4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter! December 16, 2012

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter! December 16, 2012 In This Issue 2012 Webcast CLE 2013 Webcast CLE On-Demand Recordings In California In Massachusetts In Minnesota In New York In Ohio Past Issues  On-Demand Recordings   Turn an idle hour into CLE credit with your choice of dozens of free recordings, available to you anytime, on-demand! Learn more at 4freeCLE's On-Demand Page. Webcast CLEs: Accessible Whereever You Have A Web Connection! 2012 Webcast CLE Live credit, in many jurisdictions, can be earned in the convenience of your home, office or vacation cabin! December 17: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Update. Free for General Counsel, Corporate Executives and Law Firms.By ALM Media Properties.  December 18: Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2012.Recent developments and on-going issues in ethics and professional responsibility arising out of pro bono and public interest practice. Also in-person (NYC). By PLI. December 19: Japanese Litigation: A Primer for Foreign Companies. The increase in litigation in Japan and general procedures for Japanese litigation. By The American Lawyer. December 20: Best Practices: Prior Art Search.Manage your patent prosecutions and searches more effectively and efficiently. By Legal Advantage. 2013 Webcast CLE Plan Now for 2013! Why not calendar next year's learning now, to start the year off right! January 9: The Eighth Amendment and the Mentally Ill on Death Row. Also presented in-person (Cleveland). By Case Western Reserve School of Law. January 18: Social Media Ethics for Lawyers. Ethical violations from online activities. By Attorney Protective.  Find more webcasts at 4freeCLE's Web-Based CLE. On-Demand CLE  Learn What You Need, When You Need It, With On-Demand CLE! Learn and earn credit on your own schedule! Alternative Fee Arrangements & Pro Bono Service. This two part program covers (A) practical and ethical considerations of alternative fee arrangements and (B) ABA's stance on pro bono service and corporate pro bono work. By Lexvid.  Calculating Child Support for Clients with Reduced Income. Training for the Washington State Bar Association Moderate Means Program. Elder Financial Abuse. How to recognize financial elder abuse, and how to remedy it. By Legal Aid Association of California.  Human Trafficking: What Judges Need to Know.While aimed at judges, this program should be of interest to attorneys and the public. By National Judicial College. Selected Ethical Issues for Litigators & Business Attorneys. A trio of ethical issues for litigators, in-house counsel, employment lawyers, and business attorneys. By Lexvid.  Working in the Cloud: It's the Latest, It's the Greatest, Or Is It? This cloud computing primer for lawyers addresses benefits, disadvantages, and ethics of working in the cloud, including internet-based software as a service (SaaS), financial and case management benefits. By The Florida Bar. Find more on-demand programs at 4freeCLE's List of On-Demand CLE. Remember to Bring Business Cards To In-Person CLEs, So You Can Network As You Learn! In-Person CLEs State-by-State Most in-person events are great places to meet your colleagues, share experiences and make your interests known. A question prepared ahead of time, if both relevant and succinct,can both address a problem you encounter in practice, and show yourself to the speaker and to the audience as someone worth knowing. A conversation during a break can lead to future opportunities, especially if you are prepared for that conversation! In-person event are often eligible for credit in multiple states either by application or reciprocity.   Do you know of an event offering free CLE? Send us information about free CLE and we'll publicize it for free! California December 18/San Francisco: Restraining Orders. By ALRP.  December 19/San Francisco: Introduction to Family Law training. By BASF.  Massachusetts December 17/Boston: Intro to Guardianship of Minors VLP Training. By Volunteer Lawyers Program.   Minnesota January 9/Minneapolis: Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) New Volunteer Orientation. By VLN. New York December 18/NYC: Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2012. Recent developments and on-going issues in ethics and professional responsibility arising out of pro bono and public interest practice. Also webcast. By Practising Law Institute. Ohio January 9/Cleveland: The Eighth Amendment and the Mentally Ill on Death Row. Also webcast. By CWU.  Need More By Year-End? As the year winds down, many professionals face a need to earn credit quickly at little cost. If this is your situation, email the editor and I'll see if I can locate something helpful. If you are able to use online recordings, you should be able to get much of your need satisfied. About 4freeCLE 4freeCLE is delivered weekly and will always be free!Please forward to your fellow professionals so they may benefit; if this was forwarded to you, get your own subscription for free by signing up now!  If you are interested in providing free CLE, contact the editor and I'll be happy to help with publicity. I may also have a few ideas for making your program available more widely, based on what I've learned from reviewing more than 1000 (one thousand) free CLE offerings..

