The Latest on the Law: Updates from the Boston Bar

Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) was founded in 1965 to demand action to clean up the Charles River and has played a leadership role in improving water quality and reducing pollution ever since. The Clean Water Act and other environmental laws have provided important leverage for CRWA’s efforts to reduce sewage discharge into the Charles, prod EPA to impose stronger limits on cities and...

Are you interested in language access in the Massachusetts Court System and how the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing population are being served? Do you have a client that is limited English proficient or a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community?  Have you ever had an opposing party who requires the assistance of a court interpreter and did not know how to properly communicate with...

Don’t miss this deep dive into estate planning in Massachusetts in 2023. Our expert panel will cover planning techniques in light of the Massachusetts millionaire’s tax, the Corporate Transparency Act, SECURE 2.0, the federal “sunset” in 2025-26, rising interest rates and volatile markets, and more! Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

What is voir dire and why is it important? Is there a standard process to conduct voir dire in Federal Court? What are useful sample juror questions to identify potential bias, social desirability bias, explore juror backgrounds, and how to effectively determine how a juror might view your legal theory? For both prosecution and defense lawyers, voir dire can work to identify jurors who can be fair...

Artificial intelligence applications that can generate original images, natural language documents, and other content are receiving significant press attention, but are they worth the hype? In this program, our expert panelists will discuss generative AI’s capabilities and the problems it may create.  Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

The program will provide tips and trends for lawyers to grow their practice. The panel will discuss strategies for increasing efficiency to increase your return on investment, laying a strong marketing foundation to generate more leads consistently, providing a personalized experience to turn leads into clients, and getting more out of the tools you're using. All of these strategies lead to an imp...

The SEC is increasingly focused on recordkeeping requirements and recently adopted amendments to Exchange Act Rule 17a-4. A panel of experts will discuss compliance considerations in this area, including significant recent SEC and CFTC enforcement actions related to social media and text recordkeeping lapses. (5/23/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajoh...

Defending and representing individuals before immigration officials can be a daunting experience for practitioners who are new to Immigration Law. This program will walk through the basics of preparing a request for Medical Deferred Action for people seeking legal status, a work permit, and a social security number based on their urgent medical care in the Boston area. It will also review the uniq...

Seasoned litigation attorneys share their experiences litigating matters involving per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Massachusetts. These “forever chemicals” are ubiquitous in the environment and thus give rise to a broad range of potential claims. This panel will discuss the PFAS Multi-District Litigation, class actions, consumer fraud cases, and actions under Chapter 21E and the comm...

Public schools are at the center of a political firestorm. In school boards, legislatures, and courts, efforts have been underway to censor classroom discussions, to remove books from libraries, and to undermine protections against discrimination, all with the effect of rolling back education opportunities for LGBTQ students and students of color. Experts will discuss legal developments in the cou...

Learn strategies for determining when a “single transaction” conservatorship may be useful, the benefits and pitfalls, how to successfully move your petition through the probate court, and how to discharge the special conservator after the single transaction is completed.   (5/16/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

The practice of employment law can change meaningfully during a recession, even if the practice itself is somewhat recession proof. Hear from panelists who represent both employees and employers regarding some of the unique topics that arise in a recession, including issues around: reductions in force, payment of wages, and executive / deferred compensation. (5/13/2023) Questions? Inquiries about...

Using the recent Supreme Court matter of In re Grand Jury as an introduction, this program will explore the tricky terrain of the attorney-client privilege’s application to dual-purpose communications. (5/11/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

Chinese law has evolved rapidly over the past few years, with the introduction of the Personal Information Protection Law in 2021, new cybersecurity laws and regulations, and new standard contractual clauses. It’s hard to keep up! Our expert panelists will recap major changes, provide guidance on compliance challenges, and answer audience questions. (5/16/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program m...

Please note - this purchase is for a digital download of the Learn Online Materials, including online viewing / download of the video presentation.  The Divorce Fundamentals Series is designed to provide new lawyers or attorneys new to the practice of family law with an overview of the “life of a divorce case.” This training series will cover topics such as the divorce client interview; filing the...

Although business or investment held real estate can be a significant driver of wealth accumulation, incorporating an owner’s interests in industrial, commercial and/or multi-family properties into a comprehensive wealth plan can present unique challenges.  In this session, the speaker will explore considerations in planning with these properties, which may have “negative capital” attributes, and...

Panelists will discuss the latest developments in litigation over COVID-19 vaccine technology playing out in the United States in Europe, including the technology and the unique policy considerations related to these cases. (05/05/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org

It is never too early to consider whether your case will require expert evidence.  This course will cover the considerations of whether expert evidence is necessary and if so, what steps are needed to ensure that your expert’s testimony will survive a Daubert/Lanigan challenge.  In addition, this course will also cover the steps needed to develop a challenge to the other side’s expert evidence.  L...

Service of process can be a challenge for immigration attorneys practicing before the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. This webinar will touch on the types of cases immigration attorneys bring before the state court when seeking special findings in Special Immigrant Juvenile Cases, and then take a deep dive into Domestic Relations Procedure Rule 4 and Massachusetts Civil Procedure Rule 4. T...

Recent cases have challenged the approval of FDA’s expanded access to mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen to terminate pregnancy. The Supreme Court issued a decision on April 21 that maintained FDA’s approval while an appeal moves forward. Panelists will discuss the recent mifepristone cases and the impact of the legal challenges on providers in Massachusetts. (5/4/2023) Quest...

Section 1782, a once-obscure path to U.S. discovery in aid of foreign and international proceedings, has gone mainstream. In this webinar, you will hear from international litigators and in-house counsel about the scope of section 1782 following last year’s Supreme Court decision in ZF Automotive and the mechanics of pursuing and opposing 1782 discovery. (5/3/2023) Questions? Inquiries about progr...

This program will offer an in-depth training about the VA COD process. All veterans, regardless of their discharge status, are eligible for a VA COD review. While only discharge upgrades can change a veterans discharge status, COD cases are an alternative route to VA access for less-than-honorably discharged veterans. Both types of cases involve similar evidence and fact development and can be bro...

Mediation and arbitration have become the most common (and often mandatory) methods of resolving construction disputes.  The complexity and document-dependent nature of construction litigation poses special challenges in presenting cases effectively in these ADR forums.  In this program, one of the industry’s most accomplished construction neutrals, Wally McDonough, Esq. of ELK Consulting Services...

Please join the Boston Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Section as we hear from leading industry professionals in a discussion on the Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc., v. VIP Products LLC case which was argued in front of the Supreme Court on March 22, 2023. Our panelists will provide an overview of the case and the Supreme Court oral arguments, discuss the possible effects and implications o...

Please join members of the BBA’s Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section and experts in police reform to discuss state and national efforts to prevent and address police misconduct and patterns or practices of racially biased or unconstitutional policing. (4/27/2023) Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Alan I. Johnson at ajohnson@bostonbar.org