Benefit Telephone Seminars

Payroll Recordkeeping: What You Need to Know ...BenefitsIn recent years there has been an explosion in the number of lawsuits and claims for overtime and unpaid wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Did you realize that liability for FLSA violations can be enormous? Recent reports estimate that over the last few years companies have collectively paid out more than $1 billion annually to resolve FLSA claims! Learn the role of the FLSA and  more...

E-Discovery: Subpoenas and Non-Party Production Issues ...Benefits21st century discovery cuts a broad swath as to electronically stored information (ESI). As the volumes and locations of ESI continue to increase, the discovery universe is typically dominated by ESI. As more and more data storage gets outsourced, a litigating party and its counsel must be agile enough to address a growing number of electronic discovery (eDiscovery) issues and to know  more...

Flexible Spending Accounts ...BenefitsMany employee benefit plan sponsors are unaware of all the complex rules governing flexible spending accounts. In this session you will receive a thorough overview of the numerous plan design considerations and legal requirements of flexible spending accounts. This knowledge will enable you to avoid running afoul of rules that could jeopardize the tax-favored status of your plans. This  more...

Voyage to Discovery: Using Interview and Witness Behavioral Analysis ...BenefitsAttorneys, investigators, experts, and members of law enforcement meet with people to obtain information to assist in determinations of proximate cause, criminal responsibility, perceptions, recollections and damages. Self-interest and defensiveness provide challenges to information gathering. If the person being interviewed is under oath or on the stand and if, in particular they have  more...

Voyage to Discovery: Using Interview and Witness Behavioral Analysis ...BenefitsAttorneys, investigators, experts, and members of law enforcement meet with people to obtain information to assist in determinations of proximate cause, criminal responsibility, perceptions, recollections and damages. Self-interest and defensiveness provide challenges to information gathering. If the person being interviewed is under oath or on the stand and if, in particular they have  more...

Medicare Secondary Payer Act: Protecting Medicare's Interest In Insurance Settlements ...BenefitsPursuant to 42 USC Section 1395y(b)(2), commonly known as the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, Medicare may not make payment for medical benefits where payment has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under a workers' compensation law or plan of the United States or a state, or under an automobile or liability insurance policy or plan (including a self-insured plan), or under  more...

Resolving Corporate and Construction Disputes with Collaborative Law ...BenefitsIn today's economy, all business people are looking for ways to cut costs. One budget item that can be substantially reduced is the expense associated with litigation. Corporations can cut overhead and construction companies can avoid unnecessary project delays by getting disputes resolved quickly and economically outside of the courthouse. Litigation involves more than legal fees;  more...

Best Practices in Networking and Referral Generation ...BenefitsReal estate is a relationship business. Without developing techniques to foster long-term business relationships, you cannot succeed in the new age of global competition. Studies conclude that effective networking both face-to-face or via the Internet is not easy even for the seasoned professional. This live audio conference will help you learn the strategies to guide you through the  more...

Best Practices in Networking and Referral Generation ...BenefitsReal estate is a relationship business. Without developing techniques to foster long-term business relationships, you cannot succeed in the new age of global competition. Studies conclude that effective networking both face-to-face or via the Internet is not easy even for the seasoned professional. This live audio conference will help you learn the strategies to guide you through the  more...

Anatomy of a Will Contest: How to Succeed at Trial ...BenefitsThis live audio conference is intended to provide you with information on the strategies involved in contesting wills. The program will cover: The common grounds to contest a will; best practices in investigating and gathering evidence; issues in estate administration while the will contest proceeding is pending; and trial tactics and evidence issues. Armed with these insights and  more...

Covenants Not to Compete and Trade Secrets ...BenefitsThis live audio conference provides an overview and general principles of the law and legal theories related to protecting competitive business interests and confidential business information - one of the fastest growing areas of intellectual property law outside of traditional patent, copyright and trademark concerns. You will learn about covenants not to compete, nonsolicitation  more...

Daubert Motions: Challenging Expert Opinions ...BenefitsSince the U.S. Supreme Court decided Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals in 1993, the federal law governing expert testimony has undergone a radical transformation. The courts of most states have also now adopted Daubert to some extent. Every litigator needs to understand the impact of Daubert and its progeny. Used properly, Daubert can be a powerful tool for excluding expert  more...

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Scope Creep on Construction Projects ...BenefitsProject success can be measured by delivering the required product on time, on budget and at client's expectation. For many construction projects in today's competitive marketplace, completing on time and on budget is challenging. Scope creep is a term used in the construction industry to define the inevitable tendency of projects to expand beyond their original intent and is often  more...

Protecting Attorney Work Product in Communications With Experts Under the Amended Federal Rules ...BenefitsIn December 2010, sweeping changes were made to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26, including the rules regarding expert discovery, in an effort to avoid unnecessary discovery disputes and litigation practices that waste significant costs. Learn how the new rules are being applied in practice, and the significant impact they have on discovery into communications between lawyers and  more...

Juvenile Onset Bipolar Disorders ...BenefitsThis live audio conference will address the current thinking and diagnostic skills necessary to diagnose and treat bipolar children and their families. The missing pieces will also be discussed, which is adequate educational planning. How to work collaboratively with a treating psychiatrist and how to be an advocate for the child and family if the child is not receiving the most  more...

Effective Use Of Medical Records In Personal Injury Litigation ...BenefitsPersonal injury litigation requires the effective and efficient use of medical records. In order to present your case persuasively, you must have an understanding of how to collect medical records, how to use them during discovery and how to present them to a jury. This live audio conference discusses both plaintiff and defendant perspectives, and it will explain the role of medical  more...

Unrelated Business Income Tax ...BenefitsThe recent activity in the charitable sector by federal and state regulatory agencies has mandated that professionals take a proactive approach into all aspects of this important and very diverse sector. The tax-exempt community is under a microscope. Problems that a few years ago might have gone unnoticed now get picked up and widely broadcast. Recent IRS compliance initiatives in  more...

