Richard Clem Continuing Legal Education
Ethics, Trust Accounts, and Bias

Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Conference Room
Cool Beans Coffee Cafe
1748 Eagan Rd.
Madison, WI 53704
Cafe Phone Number for Dirctions: 608-244-8414

*-CLE credit has been approved as follows: Wisconsin: 4 credits, including 3 ethics and responsibility credits approved (Click here to view Wisconsin approval). Minnesota: 3.25 credits, including 2.25 ethics credits and 1.0 elimination of bias credit approved. Minnesota event codes: 158849, 158850, 158851 & 155853. Iowa: CLE credit applied for upon request.This program completely satisfies the Wisconsin ethics and professional responsibility requirement for the entire reporting cycle.

We have an interesting program planned: both live program and one video replay:

Ethics Refresher 2011 (Live lecture) presented by Richard Clem. This is a comprehensive review of the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys in Wisconsin and Minnesota, both of which have adopted substantially similar rules governing lawyers, and this course will review the rules as adopted in both states. Where the rules differ, we will go over the differences. Seeing these differences is useful for the practitioner in that particular state, but also gives insight into the meaning of the rule in other states. And since the same model rules serve as the basis for most state rules, this course will provide practical guidance for attorneys in most U.S. jurisdictions. Many lawyers review the Rules in their entirety only once, and that is before they take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam in law school. But the rules change over the years and decades, and some of the finer points might be forgotten. Therefore, this course will serve as a useful refresher for the practitioner to avoid ethical pitfalls. During the first hour of the program, we will take a close look at Wisconsin Rule 1.15, which differs somewhat from the Minnesota and Iowa Rules. In particular, we'll look at the trust account requirements for Wisconsin attorneys. The second hour of the program will cover Rules 1.0 through 1.9, and the third hour will cover rules 1.10 through 4.5. The remainder of the rules are covered in the final three hours of the program, and will be presented on another date. Each hour of the program is part of the longer six-hour course, but can be taken separately.

Elimination of Bias: The Rules and an Ongoing Process. (Video replay) presented and moderated by Richard Clem. This program is designed to meet the Minnesota "Elimination of Bias" CLE requirement, but may also be taken for general CLE credit in Wisconsin and other states. We'll start by looking at the rules governing bias within the legal profession, which is a subject covered by both the Minnesota General Rules of Practice, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and similar rules in other states. We will then see how well we are collectively doing as a profession and legal system in abiding by those rules. We will do so through the eyes of participants at a series of community dialogues at which community members were asked to describe their experiences and discuss ideas for advancing racial equality and fairness in the courts. All participants are welcome to share their insights. This program was originally presented in Roseville, MN, on May 17, 2011.

In addition to being suitable for general CLE credit in Wisconsin, this program meets the "Learning Goals" for Minnesota Elimination of Bias courses: The program will run sixty continuous minutes, will relate directly to the practice of law, and is designed to meet the first and third learning goals for Minnesota elimination of bias courses:

• 1. To educate lawyers about the elimination of bias or prejudice in the legal profession, in the practice of law, and/or in the administration of justice; ...
• 3. To educate lawyers about the problems identified in the Supreme Court�s Race Bias and Gender Fairness Task Force Reports, as well as in other studies, reports or treatises which describe bias and prejudice in the legal profession, in the practice of law, and/or in the administration of justice.

We will begin by referencing the Supreme Court's 1993 report on the elimination of bias in the judicial system, and we will also look at how both the Rules of Professional Conduct and the General Rules of Practice require us as lawyers to avoid bias.

Then, we will look at how well we are doing in meeting these requirements, as seen by various communities, including communities of color. In particular, we'll examine the suggestions made by members of the public at community dialogues held over the past three years by the Supreme Court's Racial Fairness Committee.

There will be opportunities for participants to discuss these suggestions, and to offer our own suggestions on how we can fulfill these professional obligations.

Richard P. Clem has a B.A. in history from the University of Minnesota, and a J.D., cum laude, from Hamline University School of Law. He has been in private practice in the Twin Cities for over 20 years. His reported cases include: Asociacion Nacional de Pescadores a Pequena Escala o Artesanales de Colombia v. Dow Quimica de Colombia, 988 F.2d 559, rehearing denied, 5 F.3d 530 (5th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1041 (1994); LaMott v. Apple Valley Health Care Center, 465 N.W.2d 585 (Minn. Ct. App. 1991); Abo el Ela v. State,468 N.W.2d 580 (Minn. Ct. App. 1991).

8:00 Registration
8:10 Welcome, opening remarks
8:15 Elimination of Bias: The Rules & An Ongoing Process (60 minutes Elim. of Bias, Video Replay)
9:15 Break
9:20 Ethics Refresher 2011: Wisconsin Trust Accounts. (50 minutes Ethics, Live Lecture)
10:10 Break
10:15 Ethics Refresher 2011: Rules 1.0 through 1.9 (50 minutes Ethics, Live Lecture)
11:05 Break
11:10 Ethics Refresher 2011: Rules 1.9 through 4.5 (50 minutes Ethics, Live Lecture)
12:00 Closing remarks

The program will be in the conference room of Cool Beans Coffee Cafe, 1748 Eagan Rd., Madison, WI 53704. The cafe phone number for directions is 608-244-8414. Participants are encouraged to purchase lunch or coffee during the program. For information and directions, please visit their webiste.

The cost for the entire program is $49. You may also attend any portion of the program for only $25 per credit. You may register by mail by sending payment, along with a note indicating which program you will be attending: Richard P. Clem
PO Box 14957
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone (612) 378-7751
For questions the day of the CLE, Cel. (651) 285-5474

You may also register securely online by following the "Buy Now" link below. If you have a PayPal account, you may register and pay using your PayPal account. If you do not have a PayPal account, of if you prefer to simply use a credit card, you may also do so by following this link.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at clem.law@usa.net or call me at 612-378-7751.