Happy Marriage Equality Day in Washington State!

Today, December 6, 2012, is Marriage Equality Day in Washington State.
Today, and ever after,  any adult couple in Washington State can get a marriage license, without the need for government approval of their gender combination. This is a happy thing; I personally know several gay couples raising good families, and it's good for everyone that they have the same rights and responsibilities under a marriage license as everyone else.
The arguments against lost, because they are basically "Euw Ick!". But when you think about it, wasn't the prior situation even creepier? You had to prove to the satisfaction of a government clerk that you had the approved set of genetalia! What if they insisted on a "pants check"? Really, some things are private and nobody's business but your own, and you're spouse's.
Change can be hard, and I have to be honest. As a kind I was kind of squicked out by the idea of gay sex, but I had a lucky experience: when I was in the seminary, one of my best friends told me he was gay, in a very non-threatening way. I had to choose whether to stick with my prejudices or stick with my friend, and it wasn't that hard to stick with my friend. We are still friends today, and he's happily married to a guy, having been together for over 25 years (...longer than any of my marriages!) and raised a family quite successfully (although, not having raised a family myself, I don't consider kids to be the only reason to be married.)
If you're into religious argument, Genesis 2:18 reads:

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."

...and we now know that some men were made by God that another man is that "helper suitable for him", and some women were made by God so that another woman is that "helper suitable". It is not for us to question the way God made them, nor to build barriers in law against God's clear command. There's more on this at No Father, The Gay Sky Isn't Falling.

For everyone else, if the thought of gay sex squicks you out, there's a simple solution: think about something else! What are you doing fantasizing about what your neighbors are doing anyway, you dirty dog!
This is a happy day for so many people, including myself, that we have a new burst of freedom in our state.

Heroics For Beginners: a book by John Moore

Heroics for Beginners is a delightful light fantasy that pleases on a couple of levels.
First, it is a spoof of the conventions of the fantasy genre, almost a novelization of Peter Anspach's "Evil Overlord list". However, it also works as a light-hearted story of adventure that Joseph Campbell might recognize, for the flawed hero overcomes his shortcomings with a handy how-to book that is more effective than any magic ring.
This is a quick read; if you enjoy Terry Pratchett or Piers Anthony's lighter works, you will probably enjoy this. It is well-written enough as a story that young teens may enjoy it without really caring about all the unsubtle references to classic fantasy literature.

Wintergreen in Our Raingarden

Wintergreen settles in
On top of the wall forming out rain garden

Wintergreen was on the list of plants going into our rain garden. I was not familiar with the plant but when Kris and I went shopping at Village Green's seasonal closeout, we saw 3 or 4 tiny bushes with bright red berries, with labels that said "Wintergreen" so we picked them up.
It turns out that the berries are indeed edible and come out very late in the season, which explains the "Winter" part of the name. They're supposed to be minty in taste, which made me remember that "Wintergreen" is a flavor of gum or lifesavers; I'd never really appreciated that there was an actual wintergreen for that flavor to be referring too.
These appear to be tough little plants and I'm looking forward to watching them grow.

