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Tales from the Great Detective of Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes, serve as a launching point for exploring the Mental Health and Substance Abuse challenges that afflict lawyers more than any other profession or occupation.  Billy Newman's lecture includes a discussion of the unique ethics issues that arise when a lawyer's professional competence is compromised by substance abuse or other mental health issues -- as well as the ethical responsibilities of lawyers whose colleagues are struggling with these issues.

    Approved for "Substance Abuse/Mental Health" CLE credit in North Carolina.

    Approved for "Competence" CLE credit in California.

    Approved for "Ethics" CLE credit in most other states.

Acclaimed trial lawyer, Steve Heninger describes and demonstrates the art of "storytelling" in the courtroom as a means of connecting effectively with jurors.

A recording of the 6-hour Live Webcast originally broadcast in September 2020.   A fast-paced look at very practical ways to improve your legal writing & research.  Includes real-world tips on: (1) Making sure you haven't "missed something" in your legal research; and (2) Simple fixes that make your briefs and other writings more "readable."

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

This online course is a recording of the Family Law segment of our annual "year-in-review" seminar, Recent Developments in Alabama Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in 2022 affecting Alabama's law of domestic relations.

This online course is a recording of the first Torts, Insurance, Civil Procedure, & Workers' Compensation segment of our annual "year-in-review" seminar, Recent Developments in Alabama Law.

Featuring Birmingham litigator Erik Heninger, this course presents a fast-paced look at new Alabama case law from 2022, as well as new statutes and other news affecting trial practitioners in Alabama.

This online course is a recording of the second Torts, Insurance, Civil Procedure, & Workers' Compensation segment of our annual "update" coursse, Recent Developments in Alabama Law.

In this video lecture, Erik Heninger continues his review of 2022 developments in trial practice for Alabama lawyers.

This online course is a recording of the Wills, Estates, Real Estate, & General Business Law segment of our annual "year-in-review" seminar, Recent Developments in Alabama Law.

This segment presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments from 2022 in Alabama's law of probate, real property, and general business law.

This online course is a recording of the Family Law segment of our annual CLE series, Recent Developments in Arkansas Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Arkansas family law.

This online course is a recording of the 1st segment on Torts, Insurance, CivilProcedure, and Workers' Comp -- from our annual seminar series, Recent Developments in Arkansas Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Arkansas trial practice.

This online course is a recording of the 2nd segment on Torts, Insurance, CivilProcedure, and Workers' Comp -- from our annual seminar series, Recent Developments in Arkansas Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Arkansas trial practice.

This online course is a recording of the Wills/Estates, Real Estate, and Business Law segment from our annual seminar series, Recent Developments in Arkansas Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Arkansas Wills, estates, and transactional law practice.

A recording of the 6-Hour Live Webcast seminar originally broadcast in September 2020.  This is an introductory level discussion of the practical nuts & bolts of drafting basic Wills and trust documents. An emphasis is placed on avoiding the most common mistakes made by lawyers in preparing even the simplest of Wills.  Includes complimentary 100 pages of Will and trust forms!

Nationally-recognized attorney Bryan Moseley of Tennessee presents a wide-ranging overview of the nuts & bolts of civil rights claims involving law enforcement agencies, including claims involving use of force, false arrest, and malicious prosecution.   This could be a good introduction to the topic for rookies.

This is the inaugural installment in a planned series of courses that will offer a very practical, real-world discussion on preparing contracts that are designed to avoid ambiguities, hassles, and litigation.  This installment offers a fresh look at the parts of a contract that usually receive very little thought or attention from drafting attorneys - the standard "boilerplate" language.  Governing law and force majeure clauses receive particular attention.  

Following up on Part 1's discussion of the often overlooked "boilerplate" sections of a contract, this Part 2 installment in our "Contract Drafting Basics" series of seminars focuses on the do's and don'ts of including covenants, warranties, and representations in a typical contract.  The presenter, Billy Newman, then moves into a discussion of the sometimes byzantine wording of indemnity and insurance provisions, including a practical look at the sort of "due diligence" investigations every lawyer and client should conduct before even thinking about entering into a contractual agreement.

This third installment in our ongoing series of practical courses on the nuts and bolts of preparing formal agreements that minimize the risk of later disputes, squabbles, or litigation.

This segment examines the do's & don'ts of several miscellaneous provisions found in most contracts, including clauses dealing with assignment rights, severability, reformation, and liquidated damages.  The presenter, Billy Newman, then dives into a detailed look at the ins and outs of using the increasingly popular paperless contracts (popularly known as "e-contracts").

