D.C. Bar Headquarters
901 4th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
phone: 202.737.4700
Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Weekday Events (5 p.m. – 11 p.m.)
Nearby Metro Stations
Judiciary Square (Red) - five blocks directly south at 450 F Street
Gallery Place-Chinatown (Green/Yellow/Red) - five blocks southwest at H and 7th Streets
Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street Convention Center (Green/Yellow) - six blocks at 7th and M Streets
Union Station (Red) - six blocks southeast down Massachusetts Avenue
EVENTS
Basic Training and Beyond (08/17/2022 - Day 1)
How to Start a Law Firm
Course Number: BT_081722
Duration: 8 hours
Date: August 17, 2022
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Basic Training & Beyond is a two-day program for lawyers and law firm staff interested in starting, managing, and growing a law firm in the District of Columbia. It is presented monthly, without charge, for D.C. Bar members and firm staff. Following registration and in the week prior to the session, you may indicate to PMAS@dcbar.org whether you will attend in person or on Zoom.
In the day-one session, all the essentials of starting a firm in D.C. are covered.
In the day-two session, growth and management issues are covered including client relations, productivity, technology, and marketing.
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Lunch and Learn: Officing at Carr WorkPlaces
Course Number: LL_081822
Duration: 2 hours
Date: August 18, 2022
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Learn how office-on-demand services work for your law firm.
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Preparing for Trial as a Solo Attorney: Your Message, Elements of Proof, and Organizing Your Presentation (NEW)
Credit(s): 1 General (60-minute hour)
1 General (50-minute hour)
Course Number: E18220815W
Duration: 1 hour
Date: August 22, 2022
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Credits: 1.0 Credit Hour
Description: Preparing for trial is a daunting task, especially for solo practitioners who do not have the resources available to them that other attorneys enjoy. Join us for this new and informative class as our expert presenter, Claude E. Ducloux, discusses common issues solo attorneys encounter when preparing for trial. Among the topics he will address are:
Preparing the non-trial-lawyer for a trial before the court
Understanding the business/ethics side of litigation, and ethics of fee-setting
Understanding WHY you’re going to court
Developing a trial theme
Defining elements of case or defense, and evidence required for each
Preparing witnesses ahead of time
Simple yet effective presentation techniques
Scoping out your courtroom/court staff ahead of time
Scheduling how to present your evidence
Understanding standard objections
Ethical rules about evidence, offers of testimony and the duty to correct false testimony
Drafting your judgment early, and other necessities
Courtroom choreography – where you’ll sit or set up, and the room
Keeping track of exhibits and rulings during trial
Handling your client throughout the process – reasonable expectations.
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The Ins and Outs of Anti-SLAPP Laws - Advanced (NEW)
Credit(s): 2 General (60-minute hour)
2 General (50-minute hour)
Course Number: E05220614W
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
Date: August 23, 2022
6:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Description: SLAPP suits are Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. They seek to censor, silence, and/or intimidate the lawful exercise of First Amendment rights. But D.C. and over 30 states have enacted anti-SLAPP laws. These laws can offer the opportunity to file early motions to dismiss. If successful, expensive and time-consuming SLAPP suits are cut short and attorney fees and costs awarded.
Anti-SLAPP issues are becoming especially important and hotly contested as the Internet and social media have allowed more people to reach wider audiences – and, in turn, have their speech noticed and felt by the people they criticize. Journalists, activists, organizations, and even amateur restaurant critics have invoked anti-SLAPP laws to defend against claims of defamation, business disparagement, deceptive trade practices, and the like.
After briefly summarizing the anti-SLAPP basics, our faculty experts will take a closer look at several SLAPP-law questions that have divided courts, flummoxed litigants, and otherwise complicated the adjudication of anti-SLAPP defenses. Topics will include differences in the anti-SLAPP laws among the states, whether anti-SLAPP laws apply when federal courts exercise diversity jurisdiction, the use of anti-SLAPP laws in employment and environmental disputes, and broader legal challenges to anti-SLAPP laws. They will address these issues from the perspective of both plaintiffs and defendants.
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Basic Training and Beyond (08/24/2022 - Day 2)
How to Grow a Law Firm
Course Number: BT_082422
Date: August 24, 2022
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Basic Training & Beyond is a two-day program for lawyers and law firm staff interested in starting, managing, and growing a law firm in the District of Columbia. It is presented monthly, without charge, for D.C. Bar members and firm staff. Following registration and in the week prior to the session, you may indicate to PMAS@dcbar.org whether you will attend in person or on Zoom.
In the day-one session, all the essentials of starting a firm in D.C. are covered.
