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February 7, Thursday

12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

eLawyering and the Future of Legal Work  - UCLA School of Law
Primary Sponsor: ABA Law Practice Management Section - eLawyering Task Force
eLawyering is doing legal work – not just marketing it – over the Web.  Pioneering practitioners have found dramatic new ways to communicate and collaborate with clients and other lawyers, produce documents, settle disputes, interact with courts, and manage legal knowledge. There are exciting initiatives underway now that deserve attention by all lawyers – present and future.
This free program is open to all area law students and lawyers with an interest in the innovative use of technology. Refreshments will be served.

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

You're Hired! - Primary Sponsor: ABA State and Local Government Law Section Get the inside scoop on recruiting and hiring in State and Local Government. As one of the most diverse legal practice areas, the broad cross-section of legal disciplines includes land use, government operations and liability, public finance, environmental law, and homeland security and emergency management, to name a few. You will enjoy interacting with other young lawyers and seasoned practicing attorneys to learn those secrets to successfully attaining that plum State and Local Government position, whether it is for a government entity or in a law firm. Panelists from the Election Law CLE program will also participate. Networking reception immediately following.

10:00 – 12:00 p.m.

Work Life Balance: Pays! (CLE) - Primary Sponsor: ABA Section of International Law Work-life balance issues are among the most discussed issues among lawyers today. Our panelists discuss their own experiences in how they have reached their own equilibrium and how they believe today's law firms can reap benefits such as improved employment relationships and less attrition by simply becoming more attuned to the work-life balance needs of their associates.

February 8, Friday

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Speed Networking (First come, first served)
Bring your business cards and be prepared to talk—a lot! A take off on speed dating, this program will allow young lawyers to meet each other without the fear of rejection. Three minute intervals offer enough time to make a strong introduction but eliminate a stumbling through a lengthy transition. Even potential questions will be provided. So, brush your teeth, practice your smile, and get your “elevator speech” in order.

NOTE: Space is limited. Participation will be based on a first come, first served basis.

8:30a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Financial Planning for Young Lawyer
Most Young Lawyers have very little time to dedicate to their personal financial planning. Come to this session and in less than one hour learn how to “Build Your Financial House” and what steps you need to take to go from the basics to the next level of financial planning. If after attending this session you want more personal advice, make an appointment to spend a few minutes one-on-one with the ABE sponsored financial planner.

Kelly A. Abeles, American Bar Endowment, Chicago, IL and Thomas Haunty, North Star Resource Group, Madison, WI

9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Ethical Considerations in Public Sector Law (CLE) - Primary Sponsor: ABA Government and Public Section Lawyers Division

(Registration fee: $30.00)

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Can Attorneys Go Undercover: Ethical Issues in Intellectual Property Pretext Investigations – Co-sponsored by the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law and the ABA Section of Science and Technology (Ethics CLE)
This program will focus on the ethical issues involved with using deception to detect and stop wrongdoing, especially in the intellectual property area. This panel will address the following questions:

• Can a lawyer personally misrepresent himself to a target or can such misrepresentations only be performed by investigators and other proxies?
• Are the rules governing attorney behavior context-specific?
• Do the ethical rules only apply to lawyers “acting as lawyers” in the context of litigation or transactional negotiation, but not when lawyers are acting as fact-finders or investigators?
• Are the intellectual property infringement investigations simply a long-standing exception to the normal rules, like testing for civil rights compliance?

James M. Fischer, Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, CA, Christopher J. McGeehan, Attorney, Greer, Burns & Crain, Ltd., Chicago, IL Michelle L. Vizurraga, Attorney, The Boesch Law Group, Santa Monica, CA and Herbert P. Williams, Senior Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP, Los Angeles, CA

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

From Caterpillars to Pig Pens:  Nominative Fair Use in a World of Product Placement (CLE) - Co-sponsored by the ABA Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries
In a time when product placement deals are featured in TV shows, films, video games, even books, how does that affect the calculus of nominative fair use?  Courts have issued conflicting and confusing decisions, which makes this area of law a minefield for attorneys who conduct pre-broadcast review of works that contain visual references to trademarked products.  This panel will discuss the guidelines that attorneys can follow when navigating this tricky terrain.

Robyn Aronson, Associate, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Los Angeles, CA and Susan E. Seager, Attorney, Fox Group Legal, Century City, CA

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m

Modern Election Law (CLE) - Primary Sponsor: ABA State and Local Government Law Section
The 2008 Election season is rapidly approaching. The State and Local Government Law Section is committed to answering all of your questions concerning the election process and how to best represent a diverse population and issues surrounding their ability and access to vote. This CLE session includes an overview of the Voting Rights Act, Language Minorities, Voter Identification, and Voting and Immigration Law.

