Build a Customized Virginia CLE Compliance Mini Bundle

In the latest installment of this popular series, Zach McGee discusses the now infamous “ChatGPT lawyers sanctions” case where a New York federal district judge sanctioned two lawyers and their law firm under Rule 11 for submitting a brief that cited to six federal court decisions that did not in fact exist. In a case of seemingly first impression, ChatGPT had made up these cases out of whole cloth, and the lawyers failed to do any independent verification of those cases before filing their brief. This fascinating case is a cautionary tale for any lawyer who is tempted to use ChatGPT or other generative AI tools in their legal practice.

The insurance industry continues to experience large growth in digital fraud attempts, but all industries are at risk as ransomware and social engineering claims continue to rise. This panel will warn against the new, sneaky ways you are being hacked, and emerging threats in cyberattacks, as well as offer expert advice on cybersecurity best practices and how to keep up with the changing fraud patterns.

Despite the old saying, facts do not speak for themselves. People must speak for them. Further, humans learn and store information by stories, not by recitation of facts. Juror persuasion happens when the right story is told the right way. Join nationally respected trial consultant Rich Matthews for an exploration of the crucial but often undervalued part that the right witness with the right preparation plays in moving jurors to vote your way.

Property claims often involve multiple parties, emotive issues and significant brinkmanship all of which lead to protracted litigation, significant cost, and delay in resolution. While the numerous types of disputes involved in property losses require the ability to be flexible, very often, they have common themes and would benefit greatly from the narrowing of issues, at the earliest possible stage, which traditional litigation rarely promotes. Creativity and ADR can significantly help in the process.

In the next installment of this popular series, Peter Afrasiabi takes a fun look at what the Constitution – as well as the criminal and tort law – have to say about sex, including those who choose to record it or lie about it. This program includes an overview of laws regulating sexual behavior (e.g., adultery, incest, obscenity), voyeurism (e.g., pornography, revenge porn, peeping Tom laws) and lying about sex (e.g., right to lie, perjury).

Whether you’ve won or lost in the trial court, winning your case on appeal requires an entirely different approach in terms of your strategy and the mechanics of presenting your case to the appellate court. Pivoting successfully from trial court to appellate litigator can make the difference between losing and winning your appeal. Peter Afrasiabi, Co-Director of the Appellate Practice Clinic at the UC Irvine School of Law and the Appellate Practice Chair at One LLP, provides sage advice on how to prepare for and present your oral argument to an appellate court to help you win your next appeal.

The world’s best advocates – starting with Cicero and carrying forward to the most skilled orators of today – use storytelling and credibility to make arguments that persuade and move their audiences. Because law schools and many law firms don’t teach or reward these polestars of advocacy, many lawyers lack these critical skills. This program in advanced advocacy teaches you how to become a gifted and credible storyteller capable of crafting truly compelling arguments on behalf of your clients.

Everyone knows that the First Amendment safeguards freedom of speech from government intervention, but does that protection extend to speech that is hateful, offensive or incites violence? Peter Afrasiabi reviews the history of free speech protections in the United States — from famous cases involving flag burning, Nazi marches and anti-war protests — and carries it through to present day controversies including cyberstalkers who send messages threating violence and former President Donald Trump who made statements targeting protesters at a campaign rally.