In the day-two session, growth and management issues are covered including client relations, productivity, technology, and marketing.
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Boiled up in Boilerplate: Seven Ways to Improve Your Contract Drafting (NEW)
Credit(s): 1 General (60-minute hour)
1 General (50-minute hour)
Course Number: E04220816W
Duration: 1 hour
Date: August 29, 2022
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Description: Drafting contracts can be a challenging task, especially when balancing the need for efficiency and consistency boilerplate clauses provide against the issues such clauses present. Join our nationally renowned presenter, Claude E. E. Ducloux, as he discusses these issues and more. Among the topics he will discuss are:
Defining how boilerplate differs from essential clauses
Examples of typical boilerplate and potentially dangerous provisions
Steps to understanding, examining and communicating to your client
Choice of law
Forum selection
Notice – methods for giving notice to other side
Non-reliance (“Integration Clause”)
Waiver of consequential damages
No third-party beneficiary
Alternate dispute resolution – Arbitration and/or mediation
Severability and the dangers of not preserving “essential purpose”
Contract ethics – Duties of competence, conflicts of interest
Doing business with the client and the duty of truth in statements to others
Best Practices when reviewing boilerplate.
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Ethics and Professionalism for Family Law Attorneys 2022
Family Law Series - Part One
Credit(s): 2 Ethics and Professional Responsibility (60-minute hour)
2 Ethics and Professional Responsibility (50-minute hour)
Course Number: E11220807W
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
Date: August 30, 2022
6:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Description: Join us for this informative class that will address the ethical and professionalism issues attendant to family law practice. Among the topics our multi-disciplinary panel will discuss are:
Rules governing the profession and normative conduct, including the applicable D.C. Rules of Prof’l. Conduct
Pre-filing issues and considerations
Collaborative divorces
Post-filing issues and considerations
Fee and retainer agreements.
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Administration of Decedents' Estates in the District of Columbia 2022
Credit(s): 3 General (60-minute hour)
3.5 General (50-minute hour)
Course Number: E22220907W
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 7, 2022
6:00 PM - 9:15 PM
Credits: 3.0 CLE Credit Hours
Description: Learn about probate practice and procedure in the District of Columbia, including the procedural law relating to standard and abbreviated probate, as well as supervised and unsupervised estate administration. Those who attend this informative class will receive practical guidance on the procedures for the administering a small estate, the appointment of a special administrator, and the appointment of a foreign personal representative. Those who attend will also learn about the D.C. Code sections applicable to the administration of decedents’ estates, relevant D.C. Superior Court rules, and recent court decisions on issues relating to estate administration.
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Finance for Lawyers 2022
Credit(s): 6 General (60-minute hour)
7 General (50-minute hour)
Course Number: E03220904W
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 8, 2022
9:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Description: Many common legal situations have a financial component – from bankruptcy and business transactions to divorce and personal injury. Attorneys do not have to be accountants, but having an understanding of financial concepts is crucial for every well-rounded attorney. Join our expert presenter as he explains key financial and accounting concepts and breaks down the complexities of financial data. Among the topics he will discuss are:
- Understanding financial statements
- Accounting methodologies and principles
- Governmental and non-governmental reporting
- Private company accounting (GAAP)
- Key numbers and ratios
- Present value concepts and business valuations
- The attorney’s role in financial audits
- Basic concepts of financial investment
- Financial fraud schemes.
The goal for those who attend is to develop an intuitive understanding of finance basics without having to decipher complex financial or mathematical formulas.
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Determining FMLA Leave: Key Concepts and Recent Developments 2022
Credit(s): 3.5 General (50-minute hour)
3 General (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E09220906W
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 12, 2022
6:00 PM - 9:15 PM
If you are planning to attend an in-person CLE class at the D.C. Bar building, you must upload proof of vaccination through the ReturnSafe app. at least 72 hours in advance of the class date. We otherwise will be unable to admit you to the building. If you have any questions concerning ReturnSafe processing and approvals, please contact Susan Perry at covidguidelines@dcbar.org.
Also, if you are registering for a CLE class, we encourage you to bring a device or to download the materials prior to class as we will not be providing hard copies.
Credits: 3.0 CLE Credit Hours
Description: While the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) became law nearly 30 years ago, it is still a source of confusion for many attorneys, judges, and clients. Join our faculty experts as they guide you through the law, pointing out potential problem areas and offering guidance from recent cases. Among the topics the panel will discuss are:
Employer coverage and employee eligibility
Qualifying reasons for FMLA leave
Medical and other certifications
Leave management issues
Intermittent leave
FMLA notification process
D.C. FMLA and D.C. Universal Paid Leave Act.
