Fixing our broken political system isn’t just about elections - the decline and the rebuilding starts with each of us in our neighborhoods. Political scientist Bob Putnam ("Bowling Alone", "The Upswing") has shown again and again that democracy rises and falls with civic participation. When people stop joining clubs, churches, dance groups, or bowling leagues, trust and cooperation erode. When they rebuild those face‑to‑face networks, democracy strengthens.
This has been a trend since the 1950s - and COVID threw us off a cliff. History proves this is reversible. In America’s Progressive Era, civic life was rebuilt after the Gilded Age collapse, and government became more responsive. Putnam’s studies in postwar Italy and post‑WWII America show the same pattern: strong civic engagement = strong democracy. The documentary *Join or Die* (on Netflix) explains this beautifully. The good news is people actually *like* this stuff. After COVID, there’s a real hunger for in‑person community. We just have to “turn the dial up to 11” on rebuilding clubs, associations, and local groups. Here in West Seattle, we tried it: on Nov 8 we held a **Joiner Jamboree**—1,000 people packed into a church basement with 60 local clubs. The Kiwanis signed up more members in one day than all year. Dance groups discovered they could share infrastructure. Political groups started planning joint efforts. In short, we saw civic life being rebuilt in real time. So what can we do? Start small, start local. Organize events where people can connect face‑to‑face. Support clubs, choirs, hiking groups, service organizations. Every new member, every collaboration, is a brick in the foundation of democracy. If we want to fix politics, we need to fix community first.Wednesday, December 03, 2025
Sunday, November 30, 2025
December 2025+ Free CLE
I’m delighted to share this month’s lineup of Free CLE Webinars—ready for you to explore, attend, and pass along to your networks. As always, every program is free, though credit approval varies by jurisdiction. If your state isn’t listed, you may still be able to self-apply depending on local rules.
Some of you may notice that LexisNexis’ once-prolific offerings taper off beginning in 2026. Is this a shift in their direction, or simply a pause before unveiling new programs in the new year? Time will tell—but in the meantime, we continue to diversify our calendar with a wide range of providers and topics.
And that’s where you come in: if you know of upcoming free CLE webinars hosted by your law school, bar association, or another organization, please send them my way. I’d be glad to share them with our community. Together, we’re building a supportive network for mutual education and professional growth.
Wishing you success and good health in the year ahead - and now … on to the calendar!
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December 2025 Free CLE
December 1:
* Introduction to Special Education Law. By Dechert.
December 2:
* The Sidewalks of New York: Trip, Slip and Fall Cases in the Five Boroughs. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Breached! Cybersecurity 101. By LexisNexis.
December 3:
* Ghosts of Coverage Past: Benefit Issues in PI Actions. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Social Media in the Workplace: What could possibly go wrong?. By LexisNexis.
* Performing Effective Securities Law Research. By LexisNexis.
* Asylum and Climate Change: Factual Development in Climate-Related Claims. By Center for Gender & Refugee Studies.
December 4:
* The Algorithm Will See You Now: AI & Other Major Changes in Employment Law. By National Conflict Resolution Center.
* Lost Canadian? A Guide to Canadian Citizenship Claims. By WSBA International Practice Section.
* Researching Experts and Judges. By LexisNexis.
December 5:
* Technology and the Legal Practitioner: Ethical Concerns & Best Practices. By LexisNexis.
December 8:
* Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Legal Implications of Using AI in Employment Decisions. By LexisNexis.
* Newly Admitted, Now What? The Skills You Didn’t Learn in Law School - Part 1. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* AI & Hackers: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?. By Dechert.
December 9:
* Newly Admitted, Now What? The Skills You Didn’t Learn in Law School - Part 2. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Behind the Mask: Implicit Bias, Mental Health and the Hidden Struggles of Legal Professionals. By Minnesota State Law Library Continuing Legal Education Programs.
December 10:
* Orders in the Court: Executive Authority and Litigation in 2026. By Bloomberg.
* Search Smarter, Not Harder: Digital Research Hacks for Real Lawyers. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Cybersecurity: An Attorney's Ethical Duty. By LexisNexis.
* Forms Forms Forms: Finding Forms and Templates at the Alameda County Law Library, By Alameda County Law Library.
December 11:
* Seeing Isn’t Believing: Litigating in the Age of Deepfakes. By LexisNexis.
* California Employment Law Update: The Year in Review and Looking Forward to 2026. By Cozen O'Connor.