Tips and Techniques for Writing Effective Legal Briefs ...Benefits Effective writing is one of the most important tools in the legal trade. No matter the strength of your case or your knowledge of the facts and the law, your ability to communicate concisely and powerfully is crucial to your success. With a particular focus on writing legal briefs, this live audio conference will show you how to focus your writing to a specific audience; streamline and  more...

Ethical Considerations in Utilizing Social Media ...BenefitsSocial media, from law firm websites to online networking, has become both a preferred means of communication and an important marketing tool for lawyers and firms. But ethical traps abound for lawyers who use these tools to communicate with clients, potential clients, and even friends and family. State bar discipline, compromised cases and malpractice exposure, even job loss, has  more...

Learning on the Job: Creating Legally-Sound Internship Programs ...BenefitsCreating a successful internship program is not as simple as identifying and assigning appropriate projects and requiring interns to shadow your employees. An internship can be a wonderful opportunity for the participant to learn about a business, organization, or industry. Organizations that maintain internship programs must be mindful, however, that they must comply with several  more...

Common Conflicts in the Tripartite Relationship ...BenefitsNot everything shared by client stays with his/her attorney. Often times, it is shared with the insurance carrier that has retained counsel pursuant to their insurance policy. However, some information cannot be shared with the carrier, to their detriment but to the benefit of the insured. What can an attorney share with his client's insurance carrier, and what is he prohibited from  more...

Navigating Trade Sanctions Laws in International Business Transactions ...BenefitsInternational business continues to grow in complexity, especially considering that U.S. trade sanction regulations may materially impact contracts, supply agreements and the ability to effectively deliver products to a global market. Further, recent enforcement cases have not only signified higher penalties, but also that both U.S. and foreign companies are targeted. This live audio  more...

Understanding and Complying With Disclosures Under Rule 26(A) ...BenefitsElectronic discovery has fundamentally altered both the corporate and legal worlds. The discovery and production of electronic records is now expected by litigants and courts alike. You will learn about the amended federal rules relating to electronic discovery and recent case law interpreting these rules. This live audio conference will also discuss benchmarking data that assesses how  more...

Multistate Taxation: Income Franchise Tax ...BenefitsWhile many businesses focus their tax strategies on mitigating the federal income tax, many businesses are becoming aware of increased enforcement of state tax laws, especially on interstate businesses. Rather than concentrating on the intricacies of a single tax in a single jurisdiction, this live audio conference will explore trends in state taxation of interstate businesses, with  more...

Allocation and Reimbursement of Defense Costs: Insurer's Duty to Defend ...BenefitsThis live audio conference will provide an overview of insurance coverage for defense of third-party claims and suits, focusing on how defense cost coverage is allocated and defense costs reimbursed under difference types of insurance policies, as among insurers, and as between insurers and insureds. Areas addressed will include critical components of the 'duty to defend,' key  more...

Is a Benefits Portal Right for Your Company? ...BenefitsIn this session, you will get an overview of the latest trends in benefit portals and how a benefits portal can improve employee engagement, drive employee self service and streamline benefits administration. Demonstrated by best practice models and live examples, you will leave with a real-world understanding of benefit portals and 'next step' ideas to introduce or further advance this  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  more...

Non-Resident Employee Withholding ...BenefitsWhen having employees working in multiple states it can be difficult to know what to consider to make sure that the correct state taxes are being withheld and the correct taxable earnings are being taxed in the correct states. This live audio conference will give you the tools to determine what taxes are applicable for your employees based on residency, state and reciprocity agreements.  more...

Mastering the Science of Cross Examination ...BenefitsIt has been called 'The greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth.' Nothing grabs the attention of the judge and jury like cross examination. Done well, it can lead to victory. Done poorly, it can lead to ruin. Listen to this program as two experienced trial lawyers cover the most important points that you need to know to become a master of cross examination.  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...

Legal Ethics and Loss Prevention Issues with Electronic Communications and Security ...BenefitsThe art of communication is a lawyer's greatest asset. Modern mobile and communication technology provides many means through which lawyers can communicate with clients, publicize legal services, work remotely, and share information. When selecting and using a technology for communicating with clients, storing client data, or performing work for clients, a lawyer should consider whether  more...

Trucking Litigation ...BenefitsLitigation involving trucking and bus companies seems straightforward. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to trucking tort cases. During this live audio conference, you will hear how to negotiate the waters and learn how the myriad of confusing federal and state regulations could torpedo your otherwise straightforward common law case. Hear from the  more...

Special Needs Trusts: What, Why and How ...BenefitsA thorough knowledge of planning for disabled individuals is important for providing full service to a practitioner's clients and avoiding serious malpractice liability. Unfortunately, the government benefit programs involved and the options available for obtaining and preserving such benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid, are highly complex. Furthermore, the  more...

Animal Law: Past, Present and Future ...BenefitsThis live audio conference will provide a very brief overview of the rapidly expanding field of animal law being practiced nationwide, and involves litigation, legislation and corporate/transactional work. Animal law has a very broad range and this audio conference will serve only as an introduction to some of the most common and popular topics. The field covers everything from  more...

COBRA: A Little of Everything is Changing ...BenefitsThis live audio conference is for agents and new employee benefit specialists or the seasoned specialist that want to double check the basics and the most recent changes in the COBRA law. We will discuss who has the compliance responsibilities and what an employer must do every day to be in compliance! How do all of the employee benefit laws work together - when do they work separately.  more...

How to Develop an Effective Mentoring Program ...BenefitsCreating a structured mentoring program is a powerful way to support the personal growth and career development of employees. Mentoring also enhances the stability and productivity of an organization through employee retention, succession planning, transfer of knowledge, and leadership development. The problem is that many businesses believe that mentoring consists of just 'putting two  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...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Drug and Alcohol Testing but Were Afraid to Ask ...BenefitsMost companies that care about safety in the workplace have implemented a drug and alcohol testing program. An added benefit to companies is a reduction in their workers' compensation insurance premiums. What makes an effective program? What kind of safeguards should there be to ensure accuracy? What does a drug test really measure? What is the best sample: urine, hair or oral fluid?  more...