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

How Civil Juries Really Decide Cases (CLE)
Co-Sponsored by the American Bar Foundation

Until now, the inner workings of the jury room and what juries use to make their decisions has traditionally been off limits for trial lawyers. Based on recent research, Shari S. Diamond and her colleagues from the American Bar Foundation have begun revealing the secrets which were previously behind closed doors. As a result of research conducted with actual juries in Arizona, we now can see what really happens during jury discussions and deliberations, such as:

• The civil jury’s process of determination
• How jurors process information they receive in the courtroom and what factors they apply to it to make their decisions
• The role of trust in jury deliberation
• How jurors use some of the tools given them, such as jury instructions, to make their decisions

If you attend this program, you will hear what the research has revealed and hear how trial lawyers from various jurisdictions around the country react to such information in light of their own experiences.

Gregory M. Bergman, Sharholder, Bergnam & Dacey, Inc., Los Angeles, CA; Matthew B. Butler, Partner, Nicholas & Butler LLP, San Diego, CA; Jonathan Cole, Shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, Nashville, TN; Shari Seidman Diamond, Senior Research Fellow, American Bar Foundation; Howard J. Trienens Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology, Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, IL; Chauntis T. Jenkins, Partner, Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson LLP, New Orleans, LA; and Maralee MacDonald, Shareholder, Boutin Gibson Di Giusto Hodell, Inc., Sacramento, CA

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The Mortgage Crisis in America: Helping Client's to Survive and Thrive During Uncertain Times (CLE)
Co-sponsored by the YLD Bankruptcy Committee, the YLD Real Property Committee, YLD Business Law Committee, the Young Lawyers Forum of the ABA Business Law Section, and the ABA General Practice and Solo Small Firm Division

Foreclosures of home mortgages are on the rise due to higher interest rates and re-pricing of mortgage payments for many "sub prime" and other mortgage loans. This program will explain:

• How the mortgage lending industry prices loans
• Why the current mortgage crisis has happened now
• How lenders are addressing the increased default rate among borrows
• How lawyers can protect and advise individuals caught in the fall out

This program will be invaluable to any lawyer who has a client or potential client that may be affected by the recent mortgage crisis, including individuals, business, banks, lending institutions, lawyers who advise clients with real estate purchases or sales, and title companies.

Paul C. Bishop, Ph.D., Managing Director, Real Estate Research, National Association of Realtors® , Washington, DC, Christopher Curtis, Fiscal Policy Specialist, New York State Division of the Budget, Albany, NY, Samuel R. Maizel, Attorney, Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP, Los Angeles, CA and Jeffrey M. Sklarz, Partner, Zeisler & Zeisler P.C., Bridgeport, CT

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Pathways to Success for Women and Minorities in the Public Sector - Primary Sponsor: ABA Government and Public Section Lawyers Division

(Registration fee: $20.00)

12:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Young Lawyers: The Next Generation
NOTE: Lunch Included. First come, first served.

The Young Lawyer Summit will focus on the top issues facing young lawyers across the nation, including:

• striking a work-life balance
• dealing with law school debt
• managing a legal career

The feedback from the discussions will provide the base for initiatives such as:

• Articulating next steps and long-term goals for the ABA YLD, the national voice of young lawyers. Such steps may include drafting resolutions for the YLD Assembly, which sets policy for the Division
• An On-Line Toolkit containing links to member resources and research materials regarding concerns and solutions raised at the Summit
• A white paper which captures the issues, ideas, and solutions voiced by the Summit attendees

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Transitioning to Civilian Life: A Roadmap for Military Lawyers - Primary Sponsor: ABA Government and Public Section Lawyers Division

(Registration fee: $20.00)

February 9, Saturday

7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

YLD Diversity Dialogue

The ABA YLD is opening the YLD Diversity Dialogue to all ABA Diversity leaders (volunteer and staff). Seats are on a first come, first serve basis. The event will allow for an idea exchange regarding diverse new recruit outreach and retention, and we encourage representatives to bring materials that articulate the entity’s current efforts.

We plan to focus on three tentative brainstorming questions: 

• What is the status of your diversity program?
• What is the natural path of leadership for your diversity scholars/fellows/ambassadors?
• What new initiatives are you contemplating/testing to generate the interest/retention of diverse young lawyers?

The event will be led by the YLD Diversity Team and the Division’s Diversity Scholars will also attend.

To RSVP email Bill Stanton at StantonW@staff.abanet.org with the represented entity name and the attendee contact information (name, email address, and phone number).

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

YLD Assembly
Attire: Business
The YLD Assembly will convene to debate and vote on important resolutions affecting the legal profession.

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m..

Wills for Heroes Implementation
In partnership with The Wills for Heroes® Foundation, the YLD will help first responders and their spouses or domestic partners create basic estate planning documents free of charge at an off-site location.

If you are an attorney licensed in California and you would like to help, contact Sarah Talei at stalei@oclslaw.com.

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Basic Estate Planning Training (CLE)
As part of the Wills for Heroes Implementation attorneys will be provided with an introduction to estate planning including a review and execution of the basic estate planning documents for wills, living wills, and healthcare and financial powers of attorney.