* Spontaneous Combustion Fires. By Cozen O'Connor.
December 12:
* Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation. By LexisNexis.
December 16:
* Immigration Year in Review — Trump 2.0 Edition. By Cozen O'Connor.
* AI & Insurance Law: Legal Challenges, Compliance, and Industry Transformation. By Cozen O'Connor.
December 17:
* Navigating the Minnesota Commitment Appeal Panel: Overview of Practice and Procedures. By Washington County Law Library and Washington County Bar Association.
December 18:
December 19:
* Diving Deeper into Legal Research Potential: Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts. By LexisNexis.
December 23:
* Diving Deeper into Legal Research Potential: Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts. By LexisNexis.
December 26:
* Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Legal Implications of Using AI in Employment Decisions. By LexisNexis.
December 29:
* Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Legal Implications of Using AI in Employment Decisions. By LexisNexis.
January 2026 Free CLE
January 8:
* The 2026 Real Estate and Economic Outlook. By CES.
January 13:
* New York Settlement Math Made Easy. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
January 14:
* Global Public Health Law: A Transdisciplinary Approach. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
* The Past, Present, and Future of International Justice. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
January 15:
* Legal Pathways to EMS System Sustainability: 7th Annual Emergency Medical Services and Policy Symposium. By Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
January 20:
* Appointment of Counsel, Ethics, and Due Process for Parents in CHIPS Cases. By Children's Court Improvement Program of Wisconsin.
January 22:
* Barriers, Biases, and Breakthroughs: Navigating Obstacles in Mediation. By National Conflict Resolution Center.
* NYS Court of Appeals 2025 Round Up. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
January 27:
* Spending Programs and the New Roberts Court. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
January 29:
February 2026 Free CLE
February 5:
February 19:
* From the War-Room to the Bench: Navigating AI in the New Legal Frontier. By Clifford Law Offices.
February 24:
* Seat at the Table: Building Fairer Juries Through Inclusion. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
February 25:
By Veritext.
March 2026 Free CLE
March 11:
* No, I’m Not the Court Reporter: Seeking Justice Without Bias. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
March 18:
March 19:
* DJ Wars - Part 2: Spinning the Hits & Misses of Insurance Declaratory Judgment Actions. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
March 25:
* PJI Backstage Pass: Inside Knowledge to Strengthen Your Case at Every Stage. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
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Topical Highlights (an experiment in organization):
🔐 Technology & AI
Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace (LexisNexis, multiple dates)
Seeing Isn’t Believing: Litigating in the Age of Deepfakes (LexisNexis, Dec 11)
AI & Insurance Law (Cozen O’Connor, Dec 16)
From the War-Room to the Bench: Navigating AI in the New Legal Frontier (Clifford Law Offices, Feb 19)
AI & the Record: Balancing AI Innovations and Ethics (Veritext, Feb 25)
⚖️ Trial Practice & Litigation
Trip, Slip and Fall Cases in NYC (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Dec 2)
Orders in the Court: Executive Authority and Litigation in 2026 (Bloomberg, Dec 10)
DJ Wars – Part 2: Insurance Declaratory Judgment Actions (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mar 19)
PJI Backstage Pass: Strengthening Your Case (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mar 25)
🌍 Immigration & International Law
Asylum and Climate Change (Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Dec 3)
Lost Canadian? Citizenship Claims (WSBA, Dec 4)
Immigration Year in Review — Trump 2.0 Edition (Cozen O’Connor, Dec 16)
Global Public Health Law (Case Western, Jan 14)
International Justice: Past, Present, Future (Case Western, Jan 14)
🧑💼 Professional Skills & Ethics
Behind the Mask: Implicit Bias & Mental Health (Minnesota State Law Library, Dec 9)
Cybersecurity: An Attorney’s Ethical Duty (LexisNexis, Dec 10)
Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation (LexisNexis, Dec 12)
Barriers, Biases, and Breakthroughs in Mediation (National Conflict Resolution Center, Jan 22)
📚 Legal Research & Practice Tools
Performing Effective Securities Law Research (LexisNexis, Dec 3)
Search Smarter, Not Harder: Digital Research Hacks (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Dec 10)
Forms Forms Forms: Templates at Alameda County Law Library (Dec 10)
Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts (LexisNexis, Dec 19, Dec 23)
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Once again: best of luck in the year upcoming!
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