Key Legal Distinctions Between Business Entities ...BenefitsA critical issue in starting any new business is to decide the best type of entity for the business. The choices can be numerous and bewildering, and the consequences of a wrong choice can be problematic. For example, for multi-owner businesses, the choices may include (depending on the relevant state): (i) general partnerships; (ii) limited liability partnerships; (iii) limited  more...

Using Travel Policy to Control Costs ...BenefitsIn the old days, professionals assumed that travel expenses had little impact on their firm's bottom line. Clearly, those days are long gone. Attendees of this program will gain a high level of understanding about the best practices in travel management, so they can manage the balance between the competing strategic goals of service, savings and safety. Because a well-structured  more...

Rules and Responsibilities Regarding Abandoned Wages ...BenefitsThis live audio conference will examine the rules and responsibilities regarding abandoned wages. If your payroll department is not handling unclaimed wages properly, you could be placing your company at risk for huge audit assessments, significant interest accumulations, and civil and criminal penalties. If your company issues any type of employment checks whether it be wages, bonuses,  more...

Utilizing Microsoft Word(TM) Features and Functions ...BenefitsEnjoy the time-saving benefit of learning shortcuts and 'must know' automation features. While you may have used Word for years, completing documents using basic features, the more in-depth features will add a new level of capability to current skill sets. Participants transitioning to version 2010 will regain their bearings on the new locations of Word commands. So many features and  more...

Self-Auditing Your Employee Benefits:A Guide to What May Need Fixing ...BenefitsStaying in compliance with the numerous complex requirements and the specific terms of your employee benefits plans is a monumental task. It is easy to have your time consumed by the day-to-day issues and questions that arise under your benefit plans and the typical annual processes and compliance requirements already in place. It is difficult to take the time to step back and ask what  more...

Director and Officer Liability: A Focus on Creditor Issues ...BenefitsIncreasingly new decisions are coming out absolving directors of companies from fiduciary liability. What cases hold directors liable? What cases hold officers liable? These are distinctively different questions. How do jury instructions address this liability? Topics to be discussed include breach of loyalty causes of action, as well as nondisclosure of material information and  more...

How to Design Parking Lots That Work ...BenefitsThis live audio conference will be of great benefit to architects, engineers, developers and contractors. You will learn how to acquire a potential property, how to design and maintain surface parking lots. We will not only devote time to surface features, such as pavements, drainage and striping, but will also discuss the importance of paying attention to soil preparation and pavement  more...

Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives for Residential Builders and Commercial Building Owners ...BenefitsThere are a number of energy incentives available for builders and owners of residential and commercial real estate. These federal tax incentives are available for projects ranging from relatively simple building upgrades to the implementation of new electrical systems. The types of tax incentives available to taxpayers include tax deductions, tax credits, and payments of cash grants in  more...

The Trickle Down Effect of Health Care Reform: A Potpourri of Payroll, Benefits, Income Taxes, and Other Changes ...BenefitsThe phased in requirements of health care reform require that you continually monitor the landscape to spend your benefit dollars effectively, while remaining compliant. This is an opportunity for employers to reassess their decisions and consider the future impact of this legislation. Attend this live audio conference and stay current on your compliance obligations, planning  more...

Winning at the Gate: Practical Lessons for Stating or Attacking Claims in a Post-Twombly/Iqbal World ...BenefitsThe Supreme Court's decisions in Twombly and Iqbal changed the standard for pleading a claim in federal court cases, but lawyers and courts continue to struggle in applying the plausibility standard. This live audio conference explores practical approaches to 'winning at the gate,' whether you are pleading or attacking a claim, particularly in the complex commercial litigation arena. We  more...

Estate Planning Ethics ...BenefitsThis audio conference includes a basic overview of the ethical rules that effect the estate planner in every day practice. With an attorney's busy schedule, it is difficult to remain current on rules that direct and govern the fundamental duties an attorney encounters while serving the needs of the client. This program will touch upon the most frequent rules and issues that an attorney  more...

Enforcement of Judgments ...BenefitsThis audio conference presents the fundamentals of identifying and collecting assets to enforce a civil judgment. Topics will include general asset search methods, the elements of a debtor's examination, obtaining liens against assets, executing on judgment liens, using garnishment procedures to collect assets, domesticating foreign judgments, dealing with bankruptcy filings and many  more...

Strategies to Overcome the Presumption of Guilt ...BenefitsOne of the challenges for any criminal defense attorney is convincing jurors from the beginning of the case that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that the burden of proof is on the prosecution, not the defendant. Constant publicity in the media, and in political campaigns, about the necessity to 'crack-down on crime' makes this more of a challenge than ever.  more...

Client Nonpayment: Ethical Considerations in Collections and Termination ...BenefitsYou have worked many hours on your client's matter and obtained a good result, only to find yourself in a dispute with your client over the payment of your fee. The client may complain about the quality of the service or may claim that they cannot pay your fees. Whatever the excuse, it is a problem that can be lessened. This audio conference is designed to provide you with practical and  more...

Avoiding Waiver of the Attorney-Client Privilege ...BenefitsThis audio conference will discuss the doctrine of attorney-client privilege: the scope of the privilege, exceptions to the privilege, procedural aspects of asserting the privilege, waiver of the privilege and the related but distinguishable doctrine of attorney work product. It should be useful for you, whether you are concerned about asserting and maintaining privileged communications  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  more...

Legal Ethical Issues ...BenefitsEthical issues present themselves in all aspects of an attorney's professional life. Knowledge of these ethical standards will assist you in properly representing a client and at the same time protect you from the adverse consequences of a violation of the ethical standards. This audio conference will provide an overview of typical ethical issues affecting the various areas of the  more...