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Member Benefits Webinar: 8 Ways to Protect Your Firm, Your Clients, and Their Information from Hackers, Malware, Ransomware, and Other Digital Threats
(To Protect Their Bank Accounts, Client Data, Confidential Information, and Reputation from The Tsunami Of Cybercrime)
Duration: 1 hour
Date: September 13, 2022
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Join us where you will learn:
•Four reasons small firm lawyers are sitting ducks for cybercriminals (and struggle to implement adequate security measures)
•Why 29% of attorneys get hacked every year (and rising).
•8 cybersecurity solutions that can greatly reduce your risk of getting hacked
•The easiest way to add massive protection in the least amount of time possible
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Great Ways to Get Paid (Without Losing Your Law License) (NEW)
An 8th Annual Practice 360° Program Session
Credit(s): 2 Ethics and Professional Responsibility (50-minute hour)
2 Ethics and Professional Responsibility (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E11220703L
Date: September 14, 2022
2:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Credits: 2.0 Ethics Credit Hours
Description: This new and informative class will address more than a dozen ethical traps – some with disbarment risks – that attorneys face when trying to get paid for the work they do, including:
When do client payments need to be placed into trust while you complete work
Why the “available balance” showing the day after you deposit a paper check probably isn't real
What happens if your client reverses a credit card charge
What happens if your trust account gets hacked
Do you need separate credit card processing for your trust and operating accounts
Are there special rules addressing the emergence of phone-based payment apps (such as Zelle or Venmo) or crypto currency (such as Bitcoin)?
Our faculty experts will focus on D.C. Ethics Rule 1.5 (your obligation to explain your fee structure and ensure that you quote and charge reasonable fees), Rule 1.8 and LEO 378 (limits on accepting crypto currency or other property in exchange for your services); Rule 1.8 (limits on accepting payment from a third-party on behalf of your client); Rule 1.15 and D.C. LEO 355 (your obligation under In re Manceto put prepaid fees – including flat fees – into trust until you complete the associated work), Rule 1.15 (regarding escrowing of disputed funds); and Rule 1.16 (regarding refunding what you haven't earned at the end of a project ).They will also explore the parallel ethical requirements in Maryland and Virginia.
Faculty: Seth M. Guggenheim, former Virginia State Bar Assistant Ethics Counsel; Daniel Schumack, Schumack Law Firm
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2022 National Vaccine Law Conference (Webinar)
A D.C. Bar 50th Anniversary Program
Credit(s): 12 CLE - Combined (50-minute hour)
10 CLE - Combined (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E14220901W
Duration: 8 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 15, 2022
7:00 AM - 3:15 PM
Credits: Up to 10.0 CLE credit hours, including up to 1.0 CLE ethics credit hour during the Program, and the opportunity for additional credit on demand.
Description: The first National Vaccine Law Conference has been called to address the urgent need for an increased understanding of the interrelated operations of different aspects of vaccine, vaccination, and immunization law. Join us for this informative and thought-provoking conference as the nation now faces a steady drumbeat of anti-vaccine messaging, well-stocked with misinformation and misinterpretation of data, contributing to declining vaccination rates for childhood diseases such as measles, polio, and tetanus, and growing state-level legislative efforts to weaken and repel mandates for these vaccines. As Justice Antonin Scalia once wisely noted, vaccines have become “victims of their own success . . . so effective in preventing infectious diseases that the public became much less alarmed at the threat of those disease, and much more concerned with the risk of injury from the vaccines themselves.” Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, 562 U.S. 223 (2011).
Among the topics our multi-disciplinary and diverse faculty will discuss are:
Regulation of vaccine development
Vaccine patents and other IP concerns
Equitable funding and distribution of vaccines
Public and private vaccination mandates, exemptions, and accommodations
Privacy law issues in vaccination status reporting
Writing a corporate vaccination policy
Vaccine injury compensation
Legal and ethical responses to antivaccine activism
International and comparative issues of vaccine law
Childhood vaccinations pre- and post-pandemic
Implications for COVID-19 employer mandates for influenza and other vaccines
Development of vaccines for HIV, malaria, zika, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and drug addiction.
Trends of this nature are some of the key reasons why this conference will also be a working conference – not just an opportunity for an exchange of knowledge, but a place for cross-disciplinary development of creative thinking in improving the structuring of our legal responses to infectious diseases, new and old, and to counter the heavy toll that such diseases extract from our society.
