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Inn of Court
Program Archive
In order from most recent:
Date:
4/8/03
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 5
Title/Topic:
“May I Approach the Bench”
Description:
The program entitled, "May I Approach the Bench," was designed to focus on the role of the judge in the trial process. Lawyers' conduct can sometimes test judges' patience, impartiality and wisdom. The team looked at some unusual but realistic problems, and asked members of the team and members of the Inn to express their views as to how they would try to resolve the problems. The team then invited several judges to comment on the lawyers' views and to add their own insights.
CLE:
1 Ethics
Date:
3/11/03
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 4
Title/Topic:
“Promoting Civility”
Description:
This program was built around a lawsuit in which an established company seeks to drive a competitor out of business on the ground that the competitor,
a.com, is infringing on the established company’s trademark, an American Eagle, by posting on its website Government documents which include the great seal of the United States with its American Eagle. The case raised issues of malicious use of process and malicious abuse of process, and Inn members were asked to think about the civility issues presented.
CLE:
1 Ethics
Date:
2/11/03
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 3
Title/Topic:
"From In-House to the Big House"
Description:
An in-house lawyer for "Emron Corporation" is faced with the defining moments of his professional career. An Emron whistleblower's letter, an internal investigation, document shredding and a criminal investigation are just a few of the challenges facing the general counsel. This program
examined the ethical, legal and practical challenges facing corporate attorneys in the current environment after highly-publicized corporate fraud scandals and the far-reaching and controversial Sarbanes-Oxley legislation.
CLE:
.5 Ethics, .5 Substantive
Date:
1/14/03
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 2
Title/Topic:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Description:
Focused on alternative dispute resolution, this program included some role playing, demonstrating the problems that arise when clients first agree to engage in ADR. In addition, the program explored the issues which arise when the clients engage in ADR, namely how evidence will be presented, how discovery will be handled, and what rules will apply.
CLE:
1 substantive
Date:
11/12/02
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 1
Title/Topic:
From the Boardroom to the Courtroom
Description:
This program was based on a fictional corporation preparing for an initial public stock offering. It presented a complex perspective from the inside of the corporate management team. Moderated presentations with a series of three (3) vignettes were used to raise questions and spark discussion. The questions centered on ethical duties and responsibilities of in-house and outside corporate counsel to the corporation, board of directors and the public.
CLE:
.5 substantive, .5 ethics
Date:
10/16/02
Presenter:
Hosted by the Temple American Inn of Court for Philadelphia Area Inns of Court Chapters
Title/Topic:
The People's Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted in the Trial of William Penn and William Mead, A Drama in One Act
Description:
In September, 1670, two Quakers, William Penn and William Mead, stood trial at the Old Bailey in London on the charge of “preaching to an unlawful, seditious and riotous assembly.” Forbidden to meet in their Friends' House, they were arrested after a meeting in Gracechurch Street in the City of London. The trial resulted, eventually, in a decision determining in English law the absolute right of jurors to return a true verdict on the evidence in accordance with their oaths and consciences without dictation from the judiciary. In this theatrical production, Nigel Pascoe QC portrays the intimidation from the Bench, together with the magnificent and dramatic speeches from Penn under attack.
CLE:
1 substantive
Date:
4/9/02
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 1
Title/Topic:
Expert Witnesses: A Hearing on the Admissibility of Polygraph Evidence after Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993)
Description:
The tape of the hearing was excerpted and focus was put upon the civil context of Daubert and Frye, the current rule in PA. A video was shown, and a discussion about Daubert and Frye was led by Inn Members Judge Berle Schiller and Mark Weingarten. The program looked at the Daubert and Frye requirements for admissibility. The fact of negotiation as an end to litigation in this setting was also covered. The discussion focused on local practice and ongoing concerns in the civil and criminal arenas.
CLE:
.5 Substantive, .5 Ethics
Date:
3/12/02
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 6
Title/Topic:
Effectively Representing Your Client in Mediations
Description:
The presentation addressed effective advocacy in mediations related to settlement conferences.
CLE:
1.0 Substantive
Date:
2/12/02
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 5
Title/Topic:
Issues Arising in the Interplay of Civil Litigation and Bankruptcy Law
Description:
This 75-minute presentation focused on the interplay of civil litigation and bankruptcy law, with an emphasis on scenarios in which a civil litigator finds himself or herself dealing with opposing litigants who file for bankruptcy protection in the course of a pending matter. Several skits involving mock attorney-client conferences were presented, analyzing the implications of a personal injury defendant's bankruptcy on the eve of trial, an appellant's bankruptcy in the middle of a federal court appeal, a divorced woman whose spouse's company files for bankruptcy and a tenant's threatened bankruptcy on the eve of an eviction. In the course of the presentation and ensuing discussion, the group also addressed the ethical implications of a civil practitioner's decision to engage (or not to engage) the assistance of bankruptcy counsel, the risk of proceeding with an eviction when a bankruptcy has been threatened but not confirmed, and the issue of payment of legal fees by a bankrupt debtor.