Motor Vehicle Searches: Impact of the Arizona v. Gant Decision ...BenefitsMotor vehicle stops and searches constitute one of the most common events for law enforcement officials. Legal disputes arising out of motor vehicle stops and searches, in both the civil and criminal context, are also extremely common. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. Gant has brought a significant change to the law regarding motor vehicle searches. This audio  more...

Curing Title Exceptions ...BenefitsTitles are often subject to outstanding interests and claims, some genuine but others unsubstantial or baseless. What types of defects, liens and encumbrances impair the title to real estate? When, as the result of tangible matters revealed by a search and examination of the title, is the title unmarketable? Learn what to look for when reviewing the title commitment, and what  more...

Ethical Settlement Negotiations ...BenefitsThis audio conference will outline the key ethical rules and parameters faced by lawyers during negotiations of litigated matters. This program will also emphasize the recent guidance from the American Bar Association and various state and federal courts on matters ranging from basic duties of disclosure to the often murky rules affecting class actions and the settlement of complex  more...

How Can End-of-Life Planning Resources Benefit Your Workplace? ...BenefitsEnd-of-life issues can be a major distraction for employees. MetLife estimates that U.S. businesses lose between $17 billion and $33 billion per year in productivity of full-time workers with caregiving responsibilities. Employers need to place a priority on addressing end-of-life issues. These issues affect their employees who serve as caregivers to aging parents, children and other  more...

New Rule 502: Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Limitations on Waiver ...BenefitsKnowing and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protection is a fundamental for most litigators. Rule 502 of the Federal Rules of Evidence has been adopted to clarify and resolve a common dispute regarding the effects of certain disclosures otherwise protected by the privilege or work product, including inadvertent disclosures and the agreement of the parties  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...

False Claims Act Update ...BenefitsThe False Claims Act is one of the most important weapons of the federal government in its efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse in federal contracting and grants. This audio conference will identify and analyze many of the critically important issues in the interpretation and enforcement of the statute, and will review mandatory disclosure of credible evidence of False Claims Act  more...

Executory Contracts Under Bankruptcy ...BenefitsThis audio conference will give you a better understanding of executory contracts and unexpired leases, and what they are. It will examine the strategic issues whether you represent the debtor, the nondebtor party to the lease or contract, or other interested parties. The speaker will discuss what to do during the period between the bankruptcy filing and assumption or rejection, as well  more...

Form 5500 Reporting Update ...BenefitsEmployers who offer an employee benefit plan must file an annual report regarding the plan's financial condition, investments and operations, unless specifically exempt by law. Filing the Form 5500 will satisfy this requirement. This audio conference will help you understand when you need to file a Form 5500 and what you need to file, and will focus on some recent changes that may  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...

Web Research Beyond Standard Search Engines ...BenefitsIn today's wired world, many attorneys report being overwhelmed by information, especially in electronic format. This fragmentation of attention flies in the face of the requirements that practicing attorneys are required to stay current on trends and changes in the law. Additionally, the cost of electronic information can be a burden on an attorney's legal resources. Free legal  more...

Implications of the First Investigations Under the FTC Guides for Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising ...BenefitsThe benefits of word of mouth and viral marketing via blogs, Twitter , Facebook and other social media platforms are undeniable. These emerging technologies are rapidly taking hold in corporate America and are radically changing the marketing landscape. In an effort to stay current with the way consumers obtain product information, the Federal Trade Commission has, for the first time  more...

Surety Bonds and Contract Provisions ...BenefitsWhile there are many general rules of suretyship, a performance bond is a tri-partite agreement among owner (oblige), contractor (principal) and surety (obligor). The surety acts as the guarantor of the contractor's performance. The rights, duties and obligations of the parties will be determined by the rules of contract interpretation. Key areas of potential dispute focus on the  more...

Commercial Loan Stress Testing Fundamentals ...BenefitsStress testing of loan portfolios is rapidly becoming an integral component of the credit risk management process. All banks should perform some type of stress testing to quantify the impact of changing economic conditions on asset quality, earnings and capital. This teleconference will benefit those who are beginning to incorporate the concepts of stress testing into their loan  more...

Ethical Collections: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Beyond ...BenefitsCollecting money is increasingly challenging. One of the main rules of collecting is preventing the debtor from sidetracking the process. Never give the debtor ammunition to shoot back at the collector! We will show you how to avoid ethical and regulatory traps that can keep you from being an effective collector! We will guide you through the FDCPA, FCRA, ethical rules, trust account  more...

Recruiting on a Limited Budget: Proven Low and No Cost Tools and Approaches ...BenefitsThere is a long and established history of recruiting professionals being asked to accomplish more with less around the world. A June 2010 poll recently revealed that while 73 percent of organizations expected the volume of recruiting activity in their organization to increase significantly in the current year, only 18 percent received an increase in budget on par with the forecasted  more...

Restructuring the Commercial Loan ...BenefitsA commercial loan restructuring requires a working knowledge of a number of commercial law aspects, e.g., bankruptcy, transactional and litigation issues. This teleconference will help provide you with an understanding of these issues from inception through the end of the commercial loan restructuring process. Listen to our panel of experienced counsel provide seasoned advice so that  more...

The Complete Commercial Loan Closing Checklist ...BenefitsMany individuals involved in commercial loan transactions never fully understand all the steps and details that go into closing a real estate loan transaction. They understand their participation in the transaction, but do not comprehend everything else that is involved before a transaction can actually close and fund. This teleconference will provide an overview to understand the  more...

Implementing Stay Interviews: If You Want to Keep Them You Have to Talk to Them! ...BenefitsCompanies work very hard to obtain talent with a very high price tag per hire. When they achieve proficiency in what is expected, they become a valuable contributor and an asset to the firm. The last thing you want to happen is to lose these employees because of situations that are within your ability to control. By attending this teleconference you will learn tools, tactics and  more...

A Primer on International Estate Planning ...BenefitsIndividuals are increasingly 'international' today - especially wealthy ones. More and more clients work or study abroad, own property in more than one country, find their spouses abroad and qualify as citizens or residents of multiple nations. All of this can subject clients to the competing property, succession and tax laws of multiple jurisdictions. This teleconference will help you  more...

