FIRST PLACE
Who Wants to be a Professional(ism) Millionaire?
The Wex S. Malone American Inn of Court of Baton Rouge, LA
This award-winning program, which was modeled on the television show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, highlighted professionalism in different legal situations. Some of the situations included the issue of billing clients, demeanor towards opposing counsel, especially in discovery and motion phases.
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SECOND PLACE
Pellicano Problems: How Do You Hire and Supervise Private Detectives, and What Happens When Things Go Wrong?
The Southern California Business Litigation American Inn of Court of Los Angeles, CA
The focus of this program was the process of hiring a private investigator, and the duties that befall one. The pupillage team reviewed the initial retainer agreement, the manner in which private investigators should conduct themselves, and the responsibilities of the hiring attorney or firm. The skits reviewed these issues using the cases of Anthony Pellicano and Hewlett-Packard as backdrops.
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THIRD PLACE
Winning the Battle but Losing the War
The Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court of Sacramento, CA
The program opened with the pupillage team leader reading an excerpt from an article in the California Bar Journal titled “A New Approach To Civility.” The team leader also discussed the use of scorched earth tactics, the lack of professionalism, and unethical conduct in the practice of law. Finally, the team leader introduced the concepts of “Restoration Justice” and “Collaborative Dispute Resolution.” After the introduction, the pupillage team presented a two act play that told the story of Vito. Vito was an aggressive lawyer who was taught by Gandhi and his own court cases that winning at all costs wasn’t the right way.
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BEST SPECIAL PROJECT
Corporate Renewal and Restructuring Boot Camp
The Hon. John C. Ford American Inn of Court of Dallas, TX
This award-winning Special Project was a joint project of the Hon. John C. Ford Inn and the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter about the Turnaround Management Association. It included all the materials for nine weekly seminar courses that were presented to lawyers and other professionals on concepts used in evaluating and structuring a reorganized business. Each seminar ran about an hour and a half and included handout materials, bullet point slides, videotaped presentations and discussion groups with full audience participation. Seminar topics included an introduction to accounting, an introduction to reading financial statements, business valuation, real estate valuation, working with expert witnesses and an introduction to basic income tax principles, among several others.
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OUTSTANDING PROGRAM DISTINCTION
Programs are listed in alphabetical order
“3600 Second” Presents: United States v. Thompson
The Temple American Inn of Court of Philadelphia, PA
This program focused on the newly enacted Military Commissions Act of 2006. The Act authorized trials of “Alien Unlawful Enemy Combatants” before a Military Commission. The program was presented as a prime-time investigative news program which broadcast from inside the courtroom during a mock trial of someone accused under the terms of the Act and used both live and pre-recorded segments to entertain the audience.
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Barristers in Babel—Certified Interpreters for Courts and Clients
The Willamette Valley American Inn of Court of Salem, OR
This program addressed problems that attorneys encounter dealing with clients for whom English is not the native tongue. Through a series of lively, hands-on exercises, skits and discussions, the program demonstrated pitfalls and possibilities for communicating across language barriers in legal advocacy. The program also encouraged the discussion of practical tips, ethical dilemmas, and cross-cultural facets of practicing law.
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BLOWOUT—At the Intersection of Profit and Ethics, What Happens When the Client Calls
The Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court of Sacramento, CA
The focus of this program was the attorney-client relationship, when it is established and who is the client. The three-act play used a fictitious large corporation, “Perk Pharmaceuticals,” which was about to market a new drug to examine potential conflicts of interest in attorney and client relationships. The program also explored what an attorney should do when tempted to violate ethical rules. A discussion period followed each of the acts of the play.
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Lawyers’ Lives Lived
The Sagamore American Inn of Court of Indianapolis, IN
This program highlighted the importance of civility and sensitivity in the practice of law. A 40-minute DVD presented interviews with local lawyers who have overcome personal challenges due to health problems or the health problems of family members. Produced by the members of the pupillage team, the DVD and the interviews on it, highlighted the importance of maintaining a balanced life and what ethical and legal obligations can arise when a lawyers is debilitated by illness or stress. After a discussion about issues raised by the interviews, the Executive Director of the Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program gave a presentation about services available in Indiana for people who need help dealing with personal problems caused by illness or stress.
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The Seven Deadly Sins: Greed/Greed is Good
The George & Donald Simpson American Inn of Court of Vancouver, WA
This program focused on issues surrounding attorney’s fees. Using a one-act skit, the pupillage team addressed particular issues including excessive and unreasonable fees, fees for staff members who did work for the attorney and the rights of the client to contract for fees.
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You Dirty Rat!: Mandatory Reporting of Attorney Misconduct Under Rule 8.3
The American Inn of Court of Acadiana of Lafayette, LA
This program examined the pitfalls and practicalities of Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3 which requires lawyers to report the misconduct of other lawyers. The skits showed a woman interested in providing information on a former lover, a gangster ready to rat on another member of his organization, and a businessman looking to eliminate competition by snitching on a rival. Among the legal issues explored were occasions when the reporting requirement is triggered, what constituted compliance with the rule, and what practical considerations faced lawyers when they decided whether or not to snitch on a colleague. The skits also included song parodies taken from gangster-themed movies and television shows.
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What To Do when You Receive Privileged Information from Opposing Counsel
The C.H. Ferguson-M.E. White American Inn of Court, of Tampa, FL
This program focused on the process of inadvertent disclosures of privileged information. Topics discussed included whether or not an attorney should notify a client if they send or receive privileged information, what are the ethical obligations if privileged information is received, can the privilege be waived, and is counsel disqualified from continued representation of the client.
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