0 Document Telephone Seminars

Construction Documentation: Preparing Effective Job Records BenefitsAlthough the term 'papering the file' is often associated with increased documentation efforts in preparation for litigation after a job has gone bad, it shouldn't be. Effective communication and accurate recordation of those communications can keep the parties - and the project - on course and out of litigation. Should an irreconcilable dispute nevertheless arise, thorough project  more...

NEPA: Understanding the Basics BenefitsSince 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act has been the cornerstone for environmental protection in the United States. To implement NEPA, federal agencies must prepare environmental impact statements or environmental assessments to study the impacts of their proposed actions. Unfortunately, some federal agencies, their consultants and affected citizens do not fully understand the  more...

Best Practices in Nursing Documentation: Writing Effective and Legal Proof Notes BenefitsLong gone are the days that nurses and other health care providers hand-wrote cryptic notes on essay paper-like chart pages that rarely were ever looked at again. Long gone, also, are the days that physicians would only look at labs, reports and other physician's notes, expecting the nurse to call to the physician's attention anything important about the patient so they didn't have to read  more...

Document Retention: Compliance and Protectionism BenefitsThis live audio conference will cover the importance of a document retention policy starting with the identification of what exists and what should be captured to the different rationales for implementing a retention policy - regulatory compliance to evidence in litigation. There are numerous challenges to an effective policy, which if acknowledged can be worked through. Living with the  more...

Key Elements and Legal Lessons Surrounding Donor Intent BenefitsA charitable gift given for a specific purpose generally can be used only for that purpose. But, under certain circumstances, a charity may be permitted to release or modify restrictions imposed on a gift. Understanding when and how such restrictions may be modified - and when donors may have standing to enforce the terms of their gift - is crucial both to charitable organizations and to  more...

Understanding Your Summary Plan Descriptions BenefitsEmployers who sponsor ERISA-covered health and welfare plans are required to communicate the terms of the plan to participants in a summary plan description. The SPD is an important disclosure document that describes, in understandable terms, the rights, benefits and responsibilities of participants and beneficiaries in ERISA-covered health and welfare benefit plans. The SPD must include  more...

Electronic Control Weapon and Legal Liability BenefitsThis live audio conference addresses the use of force, investigation and legal liabilities associated with the use of electronic control weapons (ECWs) in a law enforcement environment. Learn about the realities and myths associated with ECWs as well as current use of force federal case laws pertaining to the use of ECWs. Familiarize yourself with 'best practices' responses, uses of ECWs  more...

Document Retention and Destruction Policies for Financial Institutions BenefitsFinancial institutions too often rely on recommended document retention guidelines without understanding the risks of inconsistent or antiquated practices. While Sarbanes-Oxley has clarified the responsibilities of certain financial institutions, Sarbanes-Oxley is only a portion of the document universe. This live audio conference will help you navigate the complex universe of document  more...

Document Retention and Destruction: What Human Resource Professionals Must Know BenefitsCorrectly handling the documentation of employees is one of the most difficult and tedious tasks that human resources professionals need to perform for their organizations. Knowing the proper procedures to follow to document employees in the workplace is a key skill needed by most human resources professionals. This live audio conference will provide you with information on the key  more...

AIA Document D503(TM) - 2011: Guide for Sustainable Projects BenefitsThe movement toward a sustainable built environment is rapidly evolving, significantly impacting the way buildings are planned, designed, constructed and used. Different and potentially competing forces, such as owners' goals, code requirements, and basic liability considerations, can impact the sustainable objective targeted for a project and the sustainable measures needed to achieve the  more...

Documentation and Proof of Construction Delay BenefitsTime truly is money, especially in construction. Consequently, being able to determine and document delay is a crucial skill. This live audio conference will focus on the key terms, important contract provisions and the most successful approaches to the determination of delay. It will include a discussion of the importance of the critical path, the importance of the contemporaneous  more...