Cyber Crimes: Phishing, Pharming and Beyond ...BenefitsThe threat of cyber-crime mounts daily, reaching far and wide as the digitization and interconnectedness of both the nation's economy and society increase. This digital expanse envelops business, allowing multinational corporations (and individuals) to collect and retain inestimable quantities of personal information about employees, customers and counter-parties, in addition to storing  more...

Drafting Clear and Enforceable Contracts ...BenefitsCommercial contracts have become increasingly complex in our litigious society. Why can't contracts just be written in plain language with the common words (and sentence structures) we use in everyday conversation? The truth is - they can! This teleconference is an introductory course on drafting clear and enforceable contracts in a business environment - using language that everyone  more...

Long-Term Care Insurance in Estate Plans ...BenefitsClients spend a lifetime building financial security for their retirement, often with the desire to pass the assets on to their family or charity rather than loose it to the cost of long-term care. Whether at home, assisted living or nursing home care, the cost can be staggering. When is the purchase of long-term care insurance appropriate for a client? How can the client control the  more...

Internet Research for Paralegals ...BenefitsThe internet is a resource for a vast array of legal materials with new or changing resources appearing online regularly. However, not all legal resources available on the internet represent authoritative or relevant information to the legal researcher. Legal web sites organize information in different ways; documents appear in a variety of file formats; and search engines may or may  more...

Is Your Health Care Plan Grandfathered Under the Health Care Reform? ...BenefitsEmployers and other sponsors of group health plans routinely make annual changes to their plans that are designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve employee health and productivity. As plan sponsors consider design changes for 2011, they must also take into account new federal mandates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as modified by the Health Care  more...

1099 Reporting of Payments to Attorneys and Other Third-Parties ...BenefitsJoin this informative teleconference to gain insight as to the Internal Revenue Service's reporting requirements for payments made to an attorney in connection with legal services (whether or not the services performed are for the benefit of the payor). The IRS reminds us that all third-party payers, such as small businesses or individuals, are required to annually report payments made  more...

Current Issues in Real Estate Title and Title Insurance ...BenefitsThis teleconference is a nuts-and-bolts program designed to give you real life practical information to facilitate the closing of commercial and residential real estate transactions. You'll gain insight into the workings of the title industry to better prepare you to anticipate problems and assist in developing solutions to ultimately close the transaction. This teleconference will  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...

Using and Challenging Statistical Evidence: An Essential Training for Litigators ...BenefitsThe use of statistics frequently plays a critical role in the litigation arena, from evaluating cases for your clients, to resolving disputes and possibly taking a matter to trial. Lawyers often shy away from using statisticians, quite frankly because understanding this world can seem overwhelming and confusing. In this 90-minute teleconference, you will have an opportunity to hear (in  more...

Evaluating Your Third-Party Administrator: Are You Getting What You're Paying For? ...BenefitsUsing a third-party administrator is ubiquitous with health and welfare, and retirement plans. However, proper administration by TPAs should not be taken for granted. As with all facets of employee benefit plans, TPAs need to be monitored and evaluated to ensure proper plan administration and fulfillment of a plan sponsor's fiduciary responsibility. This teleconference explores the key  more...

Mortgage Foreclosures in Illinois ...BenefitsAn Illinois mortgage foreclosure is a complicated process that requires strict adherence to its statutory requirements. Failure to follow the correct procedure can add time and expense for lenders. For borrowers, understanding the nuts and bolts is critical to protecting their rights. Given the increased activity in the purchase of distressed assets, potential investors and buyers also  more...

Cost Accounting Techniques ...BenefitsCost accounting continues to gain importance and become more critical. It has also become easier to collect measure and analyze data. This teleconference will give you a complete overview of cost accounting in a fast-paced, information-filled and practical procedure-based presentation. Specific ideas will be discussed that can be immediately applied to benefit your company's  more...

Climate and Energy Policy: Interpreting State, Regional and Federal Discrepancies ...BenefitsYou will gain an in-depth understanding of the federal, regional and state requirements - and incentives - with respect to greenhouse gas emissions. Many states are already regulating these emissions and EPA is adopting regulations to require reporting by a wide spectrum of industry and businesses. Understanding the existing rules is critical for analyzing the effects of pending federal  more...

The FLSA Comp Time Controversy ...BenefitsComp Time, or compensatory time, is an alternate way of rewarding overtime work. Instead of paying an hourly employee time-and-a-half for work done over the time allotted in the normal work week, employers can allow an hour and a half of time off for each hour of overtime worked. This teleconference will cover how the FLSA views the use of comp time in relation to public agencies and  more...

A Primer on Social Security Disability Law ...BenefitsThe Social Security law encompasses the Social Security regulations which span nearly a full volume of the Code of Federal Regulations, many volumes of law reporters, dozens of separately issued Social Security rulings and many volumes of internal regulations. This is why most lawyers do not want to develop an expertise in this area. This teleconference is designed to give you a broad  more...

SAS 70 and SSAE 16: Basics, Rules and Standards for Service Organizations ...BenefitsThis teleconference will discuss the rules of SAS 70s and the benefit/costs for the organizations and auditors using the SAS 70. In addition, there will be discussion on how SAS 70s have gained attention in the post Sarbanes-Oxley era. This will help you implement internal controls in becoming SAS 70 compliant. This will also assist you in analyzing the results of SAS 70 reports.  more...

Efficiency Estimations and Payback Periods for New Equipment ...BenefitsEnergy savings is possible for nearly every electric motor application but there are obstacles to buying and installing a higher efficiency motor. Practical considerations of the real world such as initial purchase, accounting system roadblocks, and installation and operating cost, must be part of the decision process. This teleconference will explain basic principles of electric motor  more...

