Ethics symposium scheduled April 12

From defending a client accused of fraud like Bernie Madoff to navigating moral dilemmas that come up at trial, cutting-edge legal issues are at the forefront of this year’s State Bar Ethics Symposium.

Slated for April 12 in San Francisco, the theme for the 18th Annual Statewide Ethics Symposium is “Ethics 2014: Keeping Pace in a Constantly Changing Legal Environment.” The keynote speaker will be James J. Brosnahan, senior trial counsel with Morrison & Foerster LLP. Considered among the top trial lawyers in the country, Brosnahan is the 2007 recipient of the American Inns of Court Lewis F. Powell Jr. Award for Professionalism and Ethics, given to those who have demonstrated legal excellence, professionalism and ethics. His keynote address is entitled “Utopian Legal Ethics in 2020.”

The symposium, which will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at Golden Gate University School of Law, is presented by the State Bar Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility (COPRAC) and offers up to six hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) credit in legal ethics. Along with sessions on ethical issues involving the representation of bad actors and ethical issues that arise at trial, there will be panel discussions on complex conflicts of interest and innovative models of providing legal services.

To register online, visit the symposium’s website. To pre-register, payment and registration forms must be received by April 4.

Registration fees for the symposium are:

• $155 for the program package, which includes six hours of MCLE credit, resources materials and lunch
• $125 for Golden Gate University School of Law alumni
• $60 for students

Those wishing to attend programs, but receive no MCLE credit, lunch or resource materials, may do so for free although space is limited.

For registration questions, call 415-538-2508. For questions about the content of the program, call 415-538-2167.