict, which is often a challenging reality in the legal profession.
Monday 3:30pm-4:30pm | 1 Ethics credit will be applied for

Top Ten Legal Issues for You and Your Aging Parents
Sponsor: MSBA Elder Law Section
Presenter: Laurie Hanson, Long Reher & Hanson; and Kim Dayton, William Mitchell College of Law
Did you know that adult children will spend almost as many years helping care for their aging parents as they did for their children? Find out what legal issues are most likely to confront you and your older parents as they age into entitlement to Medicare and Social Security or develop a need for long term care. The speakers will discuss planning for incapacity, health care directives, long term care planning, Medical Assistance eligibility, and related matters.
Monday 3:30pm-4:30pm | 1 Standard credit will be applied for

29 Years Ago in Hastings
Sponsor: MSBA Criminal Law Section
Presenters: John Desanto, Ron Meshbesher, and Judge David Bouschor
This one-hour CLE will give attendees an up-close-and-personal look into the highest profile murder trial in Minnesota district court history: the first-degree murder trial of Marjorie Congdon Caldwell for being the mastermind of the 1977 murders of Elisabeth Congdon and Velma Pietila at Glensheen. Judge David Bouschor, who presided over the trial; career prosecutor John DeSanto; and renowned criminal defense attorney Ronald Meshbesher will captivate you with their first-hand accounts of the circumstantial evidence, trial strategies, twists and turns, as well as humorous and intense moments during the then longest criminal trial in Minnesota court history.
Monday 6:00pm-7:00pm | 1 Standard credit will be applied for

Tuesday

Appellate Nuts & Bolts: The basics of initiating, prosecuting and responding to an appeal
Sponsor: MSBA Appellate Practice Section
Presenter: Peter Gray, Halleland Lewis Nilan & Johnson; and Karl Robinson, Winthrop & Weinstine
Presenters will discuss the basics of appellate procedure and tips for effective advocacy.
Tuesday 9:00am-10:00am | 1 Standard credit will be applied for

Rule of Law
Sponsor: MSBA Civic Education Committee
Presenters: Robert Stein; and Minnesota District Court Judges Marilyn Kaman, Dan Mabley, and Ed Wilson
Adherence to the rule of law is the bedrock of our legal system and is a fundamental component of today’s global economy. The ABA World Justice Project’s goal is to strengthen and advance the rule of law from local communities to global regions. The MSBA Civil Education Committee is sponsoring this CLE in support of the Project. Robert Stein, former Dean of the U of M Law School and former ABA Executive Director, will lead a discussion regarding the vital importance of the rule of law along with Minnesota district Court Judges Marilyn Kaman, Dan Mabley and Ed Wilson. The judges served in Kosovo and will offer their insights on advancing the rule of law in that region of the world.
Tuesday 9:00am-10:00am | 1 Standard credit will be applied for

SAGE Best Practices
Sponsor: MSBA Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Presenters: Megan Hertzler, Xcel Energy; Robert Johnson, Anoka County Attorney’; Ranelle Leier, Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly; and Marlene Gains, Jardine Logan & O’Brien
Moderator: Rebecca Bernhard, Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly
The SAGE Best Practices were introduced in 2003 as guidelines for legal employers to help promote practices that encourage the hiring, retention and promotion of women attorneys. Currently 37 legal employers have signed on to the Best Practices and are working on implementing them within their workplace. This program will provide an opportunity for a variety of legal employers, representing law firms and non-law firms, to share information on how each has agreed to the principles of the Best Practices and then adapted them to better meet the needs of their organization.
Tuesday 9:00am-10:00am | 1 Elimination of Bias credit will be applied for

Freeing Up Your Tech Budget: Free and Open Source Software
Sponsor: MSBA
Presenters: Todd Scott, Vice President, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual; and Michael Trittipo, MSBA Director of Technology
Costs for a law firm's technology can be substantial. Adobe Acrobat 8? $279.95. Microsoft Office 2007 Professional? $479.95. An Exchange Server and separate SQL and file servers with backup? Well north of $10,000. This session will cover free and open-source software alternatives for lawyers, that can save you money while getting the same jobs done. The scope will range from the operating system itself, through word processors, office suites, calendaring, and e-mail, to PDF creation and electronic filing.
Tuesday 9:00am-10:00am | 1 Law Office Management credit will be applied for

State of the Judiciary and Supreme Court Review
Sponsor: MSBA
Presenters: Chief Justice Eric Magnuson; and Peter Knapp, William Mitchell College of Law
Chief Justice Eric J. Magnuson will deliver his inaugural State of the Judiciary address. Magnuson, soon to be Minnesota’s 20th chief justice, is stalwart of the Minnesota legal community, a longtime, dedicated member of the MSBA and a respected attorney and shareholder in the business litigation department at Briggs and Morgan. Peter B. Knapp, professor at William Mitchell College of Law, will analyze recent Minnesota Supreme Court cases and comment on recent trends in the Court’s jurisprudence.
Tuesday 10:30am-12:30pm | 2 Standard credits will be applied for