The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth: The Ethical Imperative for Honesty in Law Practice
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "A fact is the absence of contradiction, but the truth is the presence of coherence." As lawyers, we are duty bound to be more than just factual. Lawyers must tell the truth to clients, judges, and even opposing counsel and third parties. In this eye-opening webinar, legal humorist Sean Carter will deal frankly with the very human inclination for dishonesty and explain how to avoid the traps from which dishonesty most often springs. In doing so, he will draw upon current and past nominees from his annual Ethy Awards to show the consequences of dishonesty.

Enough is Enough: Avoiding Vexatious Lawyering
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

While lawyers are expected to provide their clients with zealous representation, we are not allowed to become outright zealots in pursuit of our client's objectives. Yet, time and again, this is precisely what happens as lawyers become fixated on winning at all costs. And as a result, they end up paying the ultimate price -- the loss of their license to practice law.

In this sobering but surprisingly funny presentation, legal humorist Sean Carter will distinguish permissible zealous legal practices from unethical legal zealotry.

I Think, Therefore I Am ... Biased: How Implicit Biases Manifest in the Legal Profession
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

The human brain is wired to recognize patterns and make generalizations, even those based on faulty or incomplete information. And contrary to popular opinion, lawyers are human as well and therefore, we are just as susceptible to forming biases and acting upon them. And it does not require that we harbor ill will or animus towards other people. In fact, most often, our biases are not even our own, but rather those that have been taught to us.

In this eye-opening presentation, the presenter will use videos to show lawyers just how easy it is to form these biases, how they manifest themselves in the way we treat clients, colleagues and opposing parties, and most importantly, how we can reduce the effect of these biases by recognizing and compensating for them.

The 2023 Ethy Awards
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Each year, Hollywood celebrates the best performances in motion pictures at the Oscars. Well, at the Ethys, we note the worst ethics violations in the legal profession. Humorist Sean Carter will host the festivities and announce the award winners in such categories as: Worst Original Excuse, Best Courtroom Outburst, Most Creative Billing, Least Competent, and much more.

In the process of recapping some of the most egregious instances of unethical behavior, Mr. Carter will demonstrate how the rest of us can avoid more common ethical violations.

If You Can't Say Something Nice, Shut Up!: The Ethical Imperative for Civility
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

As children, we were all taught, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all." Well, that advice holds especially true for lawyers. Whether in open court, a deposition, or contract negotiation, lawyers who choose to "go low," run a high risk of bar discipline. Increasingly, disciplinary authorities are treating the once aspirational goal of civility as a mandate. Therefore, it's important for all lawyers to be reminded of their obligation to "play nice."

Keep Your Hands Out of the Client's Cookie Jar: Avoiding Trust Accounting Violations
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

One of the fundamental principles of legal ethics can be summed up as: "Keep your hands off the money." And while this is a gross oversimplification of the legal ethics rules, it is true that this breach of fiduciary trust is among the gravest transgressions that a lawyer can make. Moreover, as it are often amongst the most heavily-punished violations, it often start a cascading effect of rule-breaking as lawyers desperately attempt to avoid detection. As a result, it never hurts to review this all-important ethical limitation on lawyer conduct.

Don't Be A Stupid Cupid: The Ethical Imperative to Not Mix Business and Pleasure
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

One of the fundamental principles of legal ethics can be summed up as: "Keep your hands off the client." And while this is a gross oversimplification of the legal ethics rules, it is true that this breach of trust is among the gravest transgressions that a lawyer can make. Moreover, as it are often amongst the most heavily-punished violations, it often start a cascading effect of rule-breaking as lawyers desperately attempt to avoid detection. As a result, it never hurts to review this all-important ethical limitation on lawyer conduct.

The Ties That Bind: Avoiding Inappropriate Entanglements in the Practice of Law
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

To be an effective advocate, a lawyer must maintain a fair degree of dispassionate objectivity. The lawyer who becomes personally involved in the representation does the client a disservice. This is even more true for the lawyer who becomes personally involved with the client. In this webinar, legal humorist Sean Carter will explain the importance of avoiding this most basic conflict of interest and will relate the tragic (but sometimes fascinating) tales of lawyers who learned this lesson too late.

Ethics Three-Pack #1223: Don't Try This At Home
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Join Sean Carter, America's Funniest Lawyer, for three fun-filled multimedia programs in which he demonstrates why lawyers should never do what we see on TV. So grab some popcorn and watch as we take a look at some of the ethical low points of some of our favorite legal TV dramas; namely:

  • Ally McBeal
  • The Practice; and
  • Suits.

Ally McSteal: From the Don't Try This at Home Series
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Lawyers on our favorite TV legal dramas often act in ways that would cause significant trouble for actual lawyers. In this multimedia webinar, legal humorist Sean Carter will use short video clips from the very popular series, Ally McBeal, to demonstrate some of the legal ethics violations that played out on the show. In doing so, Carter hopes to show you how to keep your professional life from imitating art.