Building on the wide-ranging discussion of drafting contracts in general, Part 4 of this series delves into the ins & outs of preparing a particular type of contract -- in this instance, written agreements for the sale and purchase of an existing business, or for the sale and purchase of real property.

For eighteen years, attorneys across nation have attended Billy Newman's In-Person seminars on intellectual property law and have praised the way in which Billy provides an entertaining and fascinating introduction to a seemingly boring subject.  Now these lectures are finally available online!  Designed at a beginner level for non-specialists, this seminar explains the importance of copyright law in general law practice.

Topics discussed include:

• A practical explanation of how copyrights come into play in everyday law practice
• The alarming rate at which small "mom & pop" businesses are encountering expensive copyright problems
• The truth about some of the popular myths about copyright protection
• A brief explanation of how patent and trade secret law differs from copyright law

Also - check out the companion On-Demand course "Trademark Law Basics for General Practitioners."

Here's what recent attendees at the In-Person version of this seminar have had to say about it:

"Surprisingly fun and practical!"

"Great seminar - probably the best CLE I've ever been to."

"Mr. Newman is a great presenter with a fine command of the subject matter.  This seminar was MUCH better than I ever could have anticipated."

"This was a great seminar!  You gave a wonderful overview of all the main points that general practitioners should be aware of."

A practical review for both sides

    -  Laying the groundwork for qualifying the expert

    -  Doing your homework

    -  Digging into the basis of the expert opinion

An increasing percentage of the average estate consists of intangible digital assets, including electronic photos, music files, e-books, and valuable digital accounts and data.  This course explores how to deal with these assets when drafting a Will or when probating an estate.  Includes a discussion of the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

An overview of established practices for the discovery of electronically-stored information, including a quick look at some new tools that greatly facilitate the process.  This is Part 1 of a planned 2-part series of courses on the ins and outs of e-discovery.

At the end, the speaker offers a glimpse into the recent e-discovery dispute involving pop music star Taylor Swift -- as an illustration of the serious sanctions that can result from the failure to preserve and produce electronically stored evidence.

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

The 2nd course in a 3-part series on e-discovery examines the law of "litigation holds," and also offers a review of best practices that litigators should observe when engaging in e-discovery.

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

An overview of the major employment discrimination that can result in litigation against business clients.

A look at wage & hour and other miscellaneous laws that can trip up the unwary business client.

Part 1 of a 3-part series on the basics of entertainment law, taught with the general practitioner in mind.   This installment covers the essentials of representing clients in the book publishing process (including traditional books and e-books).

Part 2 of a 3-part series on the basics of entertainment law, taught with the general practitioner in mind.  This installment focuses on the ins and outs of guiding clients through the legal complexities of film and TV projects.

Part 3 of a 3-part series on the basics of entertainment law, taught with the general practitioner in mind.  This final installment focuses on the basics of representing clients in the music industry (including recording contracts and the legal aspects of live performances).

Just when the law had figured out how to deal with new digital forms of evidence like e-mails and text messages... now a new twist has emerged.  Increasingly business and other potential parties and witnesses are communicating on platforms that are designed to fully and permanently delete the message soon after its transmission (think Snapchat and internal business messaging applications like Signal and Wickr).

This course examines the slowly developing case law that describes how the rules of discovery and evidence deal with these new challenges.

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

Bryan Moseley discusses the special ethics considerations when dealing with a personal injury client. 

This course presents a unique approach to the discussion of ethics and professionalism for lawyers.  

Billy Newman presents a look at the surprising array of ethics problems that can be triggered by routine estate planning tasks, including the preparation of a Will for a client.  

There is an increasing discussion in this country about the new generation gap that threatens to divide Millennials, Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, and Traditionalists.  The modern law office typically is home to a wide range of age groups, and the threat of age bias within law firms has become a concern of the ABA and the drafters of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.  This course discusses the nature of potential age bias in various types of law offices, the emerging ethical rules addressing the issue, and practical tips for eliminating age bias in the workplace.

An examination of several common misconceptions held by lawyers about their duty of client confidentiality under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. 

Billy Newman moderates a 2-hour discussion with tech experts about the basics of what lawyers need to know about cybersecurity and its relationship to the ethical duties of confidentiality and competence.  Aimed at lawyers who are not extremely tech savvy, this ethics course emphasizes the easy-to-implement precautions you and your staff can take to protect the privacy and confidentiality of your digital information.

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

A practical discussion of the "timeliness" aspect of Rule 1.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, including the rule and major case law.  Includes practical tips on how lawyers can improve their time management skills to ensure compliance with this rule.