Data Mapping and Electronic Information Management (EIM) - Risk Management for Daily Efficiency and Litigation-Preparedness ...BenefitsIn the digitized world of the twenty-first century, it is more important than ever for every organization to know as much as possible about the information it creates, stores, receives and maintains. As an attendee at this teleconference, you will learn from an expert how to develop multipurpose menus or charts of key storage locations and contents and use data-mapping to achieve  more...

Appealing Standards: Determining the Applicable Standard of Review ...BenefitsThis teleconference is designed to help you with your two most important jobs: prediction (telling clients what appellate courts are likely to do with a given case) and persuasion (getting the appellate courts to do it). The two most common mistakes in appellate advocacy are (1) taking the standards at face value, uncritically assuming that they mean what they say and that the court  more...

End of Employment Payroll Issues ...BenefitsThis will be a comprehensive look into issues that arise when an employee terminates. Topics that will be discussed will go from when an employee needs to receive their final pay to how an employee death's final pay best practices and taxation. This teleconference will cover special situations when an employee terminates such as benefit deductions, state minimum hours requirements and  more...

Substance Abuse and the State Bar Disciplinary Process BenefitsThis teleconference will give an insider's view of the state bar and how it handles matters that have substance abuse as an element of a case. The program will also discuss the scientific basis for addiction and how it can impact your law practice. This program is primarily designed for attorneys. Other legal professionals may also benefit from attending.  more...

Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance: Current Topics and Key Issues ...BenefitsIn the era of the subprime mortgage crisis, directors and officers are acutely aware of the potential for liability and the importance that directors' and officers' liability insurance afford sufficient coverage to provide for a defense and indemnity for any settlement or judgment. This teleconference will provide you with insight into common issues and trends that arise during a claim  more...

Workout Strategies for Troubled Condominium Projects ...BenefitsThe present economic downturn has affected real estate projects of all types but perhaps none as significantly as condominium projects. To further complicate matters, strategies to cope with failing and failed condominium developments must address multiple overlays of statutory and other legal requirements and limitations, as well as the often conflicting rights and concerns of the many  more...

Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities Under ERISA ...BenefitsMaintaining an employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 requires that people managing the plan or investing plan assets become fiduciaries. You need to know when they might become an ERISA plan fiduciary. You must understand your legal obligations to plan participants and beneficiaries. This teleconference will provide you with an overview of  more...

Conducting Background Checks ...BenefitsAn ever increasing number of employers are recognizing the benefits that can be derived from conducting background checks on both current and prospective employees. While background checks can be an effective tool for weeding out questionable employees, legal limitations on how such checks can be performed (and how the resulting data discovered can be used) must be understood or  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...

Bankruptcy Retention and Disclosures: Knowing When and What to Say ...BenefitsBankruptcy is a specialized practice quite different than typical litigation. In general litigation, secrecy and limited disclosures are the norm. However, the filing of a bankruptcy and one's involvement in it, either as a debtor, professional or even creditor, requires specific and often extensive disclosures to protect the interests of the estate and the integrity of the bankruptcy  more...

Employee Safety and Health Systems: Cutting Injuries Using the Team Approach ...BenefitsTraditional safety committees involve a small number of employees and are often managed by the individual responsible for the facility safety and health system. The problem is that the success of the committee, and thus the system success, is predicated by the authority given to the committee and its leadership which in most cases is low to nonexistent. The bottom line is that employee  more...

ADA Interaction with Addictions and Personal Habits ...BenefitsOne of the most confounding problems for employers is what to do when an employee comes forward with a drug problem or when an employee appears to be intoxicated while at work. This teleconference is designed to educate legal and HR professionals in addressing those situations within the boundaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which generally protects recovering drug addicts  more...

Implications of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act ...BenefitsInternet gambling is legal in many parts of the world and remains one of the most profitable e-commerce activities, despite a crackdown by authorities in the United States at both federal and state levels. U.S. law in this area is both risky and complex. Intermediaries such as payment services, banks, publishers, and Internet portals all face risks under U.S. law for providing services  more...

Electronic Record Retention: Mistakes HR Professionals Can Avoid ...BenefitsLearn the facts and get advice on cutting your dependence on paper records. According to the Association of Information and Image Management, more than half of organizations that attempt to implement paperless records management systems fail. Don't be one of them. This teleconference will help HR managers and anyone attempting to implement paperless records management to go paperless  more...

Buying and Selling Claims in Bankruptcy ...BenefitsYou will benefit from an analysis of the latest bankruptcy procedures and forms for the trading of claims in bankruptcy, strategies for maximizing the value of claims, and recent court decisions and orders that could have a substantial impact on the value or enforceability of the claims purchased. In addition, you will gain insights on trading for passive investment to gain a return on  more...

Screening Applicants Using Social Networking Sites: Legal or Liability? ...BenefitsJob applicants have long used the internet to research employers. But now, employers are using the internet to research job applicants as well. Employers aren't only using search engines to find information on applicants but are now examining social networking sites, such as Facebook or MySpace . For job applicants, social networking site are places to interact with peers in any manner  more...

8 Issues When Doing Business or Contracting With Native American Tribes ...BenefitsThere are more than 500 federally-recognized American Indian tribes in the United States, each established under a constitution unique to the tribe. Each tribe, through its constitution and subsequent legislation, has developed its own laws and regulations addressing issues of contracting, jurisdiction and waivers, if any, of sovereign immunity. Individuals and entities seeking to do  more...

Impact of Confidentiality Rules in Bankruptcy Proceedings ...BenefitsDistressed companies struggle to protect their proprietary and strategic information against the assumption that a bankrupt's financial affairs are public. Since 2005, creditor committees have similarly confronted their statutory obligation to share information with creditors with their practical duties in working through a Chapter 11. This teleconference will provide both a relevant  more...

White-Collar Defense Strategies and Developments ...BenefitsWhite-collar criminal defense is very different from the defense of other criminal cases. It must be approached uniquely from the time an attorney first learns of a client's target status in an investigation through trial. Failure to understand these differences and nuances can be fatal. This teleconference will examine some of these most important distinctions, and discuss the proper  more...