Finance Skills for Procurement Professionals BenefitsThis live audio conference focuses on the core financial skills that every procurement professional must have to assist with everyday decision making. We will focus on core finance concepts for procurement, the request for proposal (RFP) process, reading financial statements, understanding ratios and the impact of financial risk. As an added benefit, you will receive the Finance Toolkit  more...

Current Issues in Billboard Leases BenefitsBillboards are an interesting and limited aspect of real property law. They are generally despised by environmentalists and conservationists. They offer nothing to the aesthetic value of our highways. They are often heavily regulated and limited by the various levels of government with jurisdiction over the motor vehicle right-of-ways. They are also a valuable source of revenue to property  more...

IRS Form 5471: Information Return for U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations BenefitsAs more U.S. companies view global markets as a necessity to survive and to grow, more U.S. companies own foreign subsidiaries to conduct foreign operations. Whether you are a growing multinational company with subsidiaries all over the globe, or a small, closely-held company that owns a Canadian subsidiary, you will have to file IRS Form 5471 for every foreign corporation that you own.  more...

Drafting Document Retention Policies BenefitsThere can be little question in today's world that a thoughtful, well-designed document retention policy is a must for every corporation. Yet many have failed to take this important step to protect their companies. Many more have failed to effectively implement their document retention policies after they have been adopted. The cost of these shortcomings is significant. A corporation may  more...

Current Issues in Legal Holds: Are You Prepared? BenefitsIf there ever was a honeymoon on preserving discoverable documents and data for litigation ... it's over now. The stakes are higher than ever, and so are courts' expectations for parties and their lawyers. Organizations simply must have in place a compliant legal hold process that effectively preserves discoverable documents and data. This audio conference will help you understand the  more...

Electronic Data, Discovery and Document Storage BenefitsDo you find yourself dreading your next e-discovery matter? Would you like to develop a road map that will guide you through the maze of collecting, processing, reviewing and producing electronic data? This audio conference will help you to develop a well-crafted discovery plan, intelligently set a budget, identify the sources of electronic documents, use best practices for data  more...

Creating a Payroll Manual: Putting Your Procedures Into Writing BenefitsThe Sarbanes-Oxley Act made it abundantly clear that all areas of accounting within a company should have well documented policies and procedures. These are an integral part of every function and that includes payroll. During this audio conference, we will discuss the steps you can take to ensure your procedures are well documented, clear and concise. During the program, we will discuss  more...

State of the Estate Tax: Where We Stand Today and What Practitioners Can Do BenefitsThis teleconference will present a practical, action-oriented analysis of the estate and GST tax in 2010 focusing on the repeal of the estate tax and subsequent developments. The focus will be on how the client advisor team, consisting of the estate planning attorney, insurance consultant, accountant and wealth manager, can take practical and coordinated steps to best serve their clients  more...

Code Section 409A BenefitsThe IRS is giving employers one last chance to fix their plan documents and compensation agreements for Code Section 409A. However, the IRS has also announced some new interpretations of Section 409A provisions that will require most employers to make changes to their plans and agreements. Employers that make these changes before January 1, 2011, can avoid IRS penalties, in most cases. In  more...

Metadata Scrubbing and Mining: Legal, Ethical and Practical Implications BenefitsMetadata lurks in every electronic document each of us creates and edits. Every computer application and platform we use also generates metadata. The consequences of human error are greatly magnified in the 21st century by the prevalence of electronic communication and the ability of anyone with a web browser to download - for only $0.08 per page - a copy of any document electronically  more...

Best Practices in Digital Evidence Management: The Impact of Digital Evidence on Law Enforcement and Government Investigations BenefitsThis teleconference presentation is designed to provide you with information on emerging trends in electronic media discovery practices. You will have a better understanding of the litigation aspects of electronic media retention and destruction. This will include the scope of electronic media discovery, trigger mechanisms for electronic media retention, obligations of users and counsel,  more...