The heyday of the phone book advertisement is behind us.  Increasingly, prospective clients are shopping for legal services online, and lawyers are using a variety of platforms on the internet to reach potential clients.  This course provides an overview of the different types of online marketing and discusses the potential ethical dilemmas associated with each.  Topics discussed include:

• Law firm websites
• Lawyer blogs
• Paid internet ads
• Law firm social media accounts
• Content marketing
• Much more!

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training requirement.

Billy Newman -- in the tradition of his popular "Top 10" in-person seminars -- introduces lawyers to five new developments that will likely have a major impact on the black letter law, as well the business of practicing law.   Includes topics relevant to litigators, transactional lawyers, and general practitioners.

Available for immediate viewing.

A unique and fun -- but entirely practical -- way to earn your CLE hours!   In Part 1, Billy Newman looks at the historic trial of Sir Walter Raleigh and the Lindbergh kidnapping case and demonstrates what these cases can teach lawyers today.  

(Be sure to sign up for Part 2 as well --  for a discussion of the trials of Old West legends Wyatt Earp & Doc Holliday, along with a detailed look at the litigation history of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, one of the defendants in the Lincoln Assassination case.)

Following up on Part 1's look at the trials of the Lindbergh kidnapper and Sir Walter Raleigh, this second installment in the "Great Trials" series takes an in-depth look at the often overlooked murder trial of Wild West legends Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.   Then we turn our attention to the ordeal of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, who was put on trial in 1865 for conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.  In the process of weaving these fascinating stories, long-time attorney and professor Billy Newman uses these historic trials to highlight more do's and don'ts of good lawyering for modern-day litigators.

A comprehensive review of the various health-care-related documents that usually should be a part of a complete estate plan, right beside a Last Will & Testament.  Health care power of attorneys and "living wills" are discussed in detail, but the course also delves into some new additions to the lineup, including Physicians Orders for Sustaining Treatment (POST orders) and "Right to Try" laws.

The definition of hearsay evidence (and the three dozen exceptions and exemptions regarding its admissibility) have perplexed courtroom lawyers -- and many judges -- for generations.  This course seeks to provide a practical and useful set of guidelines for dealing with hearsay objections -- whether you're making the objection or trying to overcome an objection.

A beginner's overview of the basic rules, concepts, and procedures in the law of immigration and naturalization.  

A very practical discussion of the often-overlooked laws that impose strict obligations on all employers to ensure the legal status of all new employees. 

Acclaimed trial attorney Steve Heninger offers practical pointers on one of the most crucial aspects of trial practice -- jury selection.

A discussion of the surprising ethics challenges that lawyers face when they and their clients face the major disruptions of a pandemic, hurricane, or other disaster.

This is the first installment in a new series of practical courses on essential and innovative skills for litigators.  This session is the first of two installments on becoming a better negotiator.  

This second installment in the practical "Litigator's Toolkit" series continues Billy Newman's pragmatic look at simple techniques that enable lawyers to improve their skills as negotiators.

After years of grappling with the discovery and admissibility of e-mails, text messages, social media posts, websites, and more ephemeral messaging systems (like Signal and Snapchat), the courts have finally developed a usable set of guidelines for how you can get your hands on such evidence -- AND ensure its admissibility at trial.  Also discussed -  digital surveillance camera evidence and litigation hold notices.

A quick overview of "Do's and Don'ts" for effective cross-examination.

The latest installment in our series of practical courses on skills for the courtroom lawyer.

In this segment, long-time attorney and professor Billy Newman leads a discussion on practice pointers for being more effective in the direct examination phase of a trial (a skill that most lawyers agree is much harder to master than cross examination).

A close look at an often valuable, but sometimes overlooked, litigation tool - the motion in limine.  Includes an overview of the law governing these motions and their relationship to the Rules of Evidence.  Strategic uses of these motions (for the purposes of both excluding AND ensuring the admissibility of evidence) are discussed.  

This online course is a recording of the Family Law segment of the 28th annual In-Person seminar, Recent Developments in Mississippi Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Mississippi's law of domestic relations.

This online course is a recording of the first Torts, Insurance, Civil Procedure, & Workers' Compensation segment of the 28th annual In-Person seminar, Recent Developments in Mississippi Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Mississippi trial practice.

This online course is a recording of the second Torts, Insurance, Civil Procedure, & Workers' Compensation segment of the 28th annual In-Person seminar, Recent Developments in Mississippi Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Mississippi trial practice.

This online course is a recording of the Wills, Estates, Real Estate, & General Business Law segment of the 28th annual seminar, Recent Developments in Mississippi Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Mississippi's law of Wills, probate, real property, and general business law.