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The Ethics of Advocating Against COVID Vaccine Mandates (NEW)
Credit(s): 1 Ethics and Professional Responsibility (50-minute hour)
1 Ethics and Professional Responsibility (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E11220901W
Duration: 1 hour
Date: September 16, 2022
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Credits: 1.0 CLE Ethics Credit Hour
Description: This new and informative class will cover an attorney’s professional ethics relating to representing clients or potential clients who may oppose for various reasons (e.g., medical or religious) COVID mandates such as vaccines, social distancing, or masking. Our faculty experts will center the discussion on the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which most states have adopted. The class will incorporate a discussion of Mr. Diederich’s article, The Ethics of Advocating Against COVID Vaccine Mandates, with differing perspectives on these complex issues.
Faculty: Michael Diederich, Jr., Diederich Law Office; Donald Mallo, Diederich Law Office
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Mastering the Rules of Evidence 2022
Credit(s): 3 General (50-minute hour)
3 General (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E18220905W
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 19, 2022
6:00 PM - 9:15 PM
Special Notice
If you are planning to attend an in-person CLE class at the D.C. Bar building, you must upload proof of vaccination through the ReturnSafe app. at least 72 hours in advance of the class date. We otherwise will be unable to admit you to the building. If you have any questions concerning ReturnSafe processing and approvals, please contact Susan Perry at covidguidelines@dcbar.org.
Also, if you are registering for a CLE class, we encourage you to bring a device or to download the materials prior to class as we will not be providing hard copies.
Credits: 3.0 CLE Credit Hours
Description: This thorough and informative class, is designed to help those who attend master the federal and local rules of evidence, addresses both criminal and civil evidentiary issues. Our esteemed presenter will address proper objections and other considerations associated with evidentiary foundations at trial. He also will help those who attend learn procedures and trial strategies, and how to deal with evidentiary and foundational issues comfortably. Topics include:
Relevance
Competence
Privileges
Opinion testimony
Hearsay
Hearsay exceptions
Authentication of exhibits
Evidentiary rules on the admission of various writings, recordings, and photographs.
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Dealing with Annoying and Sometimes Abusive Discovery Tactics 2022
Credit(s): 3.5 General (50-minute hour)
3 General (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E18220909W
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 20, 2022
6:00 PM - 9:15 PM
Also, if you are registering for a CLE class, we encourage you to bring a device or to download the materials prior to class as we will not be providing hard copies.
Credits: 3.0 CLE Credit Hours
Description: Examine some of the most common abusive discovery tactics and receive practical advice on how to respond effectively. While some of these tactics are merely annoying, others may have serious consequences for your cases and clients. Tactics our experienced and insightful faculty will address include:
Abusive or oppressive conduct toward witnesses
Obstreperous behavior in defending depositions
Overly burdensome or otherwise improper discovery requests
Misleading or artfully crafted discovery responses
Use and abuse of objections and “canned” responses
Harassing and otherwise invasive discovery
Uncivil conduct toward opposing counsel and others, and more.
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The Rulemaking Process 2022
Credit(s): 3.5 General (50-minute hour)
3 General (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E13220912W
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 21, 2022
6:00 PM - 9:15 PM
Credits: 3.0 Credit Hours
Description: Join us for this popular class during which our expert panel provides an overview of rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act; other statutory requirements affecting the rulemaking process; the roles of the Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Small Business Administration, Congress, and the courts; alternatives and modifications to traditional rulemaking, including e-rulemaking and negotiated rulemaking; and implementation of the rules.
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Import Duty Assessment and Reduction Strategies (NEW)
Credit(s): 2 General (50-minute hour)
2 General (60-minute hour)
Course Number: E16220511W
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
Date: September 22, 2022
6:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Credits: 3.0 CLE Credit Hours
Description: Many products imported into the United States are subject to the assessment of import duties. Companies constantly seek ways to reduce duty payments on their imported merchandise. Their attorneys provide guidance to them on strategies for reducing duty payments and represent these claims before government agencies and courts of law.
Join our experienced panel as they review the basics of how the amount of duty is calculated for imported goods, and how duty payments may be minimized or eliminated. They will cover how products are classified in the U.S. tariff schedule and assigned duty rates, how to value products subject to ad valorem duties, and the application of additional special duties pursuant to trade remedies such as Section 301.
The panel will conclude will end by reviewing remedies, programs, and strategies for reducing duty payments including administrative protests, litigation at the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), free trade agreements, foreign-trade zones, preference programs, and miscellaneous tariff bills.
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D.C. Bar Schedule of Events
800 4th Street SW, No. N517 Washington, DC 20024
Phone: 240-421-6395 E-mail: tramstack@gmail.com