Well Agreements: Legal Issues and Contract Solutions BenefitsAgreements pertaining to the construction, use, ownership and operation of wells are necessary and useful in a variety of situations. In rural areas, where connection to a municipal water system may not be possible, a group of homeowners may wish to share a domestic well. A shared well may also be a cost-effective solution for industrial users that do not wish to take treated domestic  more...

Best Practices in Technical Writing and User-Centered Documentation BenefitsThe bad news is that most technical writers don't have time to document everything; the good news is that most users don't have time to read everything. This teleconference puts these two facts together and shows how to focus on documenting only the things that real users need to know. You will learn how to make the most of the limited time you can devote to documentation while making that  more...

The Art and Science of Ethically Firing a Client BenefitsSo you think distancing yourself from an uncooperative client is as simple as saying, in the words of Donald Trump, 'You're fired.'? Not so. Both ethical and fiduciary considerations come into play when a lawyer seeks to withdraw from ongoing representation of a client. This teleconference will provide a detailed discussion of those ethical rules, as well as the impact of withdrawal on  more...

AIA Document A401 BenefitsConstruction subcontract agreements are often given less strategic consideration than prime contract documents. Whereas the prime contract may be analyzed and negotiated for an extended period, the subcontract may be pulled from an older project and put in place with a simple name change and scope of work change. Failure to consider the subcontract strategically may prove disastrous.  more...

Construction Release Due Diligence BenefitsIt's not the release you see that will hurt you. It's the release you don't see. The release embedded in the fine print of the standard form contracts you sign. The release that's not called a release. It's called a lien waiver, or a pay application, or acceptance of final payment, or a change order, or waiver of subrogation. The document you sign without recognizing how it may impact your  more...

Private Foundation Grant Agreements: Basics and Beyond BenefitsGrant making is the raison d'etre of most foundations. It is what you do! Therefore, a solid foundation grant agreement ought to be the legal backbone for much of a foundation's operations. Surprisingly however, for many private foundations the grant agreement is merely a form document that has been given little thought - if it exists at all. This teleconference will cover some of the  more...

Lawful Hiring BenefitsEmployers must navigate a minefield of complicated and, in some cases, conflicting laws that affect the hiring process Discrimination claims often arise out of the hiring process. The new U.S. Supreme Court decision in Ricci v. DeStefano, 557 U.S. ___ (2009) shows how an employer (the New Haven Fire Department in that case) can violate discrimination laws when taking steps to attempt to  more...

Drafting Settlement Agreements in Personal Injury Cases: A Primer BenefitsPersonal injury cases can present unique challenges when drafting settlement agreements. Personal injury cases often involve multiple parties, special ethical considerations, the necessity of court approval and the participation of known (or unknown) nonparties who may hold liens or other claims on the impending settlement payment. It is important that the lawyer drafting a settlement  more...

Zoning Variances: Nonconforming Uses and Structures BenefitsThis teleconference will be useful in determining how to devise and apply nonconforming development and land use regulations, how to review evidence documenting nonconforming development and uses, and how to determine whether a nonconforming development or use has been terminated, abandoned or modified. Learning Objectives - You will be able to report and document a nonconforming use. -  more...

Measurement, Management, Reduction: Tools for Tracking Waste in Construction Projects BenefitsWith the growth of USGBC and the widespread adoption of LEED principles across the construction industry, contractors are under more and more pressure to understand the environmental impacts of their business. Documentation of construction waste recycling and waste avoidance measures is now required on many new construction jobs. This teleconference will discuss the business case for  more...

Preliminary Project Description Fundamentals BenefitsAre you ready for the new PPD and UniFormat? In 2010, the Construction Specifications Institute will issue a new Preliminary Project Description Guide and a new consensus-based UniFormat. Organized according to UniFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions are the most effective way to describe a project during the schematic design phase of a project. PPDs organized according to UniFormat  more...

Creating a Powerful Capability Statement: Required Tool for Government Contracting Success BenefitsMany business people still use folders, flyers, brochures and line cards when trying to sell to government agencies and have found that all of these standard documents are ineffective because government agencies are now requiring a specific document called a Capability Statement. Some creative business people have used PowerPoint, CDs, mini-CDs, flash drives and DVDs to tell their story  more...