Many practitioners report an uptick in the number of businesses and other clients who are inquiring about non-competition and/or non-disclosure (NDA) agreements.  This course takes a practical look at the governing law and helpful drafting tips.

When a person or business is defamed on an online review site, a social media post, or elsewhere on the Internet, the frequent anonymity of the post (along with the worldwide and permanent reach of the Internet) poses major obstacles for the Plaintiff seeking to pursue an action for libel or slander.

This course examines the emerging case law and statutory law on the subject.

Hotel magnate Leona Helmsley's estate plan made national headlines when it was revealed that Helmsley had left nearly $8 million to her beloved dog, Trouble.  The discussion that ensued highlighted the rapid rise of "pet law" as a legal specialty.  This one-hour course provides an overview of the major legal issues surrounding pet ownership.

Topics discussed include:

• Estate planning for pets:  Who will care for your pets when you die?
• Insurance issues
• The current law on dog bites
• Veterinary malpractice

A practical look at the do's and don'ts of crafting an effective prenuptial agreement in today's world.  The experiences of over a half-dozen current celebrities serve as a springboard for discussing common drafting errors.

Topics discussed include:

• The absolute requirement of full disclosure in a pre-nup
• The necessity of broaching the subject far in advance of the wedding
• Non-traditional uses of pre-nups
• Celebrities discussed include Tom Brady, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul McCartney, Mark Zuckerburg, Steven Spielberg, and more!

This course is currently in production and should be available for viewing on June 11, 2023.

Nuts & Bolts pointers to ensure that your client is prepared for the frightening experience of being deposed.  Topics discussed include:

  - How to control the "too-talkative" client

  - Insuring your client understands the relative importance of the subject matter

  - Advising your client on how to correct their own errors in testimony

This seminar focuses on mental health issues for lawyers -- a topic that has garnered a tremendous amount of attention in recent years as studies have revealed that lawyers have one of the highest rates of mental health challenges among all occupations and professions. 

Long-time attorney and professor Billy Newman delves back into history and reveals the little-known mental health challenges that confronted several of our former Presidents many decades ago.  These stories serve to validate the prevalence of these same issues in the practicing bar -- and help highlight the problems they can cause for lawyers, clients, and their families.  Billy then interviews a licensed therapist and other contributors who offer hope and coping strategies for any lawyer dealing with addiction, depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.

In this first installment of a two-part series of lectures, nationally-recognized litigator Bryan Moseley of Tennessee discusses the initial stages of a premises liability claim, including case intake and initial investigation. 

In Part 2 of this series, Bryan Moseley offers practical tips on proving your case when you bring a premises liability claim. Topics include discovery strategies, dealing with experts, and trial presentation techniques. 

Our annual look at major new law on the federal scene. 

This course is a follow-up to our popular seminar, "Ripped from the Headlines: Lessons in Copyright & Trademark Law from Recent High-Profile Cases."  Once again, Billy Newman gleans practical lessons for general practitioners from several recent news stories involving intellectual property.

A review of the fascinating case law that has grown out of the "takings" clause of the Fifth Amendment.  Specifically, this course examines the evolution of the case law that defines when a government's regulation of private property becomes so excessive, that it constitutes a "taking by over-regulation" that requires governmental compensation.

So - your new client is pursuing the All-American dream of owning his or her own business.  The client will be a true "mom & pop" family-owned small business.  They want you to "take care of all the legal stuff."  What do you need to know?

This compact course takes a practical look at the most important steps in the process from the lawyer's point of view, including choosing the best type of business entity (LLC, S-Corp, something else?) and then getting all the other legal ducks in a row (operating agreements, government filings, employment regulations, etc.).

This course presents a practical and fast-paced look at six commonly overlooked sources of ethics problems that can trip up even the most conscientious lawyer.

Billy Newman offers a quick overview of the following ethics dilemmas, along with real-world solutions:

1.  The ethics of working remotely in law practice

2.  Managing the flood of emails, text messages, and other digital communications that deluge practitioners every day (and avoiding the problems that can arise when a message gets overlooked or forgotten)

3.  Walking the ethical tightrope when jointly representing two or more parties in the same litigation or transaction

4.  Avoiding conflicts of interest when you are the "fiduciary to a fiduciary"

5.  Legal research and writing errors that can lead to sanctions and/or ethics complaints

6.  Knowing enough about digital technology to comply with the new ethical duty of "technological competence"

Nationally recognized speaker Bryan Moseley of Tennessee presents a detailed overview of the various lien, subrogation, and reimbursement issues that often arise in personal injury practice.  This first part of a two-part series also delves deeply into Medicaid liens.  

