Natalie Bluestein and I have decided to organize and moderate a continuing legal education program aimed at recently licensed attorneys who practice in family court. With the recent influx of newly licensed attorneys who are practicing family law without direct supervision, we hope this CLE provides the help and guidance they need to establish their practice and serve their clients well. The CLE is free but currently only open to those who became licensed to practice law in South Carolina on or after January 1, 2008.
The CLE will be taking place on June 3, 2011 at the Jury Assembly Room on the second floor of the Charleston County Courthouse. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., the program will start at 9:00 a.m. and, with breaks, will end at 4:45 p.m. The program has been approved for 6 hours of CLE credit, with one-half hour of credit for ethics.
The materials will include go-bys and check lists and will be distributed electronically via emailed PDF file. The agenda is as follows, with each topic other than handling your first trial (sixty minutes) taking 30 minutes:
1. Handling your first temporary hearing by Natalie Bluestein
2. Handling your first ex-parte request by Elizabeth Stringer
3. Handling your first trial by Melissa Brown and Thomas McDow
4. Handling your first custody case by Joseph Cerato
5. Handling your first abuse and neglect defense by Mary Ann Hall
6. Handling your first rule to show cause (prosecution) by Alex Cash
7. Handling your first rule to show cause (defense) by Emily Johnston
8. Handling your first domestic abuse case by Rita Roache
9. Handling your first deposition (defending and taking) by Paul Tinkler
10. Handling your first motion to compel by Diane Current
11. Handling your first grievance (ethics hours) by Charlie “Tex” Davis from the Office of Disciplinary Counsel
To register (remember, only attorneys licensed since 2008 can current register) email Natalie Bluestein your name, bar ID number and email address. If any readers could forward this blog to an attorney who might meet our target audience, or to a list serve for his or her county’s attorneys who practice family law, it would be most appreciated.
Greg –
Thanks to you and Natalie for doing this for us recently-admitted family law attorneys. Your initial ideas all sounded terrific, and I’m sure this will be a very worthwhile program.
Can you both hear me cheering all the way over here on James Island. I recently picked up a mentee and am loving helping the newbies (as it was not so long ago that I was a newbie). If you all need anything let me know.
Liz,
Thanks so much for the kind words. As someone who informally mentored you when you were a newbie, I am proud to see you as a peer mentoring your own newbies.
I had a really great group of mentors (many of whom are speaking at the CLE). I am so glad to repay the favor!
Greg:
What a wonderful line-up of speakers! It reads like a Who’s Who in Charleston County Family Court. I’m definitely looking forward to it and have already recommended it to several other “newbies”.
Thanks to both you and Natalie for coordinating this!
Greg and Natalie,
Thank you!
Ashley Ameika
Why limit this to new attorneys? We can all benefit from new ideas/refresher class.
It’s limited to new attorneys for two reasons. First, we have limited room and I want to make sure that we have room for all the new attorneys (and 2Ls and 3Ls from the Charleston School of Law) that this CLE is aimed at. Second, a free CLE often attracts attorneys looking for free CLE hours and, while Natalie and I don’t mind organizing a free CLE for attorneys starting out their practices, organizing a free CLE for established attorneys is not something I want to spend time doing.
That said, if there is space available after late May, we might open it up to attorneys who practice family law locally. It will also be videotaped for subsequent distance learning webcast. And if you want the materials once they are finished, I am happy to supply a copy.
Greg,
What an awesome idea for a CLE! You guys will probably have to take the show on the road because I’m sure there are a lot of young lawyers in Greenville that would love practical information like you are presenting.
Tripp
Tripp:
This CLE will be videotaped for distance learning so anyone can watch it and obtain credit for it later (though there will be a fee for the webcast). However, this CLE it is open to attorneys in Greenville who are willing to come to Charleston for the day, so long as they were licensed after January 1, 2008. Have them email Natalie Bluestein their name, bar ID # and email address.