Tools for Persuasive Legal Writing ...BenefitsThis teleconference will look at some key legal writing concepts through an understandable and strategic lens. The ability to effectively and persuasively communicate remains the dominant skill needed for a successful legal practice. No one is born a perfect writer - as anyone who teaches writing will happily assure you. Rather, legal writing is always a learning process. For that  more...

Construction Contract Bid Errors ...BenefitsThe pressures on contractors to obtain work have never been greater. The competition for contracts, often coupled with precarious financial health, leaves very little margin for error - yet bid mistakes are on the increase with adverse consequences for owners, contractors and subcontractors. This teleconference analyzes the legal consequences of bid errors and how to avoid them. Those  more...

Access Management Design and Development ...BenefitsAccess management is a critical element of every private and public roadway or site development project. As a transportation engineer and/or planner, understanding the basics of access design and access development is crucial in delivering a successful project to your client. Driveway access to a site can have positive or negative consequences on the amount of potential business a  more...

Pitfalls of Participant Loans in Retirement Plans ...BenefitsParticipant loans in a qualified employee benefit plan are a common problem area due to their complex administration. Plan sponsors of qualified employee benefit plans need to be aware of many pitfalls to avoid tax consequences. Even worse than tax consequences is the possibility of the entire plan losing its preferred tax status. This teleconference will explain the regulations of  more...

Reductions in Force Litigation Update ...BenefitsWith the continued recession, employers have been faced with significant challenges to reduce costs. Since personnel accounts for a major proportion of overhead, one possible area of consideration is that of a reduction in the workforce. While reaching and implementing such a decision will, in optimum circumstances, involve significant input from counsel experienced in both employment  more...

Collective Bargaining and Construction Labor Contracts ...BenefitsThe construction industry is rife with contractors who sign collective bargaining agreements and later find out that the agreements do not accurately represent the verbal understandings they had reached with the union. Many of these contractors soon learn they are bound to the collective bargaining agreements for longer periods of time than expected and that the agreements cover all  more...

Developing a Community Nonemergency Response System ...BenefitsCitizens are demanding fast, easy access to government services in an efficient manner that optimizes their investment. Municipal executives are consistently seeking government solutions to improve service without increasing budgets. Elected officials know the quality of services can mean the difference between re-election and defeat. This teleconference will provide municipal leaders  more...

Taking and Defending Effective Depositions ...BenefitsIn the legal world where the use of mediation and arbitration has increased dramatically in recent years, the deposition of opposing parties and key witnesses often takes the place of the trial. Cases are evaluated and often settled based on information obtained at depositions. You will learn the fundamental concepts involved in taking and defending depositions. Included in this  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...

Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors: What You Need to Know About ABC's ...BenefitsThis teleconference will give you an overview of the basics to general assignments for the benefit of creditors, a state law alternative for the liquidation of a distressed business that while long available under state laws, has had little use outside of states such as California, Illinois, Florida and Massachusetts. The fiduciary nature and responsibilities of the assignee will be  more...

Ethical Implications for Attorneys Transitioning to New Firms ...BenefitsIn today's legal market, attorneys transition between law firms and other professional associations with great frequency. The movement of attorneys implicates some fundamental ethical issues, such as confidentiality and conflicts. Not knowing and understanding these ethical issues and implementing procedures to avoid a violation of the pertinent rules may lead to claims against the  more...

Damage to Adjacent Property and Structures ...BenefitsConstruction projects present many risks, including the risk of damage to adjacent structures and real property. For example, subsidence caused by improper or ineffective excavation and shoring may cause foundations to crack and other resultant damage. Soil and groundwater can be contaminated from construction materials used by trade contractors. This teleconference focuses on best  more...

Managing Benefit Options for Part-Time Employees ...BenefitsAs the U.S. economy recovers and restructures, many employers find themselves employing more of their workforce on a part time basis. Additionally, in hard to recruit fields such as health care, or with entry level employers such as retailers, part-time employment is the norm and may account for more than 50% of the workforce. Employers struggle with how to design a program that will  more...

A Comprehensive Approach to Building Excellent ADA Facilities within the Public Right-of-Way ...BenefitsMany state and local entities have found full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act within the public right-of-way to be a difficult goal to achieve. This teleconference will provide proven techniques that will increase the chances of fully completing the ADA facilities the first time without costly mistakes or retrofits. This practical approach coordinates the survey,  more...

Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Couples ...BenefitsThe arena of estate planning for non-traditional couples is a growing field laden with opportunities and land mines. Whether it be a gay or lesbian couple, or a heterosexual couple living together but simply choosing not to get married, the need to be proactive in their planning is essential. Two primary issues arise when it comes to planning for non-traditional couples: (1) Unlike  more...

Can Medical Tourism Lower Your Healthcare Costs? ...BenefitsThis teleconference will address a myriad of legal issues associated with persons traveling abroad for their medical care. Medical travel, or medical tourism, has become a major focus of interest as a potential means for helping to mitigate the high cost of health care in the United States. It is no longer really about tourism but substantially more about the nature of medical care that  more...

Splits, SNTs and Public Benefits: Understanding the Complexities of Special Needs Planning in Divorces ...BenefitsMarital stress and divorce are highly prevalent among families with special needs. Many attorneys who specialize in the area of divorce are unfamiliar with the complexities of special needs planning, despite the importance of public benefit programs to their clients and their families. This teleconference not only helps you understand the detailed public benefit programs available to  more...

Commercial Lending Opinion Letters: Rights, Obligations and Expectations ...BenefitsCommercial lenders routinely require a borrower's lawyer to deliver a legal opinion at the closing of the loan transaction. The borrower has to pay for this but rarely believes that the exercise provides any benefit to the borrower. If the legal opinion is not negotiated until the end of the transaction, or if the borrower's lawyer and the lender's lawyer cannot agree on some element of  more...