In Part 2 of this 2-part series, Bryan Moseley delves more deeply into two particular lien, subrogation, and reimbursement issues that can arise in personal injury practice -- ERISA and Medicare.   

An examination of one of the most-talked-about new pieces of Mississippi legislation in recent years -- the new "Guard and Protect (GAP)" statute.   This course explains the major changes in the creation and administration of guardianship and conservatorship estates.

Since the Chat GPT program (supported by Microsoft) and competing artificial intelligence tools captured the public's fascination in late 2022, we at Barristers have been contemplating its impact on the everyday practice of law.

Lawyers have already demonstrated its potential use in:

• Legal research
• Brief writing
• Contract drafting
• Marketing
• Analysis of weaknesses in an opponent's brief or contract 

This course provides a beginner's introduction to accessing and using Chat GPT.   Many of the program's capabilities are demonstrated in the seminar.  Then, the course focuses on the major ethics considerations in utilizing this amazing (yet also intimidating) technology.

This online course is a recording of the Family Law segment of our annual "year-in-review" seminar, Recent Developments in Tennessee Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in the domestic relations law of Tennessee.

This online course is a recording of the first Torts, Insurance, Civil Procedure, & Workers' Compensation segment of the 2022 edition of our annual "year-in-review" seminar, Recent Developments in Tennessee Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Tennessee trial practice. 

This online course is a recording of the second Torts, Insurance, Civil Procedure, & Workers' Compensation segment of our annual "update" course,  Recent Developments in Tennessee Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Tennessee trial practice.

This online course is a recording of the Wills, Estates, Real Estate, & General Business Law segment of our annual "year-in-review"seminar, Recent Developments in Tennessee Law.

It presents a fast-paced look at new case law, new statutes, and other new developments in Tennessee's law of Wills, probate, real property, and general business law.

Presented in much the same manner as his popular "Ripped from the Headlines" lectures, Billy Newman provides a fast-paced look at some of the biggest and most interesting developments in intellectual property law in 2020 and early 2021.  He then explains how these issues are important to general practitioners.  

New technologies have provided "Peeping Toms" and other snooping parties with multiple tools that permit them to spy on our clients with relative ease.  This course looks at the civil causes of action that might be available to the victims, with a discussion of some of the difficulties inherent in building a case against such Defendants.

For eighteen years, attorneys across nation have attended Billy Newman's In-Person seminars on intellectual property law and have praised the way in which Billy provides an entertaining and fascinating introduction to a seemingly boring subject.  Now these lectures are finally available online!  Designed at a beginner level for non-specialists, this seminar (the companion to the On-Demand course "Copyright Law Basics for General Practitioners) explains the importance of trademark law in general law practice.

Topics discussed include:

• A practical explanation of how trademarks come into play in everyday law practice
• The alarming rate at which small "mom & pop" businesses are encountering expensive copyright problems
• Simple guidelines for helping your client select company names, product names, and slogans that are legally defensible

Here's what recent attendees at the In-Person version of this seminar have had to say about it:

"Surprisingly fun and practical!"

"Great seminar - probably the best CLE I've ever been to."

"Mr. Newman is a great presenter with a fine command of the subject matter.  This seminar was MUCH better than I ever could have anticipated."

"This was a great seminar!  You gave a wonderful overview of all the main points that general practitioners should be aware of."

As the Millennial generation matures, it has become obvious that Americans (and our jurors, in particular) increasingly expect visual aids in communication.  This two-part series provides practical tips and examples of visual aids that lawyers can incorporate in their courtroom presentations to connect more persuasively with today's jurors.  Topics discussed include:

• An overview of the generational differences between Millennials, Baby Boomers, and Generation Xers.
• Using timelines in the courtroom
• Presenting financial data in a visual form
• Using motion in your graphics to keep the jury's attention
• Much more!

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

This second installment in the Trial Graphics series provides further tips and examples of graphics and other visual aids that lawyers can use to get (and keep) the attention of jurors in today's world of short attention spans.  Topics discussed in this second installment include:

• Using visual checklists in your opening statements and closing arguments
• Equipment, angles, and other considerations to improve your jury communication
• Much more!

Satisfies the North Carolina State Bar Technology Training Requirement.

This course is a sequel of sorts to our popular online seminar on "Preparing Your Client for Deposition."  In this installment, Keith Obert examines the crucial differences between deposition testimony and trial testimony, and he offers practical tips on preparing your witnesses for the daunting ordeal of testifying in open court.

In the 27-year tradition of innovative CLE from Barristers, this is our latest course that illustrates the do's & don'ts of good lawyering by exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly that we find when we peek into the legal files of famous people -- including recent celebrities like Robin Williams to historical figures like George Washington.