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter! December 2, 2012

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter! December 2, 2012

In This Issue Webcasts On-Demand Recordings In California In Illinois In Massachusetts In Minnesota In New York In Ohio In Oregon In Pennsylvania In Washington State Past Issues  On-Demand Recordings   Turn an idle hour into CLE credit with your choice of dozens of free recordings, available to you anytime, on-demand! Learn more at 4freeCLE's On-Demand Page.

Webcast CLE Live events on the internet let you learn from the comfort of your home or workplace! December 4: The Myths and Mysteries of Substance Abuse. More lawyers suffer from substance abuse than is typical in the general population. By Attorney Protective. December 4: Survey Research Methods: Interpreting & Reporting Results. 3rd part of "Statistical Tools for Attorneys in Litigation" series. By Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys (TASA). December 5: The End of Social Security Checks: The 2013 Transition to Electronic Payments. Help clients receiving federal payments such as Social Security, disability and veterans' benefits navigate the change to electronic payment. By National Consumer Law Center.  December 11: Guardian and Conservatorships: The Basics. Also in-person (St. Paul). By Hamline University School of Law.  December 11: The New Era of White Collar Cases. Trends in enforcement, investigations, penalties and sentencing; trial techniques and strategies. By LexisNexis.  December 12: Cost-Effective Strategies for e-Discovery. How to search, organize, and manage large volumes of electronic documents. By TASA. December 13: How to Move Forward with An Information Governance (IG) Program in a Law Firm.Five common components that law firms consider as they map out an IG program for their firm. By Iron Mountain. December 13: Representing Tenants in Unlawful Detainer Actions in San Francisco. For attorneys willing to do pro bono with the Legal Services Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco. Also in-person (San Francisco). By Practising Law Institute (PLI). December 13: Railroad Grade Crossing Signal Systems - How They Work and Why They Fail. In railroad accident cases involving a crossing with automatic warning devices, understanding how they function can be invaluable to counsel. By TASA.  December 18: Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2012. Recent developments and on-going issues in ethics and professional responsibility arising out of pro bono and public interest practice. Also in-person (NYC). By PLI. December 19: Japanese Litigation: A Primer for Foreign Companies. The increase in litigation in Japan and general procedures for Japanese litigation. By The American Lawyer. On-Demand CLE  Always keep learning, because you know that your competition is! First Amendment Issues in K-12 Education. Leading cases from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Eighth Circuit, and other courts. By Richard Clem Continuing Legal Education.  The Lawyers Guide to Technology. What you most need to know about technology in your law office. By Rekall Technologies. More Than A Game. A conversation with chief legal officers of three major videogame companies. By Intellectual Property Colloquium.  Tenants in Foreclosure. How to help tenants when the property they rent goes into foreclosure. By Legal Aid Association of California.  Windy City Litigation Management Conference - Part 1. An hour of litigation expertise. By Lexvid.   Find more on-demand programs at 4freeCLE's List of On-Demand CLE. In-Person CLEs State-by-State In-person events offer greater interactivity and networking opportunities, and are often eligible for credit in multiple states either by application or reciprocity. Do you know of an event offering free CLE? Send us information about free CLE and we'll publicize it for free! California December 5/San Francisco: Child Custody Training. By Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF). December 12/San Francisco: Negotiating with the IRS & Franchise Tax Board: Offers in Compromise,By AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP). December 13/San Francisco: Representing Tenants in Unlawful Detainer Actions in San Francisco. For attorneys willing to do pro bono with the Legal Services Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco. Also webcast. By Practising Law Institute and BASF.   December 18/San Francisco: Restraining Orders. By ALRP.  December 19/San Francisco: Introduction to Family Law training. By BASF.  Illinois    December 4/Chicago: Human Trafficking Awareness. Free to members of the Chicago Bar Association. December 15/Chicago: Family Law Clinic Training, By Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers. Massachusetts December 3/Boston: New Volunteer Attorney Orientation. By VLP. December 4/Boston: VLP Training - Family Law 102.By VLP. December 10/Boston: Debt Collection at the Boston Municipal Court. By VLP. December 17/Boston: Intro to Guardianship of Minors VLP Training. By VLP.   Minnesota December 11/Saint Paul: Guardian and Conservatorships: The Basics. Also webcast. By Hamline University School of Law.  New York December 18/NYC: Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2012. Recent developments and on-going issues in ethics and professional responsibility arising out of pro bono and public interest practice. Also webcast. By Practising Law Institute. Ohio December 12/Cleveland: Charity Care Obligations and Tax-Exempt Hospitals: Time For a Change? By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.  Oregon December 6/Portland: Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packs: Public Health, Commercial Free Speech and Corporate Personhood. By American Constitution Society. Pennsylvania December 6/Pittsburgh: "The Wills Project" - Training in Essential Personal Documents. By Neighborhood Legal Services Association.  Washington State December 12/Seattle: Protecting Labor Rights As Human Rights. By WSBA World Peace Through Law Section. December 14/Seattle: Housing Justice Project - Brown Bag Series: Subsidized Housing. By King County Bar Association.  Wisconson December 14/Black River Falls: The Challenges of Technology, Social Media and Internet Marketing, Outsourcing, and Supervision. By The Ho-Chunk Nation Trial Court.  About 4freeCLE 4freeCLE is delivered weekly and will always be free!Please forward to your fellow professionals so they may benefit; if this was forwarded to you, get your own subscription for free by signing up now!

