Technical Fouls: Even Minor Ethics Violations Can Have Major Consequences
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

When it comes to ethics violations, there is no such thing as a minor or "technical" foul. All ethics violations are serious matters, evidencing a breach of the trust that has been placed in the lawyer. As a result, lawyers must avoid falling into the mindset that a particular violation is "no big deal."

To make this case, noted legal humorist Sean Carter will chronicle a number of recent ethics cases in which lawyers were surprised to discover that even minor ethics violations can have major consequences.

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."

Legal Ethics Is No Laughing Matter: What Lawyer Jokes Say About Our Ethical Foibles
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

In this one-of-a-kind ethics presentation, Mr. Carter explores the topic of lawyer jokes, whether they have any basis in fact and what they say about our adherence to the rules of professional conduct. He does so through the use of video clips dramatizing these jokes. He also will use audience polling and questions from attendees to spread the "laughter."

From Competence to Excellence: The Ethical Imperative for Excellent Client Service
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

The very first rule of the ethics canon calls for lawyers to provide competent representation to clients. Yet, mere competence isn't enough to satisfy our ethical obligations to our clients. We must instead strive for excellence. In this unique webinar, noted legal humorist Sean Carter will highlight the need for excellence in client service and demonstrate the consequences of mediocrity by recounting the sagas of past Ethy Award nominees -- lawyers who earned CLE infamy for the failure to provide excellent client service.

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.

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.

Sue Unto Others As You Would Have Them Sue Unto You
Presented by: Legal Humorist Sean Carter

Increasingly, lawyer civility and congeniality is becoming a thing of the past. Yet, it doesn't have to be that way. In this humorous presentation, veteran attorney and legal humorist Sean Carter will remind you that zealous advocacy does not require you to be a zealot.

The 2021 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.

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.