Understanding the Complexities of Form 5472 BenefitsAs more foreign companies view the U.S. market as a fertile market, they will form U.S. subsidiaries to grow their U.S. operations. Whether you are the U.S. subsidiary for a large, Dutch-based multinational company with subsidiaries all over the world or a small U.S. distributor of a Canadian Parent, you will have to file IRS Form 5472 for every transaction with a related party. Although  more...

Enabling Loan Processes with Paperless Files nLenders today face a variety of challenges - loss mitigation, fraud detection, audit compliance, underwriting and risk mitigation; and access demands on loan documentation are greater than ever. This teleconference will help you understand the benefits and potential pitfalls of paperless loan files, the considerations that must be made in choosing and implementing paperless systems, and the ways  more...

AIA Document A312 Payment Bond Forms nMany owners require contractors to obtain payment and performance bonds using the American Institute of Architect's A312 bond forms, but those bond forms require contractors, owners and sureties to contend with a number of challenges - the most recent of which is the surety industry's refusal to issue such bonds without modification because of the so-called 45-Day Rule. This teleconference is  more...

Tax Law Research Best Practices nResearching tax issues involves an understanding of a complex system of legislation, regulations, and administrative document and decisions. Each of these elements of tax law has a different precedential value to the practitioner. Moreover, tax law is an area that changes constantly. Congress and the states regularly amend tax laws, and the Internal Revenue Service adds or amends its regulations  more...

A Practical Guide for Using Litigation Technology During Discovery and at Trial nThe use of technology during discovery and at trial is now a requirement for the modern practice of law. Using and managing these complex systems in a cost effective and advantageous manner is a major challenge. This teleconference is intended to provide you with a practical guide to successfully use electronic discovery and trial presentation software; manage large document productions and  more...

Preparing for and Properly Reacting To Legal and Illegal Drug and Alcohol Use in the Workplace nDrug and alcohol abuse continues to have a huge impact on employee productivity and safety. At the same time, recognizing drug and alcohol abuse is outside the expertise of most managers and human resource personnel, while dealing with the problem improperly can lead to significant liability under federal and law, including the Americans With Disabilities Act and employee privacy laws. This  more...

Updating and Maintaining Wills, Trusts and Estate Plans for the Evolving Client nThis teleconference has two primary focuses. The first part will highlight issues and opportunities for a drafting attorney to revisit and update an existing client's estate plan or prepare an update for a new client with existing documents. This part will focus on when and why clients need to review and revisit their estate plans and how to spot those issues for existing and potential clients.  more...

Liability Issues for Design Professionals nIt is critical that design professionals keep up with the major issues affecting their profession. These issues range from the more traditional ones such as standard of care, indemnity, and ownership and use of documents to the more recent issues such as electronic media, building information modeling and limitation of liability. The effect on the design profession of these issues is even more  more...

Effective Job Cost Reports in Construction Project Management nIn today's fast-paced and complex construction environment, construction industry professionals require immediate access to timely and accurate information. One of the most important management tools available to project teams is the job cost report. Properly designed and used, the JCR can be a powerful document that provides an up-to-date snapshot of the project status that also highlights  more...

Effective Program Evaluation for Nonprofits nThe importance of evaluating your nonprofit cannot be underestimated! The data you collect and analyze will let you know the extent to which you have met your goals and objectives, how your clients feel about your organization and its services, whether you are using quality processes, what you can celebrate and how you can improve! Effective evaluations can also tell you about the program design  more...

AIA and ConsensusDOCS Contract Documents: Comparison and Contrast nHardly a business day goes by in the construction industry when the parties involved in the construction contracting process encounter standard form contract documents. Two of the principal sources of such standard form construction contract documents have both recently issued the 2007 editions of their respective families of contract forms. The long established family of documents published by  more...