Three Men In Expensive Suits Sat On The Dock

Day after day, three men in expensive suits sat on the dock at Cayman Islands marina, watching the gigantic yachts gliding by and sighing sadly.  Whenever anyone asked their story, they always said the same thing.
The one on the end said, "I came after the Iowa Straw Poll, because I supported Mitt Romney".
The one in the middle said, "I came here after the Republican Nation Convention, because I opposed Mitt Romney."
The one on the right said, "I came here after the National Election, because I *am* Mitt Romney".

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter! November 25, 2012

4freeCLE: Your Free CLE Newsletter! November 25, 2012

In This Issue On-Demand Recordings Webcasts In California In Illinois In Massachusetts In Minnesota In New York In Ohio In Pennsylvania In Washington State Past Issues  On-Demand Recordings   Turn an idle hour into CLE credit with your choice of dozens of free recordings, available to you anytime, on-demand! Learn more at 4freeCLE's On-Demand Page.

On-Demand CLE: Ethics Special!  Short on Ethics Credit as Year-End Approaches? Try these free On-Demand CLE!  Attorney-Client Privilege and the Duty of Confidentiality. By Lexvid. Building the Small Firm Marketing Program: From Planning to Ethical, Effective Action. By the Florida Bar. Choosing Our Judges. State Supreme Court election politicization and skyrocketing costs. By Florida Bar.  Current Developments in Conflicts of Interest. By Lexvid. The Elimination of Bias in the Practice of Law. By Lexvid.  Emerging Trends in Legal Ethics and Professionalism. By Peoria County Bar Association and Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission Of Supreme Court of Illinois.  Getting In, Getting Out, Getting Paid: Fee Agreements, Withdrawal as Counsel, and Fee Arbitrations. By Lexvid.  Intellectual Property Risk Management. By Marshall, Gerstein & Borun. Professional Conduct under Treasury Circular 230.  By Lawline.com. Substance Abuse & the Legal Profession. By Lexvid. Find more on-demand programs at 4freeCLE's List of On-Demand CLE. Webcast CLE Take a little time each week to polish your knowledge with these free events, accessible whereever you have wifi! November 26: Boolean (Keyword) Search for Lawyers. By Fastcase. November 26: Borderless Compliance: A Chief Compliance Officer-centric Approach to Managing Corporate Compliance Programs. By Corporate Counsel. November 28: IP Licensing: What's Lurking in Common Provisions?. Drafting licensing agreements to increase revenue and decrease risk. By Managing Intellectual Property. November 28: Unclaimed Property 101. Overview of unclaimed property and the reporting process. By  Pennsylvania Treasury Department.  November 29: The Boundaries of Fair Use after Cariou v. Prince. By Fordham University. December 4: The Myths and Mysteries of Substance Abuse. More lawyers suffer from substance abuse than is typical in the general population. By Attorney Protective. Ethics Credit. December 4: Survey Research Methods: Interpreting & Reporting Results. 3rd part of "Statistical Tools for Attorneys in Litigation" series. By Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys (TASA). December 11: The New Era of White Collar Cases. Trends in enforcement, investigations, penalties and sentencing; trial techniques and strategies. By LexisNexis.  