CLE:
.5 Substantive, .5 Ethics
Date:
1/8/02
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 4
Title/Topic:
Discovery in the Age of Technology
Description:
The program considered the scope of discovery of electronic records, the appropriate means of providing those records, and the attorney's obligation to review what may be voluminous electronic materials. In addition, the program examined the possibility of discovering deleted material and the ethical questions that may arise as a result.
CLE:
.5 Substantive, .5 Ethics
Date:
11/13/01
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 2
Title/Topic:
The Do's and Don'ts of Appellate Advocacy
Description:
The focus of the program was upon the conduct of an oral appellate argument with emphasis on the needs of the Court, the goals of the parties, and the attorney’s duty to be zealous advocates while remaining candid with the Court. Utilizing a fact pattern involving an American's With Disabilities Act issue on which there is no direct controlling appellate authority, and following a "trial" at which various issues had been determined by a Federal District Court Judge, two members of the pupillage group conducted a mock appellate argument before the remaining members of the group sitting as an appellate court, en banc. The advocates made various missteps on their own and/or in response to questions from the "Court" all of which were intended to prompt a moderator led post-argument discussion with the audience towards the end of identifying the mistakes, considering what might have been done differently, and why.
CLE:
.5 Ethics, .5 Substantive
Date:
10/9/01
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 3
Title/Topic:
Emergent Relief: Temporary Restraining Orders and Preliminary Injunctions - Legal and
Ethical Issues
Description:
The Presentation involved a comprehensive examination of legal requirements and ethical issues associated with temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions in both Federal and state court under the rules of those respective forums.
CLE:
.5 Substantive, .5 Ethics
Date:
4/10/01
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 1
Title/Topic:
Juvenile Law
Description:
In recognition of the Law Day theme in 2001 of Juveniles, the program was focused on a difficult criminal juvenile law problem involving juveniles of different ages who had different levels of involvement in a criminal transaction. The program first explained juvenile criminal law in a law office setting. The Honorable Juan Sanchez portraying a lawyer in his office provided this explanation as a foundation for the remainder of the program, which then looked at prosecutorial discretion and the right of a parent to make a key strategic decision for a child. The program was informative with regard to juvenile law and prompted active discussion by the Inn.
CLE:
1.0 Ethics
Date:
3/13/01
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 6
Title/Topic:
Taking, Defending and Preparing a Witness for Deposition
Description:
Pupillage Team 6 presented three videotaped vignettes from a fictional deposition. The vignettes were designed to raise thought-provoking discussion concerning the taking, defending and preparation of a witness for deposition. After playing each section of the videotape, the group moderated a discussion among the Inn regarding the propriety of the tactics demonstrated in the videotape, including references to the applicable rules of civil procedure, decisions from state and federal courts, and ethical rules.
CLE:
1.0 Ethics
Date:
2/13/01
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 5
Title/Topic:
The Problem Method
Description:
A one-hour program on legal ethics, using the problem method. The problem involved the sale of a piece of real estate with a concealed environmental hazard. The ethical issues included the lawyer’s obligations in negotiations and subsequent litigation. The problem also raised questions of confidentiality, the duty of subordinate lawyers, and the duty to report misconduct.
CLE:
1.0 Ethics
Date:
1/09/01
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 4
Title/Topic:
No Formal Title
Description:
The program developed issues, a number of them ethical problems, raised by an associate’s representation of the daughter of the CEO of the firm’s largest client. Issues included questions of determining who is the client, defining the scope of the attorney-client privilege, representing a client who wants to lie to the court, and dealing with an un- represented party who seeks legal advice.
CLE:
1.0 Ethics
Date:
11/14/00
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 3
Title/Topic:
Being Professional and Adversarial
Description:
The program, through four skits, demonstrated the dilemma facing the attorney when balancing ethical decisions and financial issues affecting his other practice. To what extent does the client control how you practice? How candid must you be with the court? How do you respond to a vexatious motion? How do you deal with yet another continuance request?
CLE:
1.0 Ethics
Date:
10/10/00
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 2
Title/Topic:
“Who Wants to be a Philadelphia Lawyer?”
Description:
In a format borrowed from the popular television game show – “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” - members of the Inn reviewed selected principals of substantive law and civil procedure in the areas of contracts, torts, criminal law, bankruptcy law, evidence and ethics. Questions and materials will cover basic fundamentals, along with some less common but nonetheless relevant and important issues for those who litigate in the subject areas discussed.
CLE:
.5 Ethics, .5 Substantive
Date:
4/11/00
Presenter:
Pupillage Team 1
Title/Topic:
Civility - Does Our Profession Have a Problem?
Description:
In an adaptation of an Inn Program entitled “Civility - Does Our Profession Have a Problem?” by Charles Fahy, there was a presentation of three skits followed by discussion of the legal issues raised. These skits set forth issues of civility and integrity in (a) the classroom, (b) deposition and court, and (c) personal interaction between client and counsel. Civility issues involved the relationships between counsel and relationships with the court. The issues involving integrity with a client were raised in the context of counsel’s withdrawal from a case where there was the likelihood of prejudice to the client. The materials included proposed Rules of Civility and a recent ABA ethics opinion.
CLE:
1.0 Ethics
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