The (Mal)Practice: From the Don't Try This At Home Series
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Lawyers on our favorite TV legal dramas often act in ways that would cause significant trouble for actual lawyers. In this multimedia webinar, legal humorist Sean Carter will use short video clips from the very popular series, The Practice, to demonstrate some of the legal ethics violations that played out on the show. In doing so, Carter hopes to show you how to keep your professional life from imitating art.

From Suits to Stripes: Why You Should Not Do What TV Lawyers Do
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

For years, television programs such as LA Law, The Practice and Boston Legal have shown lawyers skirting ethical boundaries and playing fast and loose with the rules. However, in 2011, USA Networks jumped the proverbial shark when it began airing Suits, a show that is literally built on the premise of the unauthorized practice of law. And, over the next several seasons, it highlighted lawyers engaging in continuous and increasingly serious ethical violations.

In this multi-media themed webinar, noted legal humorist Sean Carter will revisit some of the highlights (and ethical lowlights) of this sometimes astonishing television series. Moreover, he will illustrate the ways that life sometimes imitates art and how real lawyers have managed to trade their business suits for prisoner's stripes by engaging in similar conduct.

Fantasy Supreme Court League: The 2023 Season
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Step right up to participate in the Fantasy Supreme Court League. In this unique presentation, Sean Carter humorously recaps the significant cases of the most recent term. After receiving the facts of each case, you will compete with lawyers from across the country by attempting to remember (or guess) the outcome and "vote spread" of each case.

It's Not the Fruit, It's the Root: Getting to the Bottom of Our Ethical Ills
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

In this unique legal ethics seminar, Sean goes beyond the "dos" and "don'ts" of the Rules of Professional Conduct to get to the heart of the matter -- the common mindsets that result in ethical violations in the first place. Furthermore, he will provide tips and insights on how to heal ourselves from these mindsets so that the ethical canons become guide posts and not obstacles in our drive to become successful lawyers.

The 2023 Ethy Awards
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Each year, Hollywood celebrates the best performances in motion pictures at the Oscars. Well, at the Ethys, we note the worst ethics violations in the legal profession. Humorist Sean Carter will host the festivities and announce the award winners in such categories as: Worst Original Excuse, Best Courtroom Outburst, Most Creative Billing, Least Competent, and much more.

In the process of recapping some of the most egregious instances of unethical behavior, Mr. Carter will demonstrate how the rest of us can avoid more common ethical violations.

Show Me The Ethics!: The Ethical Way to Bill for Legal Services
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

While it is important for lawyers to be compensated for their services, it is even more important for lawyers to use ethical billing and collection practices in securing such compensation. Drawing on examples provided by current and past nominees from his annual Ethy Awards for the worst ethical behavior, legal humorist Sean Carter will provide a poignant reminder of how NOT to bill clients and collect fees. And in the process, he will reinforce the relevant legal ethics principles underlying such practices.

Attorney, Heal Thyself: The Detection, Treatment and Prevention of Substance Abuse
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Substance abuse is a huge problem in the legal profession. Lawyers suffer among the highest rates of alcoholism, drug addiction and being shot in the face by the former Vice President. And while Mr. Carter can't do much about Dick Cheney's aim, he can show you how to detect, treat and prevent substance abuse within your organization.

I Think, Therefore I Am ... Biased: How Implicit Biases Manifest in the Legal Profession
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

The human brain is wired to recognize patterns and make generalizations, even those based on faulty or incomplete information. And contrary to popular opinion, lawyers are human as well and therefore, we are just as susceptible to forming biases and acting upon them. And it does not require that we harbor ill will or animus towards other people. In fact, most often, our biases are not even our own, but rather those that have been taught to us.

In this eye-opening presentation, the presenter will use videos to show lawyers just how easy it is to form these biases, how they manifest themselves in the way we treat clients, colleagues and opposing parties, and most importantly, how we can reduce the effect of these biases by recognizing and compensating for them.

The 2024 Ethy Awards
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Each year, Hollywood celebrates the best performances in motion pictures at the Oscars. Well, in this program, we note the worst ethics violations in the legal profession at the Ethys. Humorist Sean Carter will host the festivities and announce the award winners in such categories as: Worst Original Excuse, Best Courtroom Outburst, Most Creative Billing, Least Competent, and much more. In the process of recapping some of the most egregious instances of unethical behavior, Mr. Carter will demonstrate how the rest of us can avoid more common ethical violations.

A.I. Assimilation: Resistance is Futile
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in the legal industry, offering unprecedented opportunities for legal professionals to enhance their efficiency, accuracy, and overall effectiveness. The incorporation of AI technologies into legal practice is no longer a futuristic concept; it's a present reality that is reshaping the way lawyers approach their work.

In this transformative two-hour program designed exclusively for legal professionals, you will learn about AI's practical applications in the legal field, from contract and legal brief drafting to legal research and case analysis to client correspondence and so much more. Through live demonstrations, we'll showcase real-world AI tools and platforms that empower lawyers to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and client service. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to AI, our program equips you with the knowledge and tools to embrace the future of legal practice confidently.

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