December 12: Cost-Effective Strategies for e-Discovery. How to search, organize, and manage large volumes of electronic documents. By TASA. December 13: How to Move Forward with An Information Governance (IG) Program in a Law Firm.Five common components that law firms consider as they map out an IG program for their firm. By Iron Mountain. December 13: Representing Tenants in Unlawful Detainer Actions in San Francisco. For attorneys willing to do pro bono with the Legal Services Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco. Also in-person (San Francisco). By Practising Law Institute. December 18: Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2012. Recent developments and on-going issues in ethics and professional responsibility arising out of pro bono and public interest practice. Also in-person (NYC). By Practising Law Institute. Ethics Credit.  In-Person CLEs State-by-State In-person events offer greater interactivity and networking opportunities, and are often eligible for credit in multiple states either by application or reciprocity. Do you know of an event offering free CLE? Send us information about free CLE and we'll publicize it for free! California November 28/San Francisco: Getting It Together for Breaking Apart: Introduction to Marital Dissolution. ByAIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP).  December 5/San Francisco: Child Custody Training. By Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF). December 12/San Francisco: Negotiating with the IRS & Franchise Tax Board: Offers in Compromise, By ALRP. December 13/San Francisco: Representing Tenants in Unlawful Detainer Actions in San Francisco. For attorneys willing to do pro bono with the Legal Services Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco. Also webcast. By Practising Law Institute and BASF.   December 18/San Francisco: Restraining Orders. By ALRP.  December 19/San Francisco: Introduction to Family Law training. By BASF.  Illinois    November 30/Chicago: New Lawyer Tool Kit: Basic Skills for New Attorneys, Free to members of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). December 4/Chicago: Human Trafficking Awareness. By CBA. Massachusetts November 29/Boston: Grand Rounds in Suffolk Probate & Family Court.  By Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP). December 3/Boston: New Volunteer Attorney Orientation. By VLP. December 4/Boston: VLP Training - Family Law 102.By VLP. December 10/Boston: Debt Collection at the Boston Municipal Court. By VLP. December 17/Boston: Intro to Guardianship of Minors VLP Training. By VLP.   Minnesota November 28/Stillwater: Planning for the Family Cabin: Trust, LLC, or Let the Kids Fight it Out. By Washington County Law Library.  New York December 18/NYC: Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2012. Recent developments and on-going issues in ethics and professional responsibility arising out of pro bono and public interest practice. Also webcast. By Practising Law Institute. Ethics Credit. Ohio December 12/Cleveland: Charity Care Obligations and Tax-Exempt Hospitals: Time For a Change? By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.  Pennsylvania November 26/Pittsburgh: Education Issues for Pro Bono Lawyers' Project PEACE for Educators and Lawyers. By Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. November 28/Web: Unclaimed Property 101. Overview of unclaimed property and the reporting process. By  Pennsylvania Treasury Department.  Washington December 12/Seattle: Protecting Labor Rights As Human Rights. By WSBA World Peace Through Law Section. About 4freeCLE 4freeCLE is delivered weekly and will always be free!Please forward to your fellow professionals so they may benefit; if this was forwarded to you, get your own subscription for free by signing up now!