Ethics CLE Webinars & Seminars

8:00 – 8:50 a.m.

“Legal Project Management: A Powerful Tool for Effective Client Representation”

This program will provide an introduction to “legal project management” as a means for lawyers to plan, execute, and control client matters at a predictable cost for the client, resulting in more efficient representations and more satisfied clients. The program will also breakdown the essential functions necessary to conduct legal project management including client engagement, representation plans, budget, communications, and execution.

Whittney A. Dunn, Senior Risk Manager, The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company

8:50 – 9:40 a.m.

“ETHICS/Elimination of Bias – Tools to Manage Cognitive Bias”

This presentation will explore the challenges presented by cognitive biases for the ethical duties toward clients of competence and communication and duties toward the system of justice of fair dealing and independent professional judgment. Tools for improving competence and reducing harmful bias will be explored.

Dean Barbara Glesner Fines, Dean of the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law

9:40 – 9:55 a.m.:          Break

9:55 – 10:45 a.m.

ETHICS – “A Conversation with Chief Disciplinary Counsel: Overview of the Attorney Discipline System in Missouri”

This program will provide statistics regarding the number and types of complaints received by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel (“OCDC”) and how those complaints are processed through the system. The program will also provide pointers on best practices for an attorney who is the subject of an OCDC investigation as well as the requirements for reporting ethical misconduct pursuant to Rule 4-8.3. Finally, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

Alan D. Pratzel, Missouri Chief Disciplinary Counsel

10:45 – 11:35 a.m.

“How to Effectively Create and Run a Virtual Law Office”

Following the pandemic, allowing attorneys to work remotely or providing a hybrid office environment has become a necessity to recruit and keep the best legal talent. This program will provide practical information about the technical aspects of setting up a virtual law practice and give attendees access to an IT professional who regularly works with law firms to answer specific legal IT questions.

David Phillips, St. Louis IT Solutions, LLC

11:35 – 12:25 p.m.

ETHICS – “Coping with Stress & Anxiety During Difficult Situations”

This presentation will focus on tips, strategies, and available resources for practicing attorneys to manage stress and anxiety in modern legal practice. This information will include how to deal with distractions, respond to setbacks, prioritize when overwhelmed, counter pessimism, create a self-care strategy, and restart work when derailed by a crisis. The program will also cover the prevalence of stress and anxiety in the legal profession and how it factors into attorneys leaving or considering leaving legal practice.

Anne Chambers, Director, Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance Program

12:25 – 1:10 p.m.:       Lunch (on your own)

1:10 – 2:00 p.m.

“Unlocking Revenue Potential Through Timekeeping”

Realistically, lawyers who don’t watch their money are probably losing money unnecessarily. This program will review the state of time tracking, what time tracking improvements can mean for a law firm, and the importance of “write-offs” and “write-downs.”

Sarah Ruttan-Bates, Director, Legal Operations and Training, Lexicon

2:00 – 2:50 p.m.

“Understanding Lawyers’ Professional Liability Insurance and Malpractice Avoidance”

This program will review the information attorneys need to know when researching and applying for lawyers’ professional liability insurance as well as what lawyers can do to avoid malpractice risks.

Christina Lewis Abate, Vice President of Underwriting, The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company

Charles Coffey, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company

2:50 – 3:00 p.m.:         Break

3:00 – 3:50 p.m.

“Cyber Insurance 101”

The cyber insurance market grew at the intersection of cybersecurity and insurance and might be hard to understand for the non-initiated. This session will cover the basics that you should know when approaching cyber insurance, including what to look for when seeking insurance, how Ransomware works, and the best defense against cyber incidents.

Braden Guess, Account Executive, Cowbell Cyber

3:50 – 4:40 p.m.

ETHICS – “Client Solicitation in a Changing Legal Advertising Environment”

The methods and means of lawyer advertising have evolved dramatically since Shapero v. Kentucky Bar Assn., 486 U. S. 466 (1988). Despite that, the Rules of Professional Conduct still establish the ethical guardrails lawyers must stay within to avoid the “potential for abuse” when seeking new clients. A look at MRPC 4-7.3: Direct Contact with Prospective Clients, Missouri Informal Ethics Opinions, ABA Formal Opinion 501 (4/13/22), and issues of lawyer advertising and solicitation of clients in a changing legal advertising environment.

Chris Stiegemeyer, Director of Risk Management, The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company