All About Insulating Concrete Forms ...BenefitsInsulating concrete forms are a valuable new construction system that is poorly understood by many. ICFs provide high energy-efficiency, high-comfort, low-sound attenuation and disaster-resistant exterior walls for a wide range of buildings up to15 stories. They are widely used in high-LEED projects based mostly on their energy efficiency and indoor air quality properties. However, many  more...

Structured Settlements - The Changing Landscape ...BenefitsWhether plaintiff or defense, this teleconference will provide you with a better understanding of structured settlements and their practical application to claims resolution. Since the early 1980's, structured settlements have been a major part of negotiating and settling cases involving physical injury or sickness. With the changing financial landscape, structured settlements have been  more...

Litigating in the Social Networking Era ...BenefitsWith the recent explosion in the use of social networking, attorneys and litigants are quickly learning the risks and rewards of participating in social networking. In particular, recent cases demonstrate the utility to attorneys of considering social networks during discovery and, in some cases, discovery of information from social networking sites can make or break your case.  more...

Uses and Abuses of In Limine Motions ...BenefitsMotions in limine are procedural tools for excluding inadmissible or prejudicial evidence at the beginning of trial. Their purpose is to promote judicial efficiency and fairness by expediting trial, avoiding prejudicial questions, and excluding irrelevant evidence and objections from entering the courtroom and record. They were not intended to supplant dispositive motions such as those  more...

Total Compensation Statements as a Tool to Communicate Total Value ...BenefitsOften employees look at their base salary as the total value provided by your organization. During these challenging economic times when salary increases are low or nonexistent, creating customized compensation statements for your organization can be a valuable communication tool. Generally, total compensation ranges from 30 to 50 percent above base compensation for an organization and  more...

Conservation Easement Tax Incentives ...BenefitsIn the current challenging economic conditions, capital remains difficult for individuals and businesses to obtain to meet their working capital and business expansion needs. However, many businesses are unaware that they may already be holding valuable tax assets that can be utilized to generate positive cash-positive and provide significant tax benefits. This teleconference will help  more...

Managing Job Accommodations Under the ADA: Using Medical Experts ...BenefitsEmployers are confronted every day with requests for job accommodations from employees. You as the employer should control the job accommodation process - but how do you do that? What are your legal obligations? More importantly, what are your rights? When and what type of medical documentation can be requested of the employee? When can you request an IME? When can you use a medical  more...

Don't Bet the Company: Understanding and Avoiding Class Actions in Labor and Employment Law! ...BenefitsYou have all seen in the news media reports of companies settling employment-related class actions for many millions of dollars. The horror of class actions is that a small claim among a few employees can mushroom into a huge claim worth millions of dollars once some ferocious plaintiff's lawyers get their teeth into it and add hundreds of additional claims through the simple process of  more...

Best Practices to Manage Your Multistate Payroll ...BenefitsPayroll personnel are continually faced with legal and practical challenges associated with employee benefits, overtime, nonexempt employee requirements, employee bonus payments, confusing payroll forms, etc. Not only do you have to know your own state laws but often times neighboring state laws if you have employees across state lines. The taxability of employee benefits is confusing  more...

Paperless Payroll: Essentials to a Seamless Transition ...BenefitsIn today's economic environment, every organization is looking to reduce costs. Paperless processes have the potential to be a healthy boost to the bottom line without eliminating employees. The notion of paperless payroll has come a long way since the introduction of direct deposit in the 1970's, but despite the advances, most companies are still distributing paper checks, pay advices  more...

Value Engineering Change Proposals in Government Contracting ...BenefitsMany federal contractors are greatly focused on achieving cost reductions in their production processes, such as through lean manufacturing and Six Sigma programs, to become more competitive and increase profits. However, few contractors take advantage of a contractual tool, the Value Engineering ('VE') contract clause, which was established specifically to provide increased profits  more...

Voir Dire: Effective Techniques for Getting and Using the Information You Need nVoir dire is one of the most important phases of a jury trial. However, the rules and procedures governing the jury selection process are often informal, subject to the broad discretion of the trial court, and can vary widely between jurisdictions, judges and even different cases before the same judge. A trial lawyer's strike decisions are some of the most important strategic decisions made in  more...

Benchmarking your Health Benefit Program: How Do You Stack Up? ...will work through several methods to evaluate your health benefit program's cost, design and impact on employees with an eye to comparing your plan to others - regionally and nationally. In addition, we will discuss the trends in health benefits and give you benchmarking statistics on the current landscape for including that trend in your health benefit package. During this 90-minute  more...

Paid Sick Leave Update: Policies and Procedures in an Evolving Workplace ...ployees to use these voluntarily-provided paid sick leave benefits for reasons beyond those covered by the employer's program. In some cases, states and localities have begun to mandate that employers provide employees with a minimum paid sick leave benefit if an employer does not already do so. And while currently federal law only mandates unpaid leave for covered employers, in the near  more...

Enforcing Arbitration Agreements: 14 Penn Plaza and Other Recent Developments in Arbitration of Statutory Employment Claims nIn 14 Penn Plaza v. Pyett, 07-581 (S. Ct. April 1, 2009), the Supreme Court held that a union-negotiated arbitration agreement can bind individual employees to arbitrate statutory age discrimination claims. This decision continues the trend of enforcing agreements to arbitrate employment discrimination claims. 14 Penn Plaza should cause all legal professionals to consider the advantages of  more...

Writing an Employee Handbook nAre you overwhelmed with the task of revising your existing employee handbook or of preparing a new employee handbook? Are you unclear about what types of employment policies are required by federal law? Stop worrying and attend this teleconference. You will learn which policies are required by law and what employment laws apply to employee handbooks. Take the first step to creating your employee  more...

How To Prevent Construction Projects From Going Bad ...struction process. n nThis teleconference is intended to benefit attendees who want to have a better understanding of the pitfalls of the construction process and how to meet them head on. It will provide a summary level discussion of the aspects of construction that can often lead to a bad project and of the fundamentals necessary to implement a successful project. n nTopic areas will include  more...

Presenteeism: Measurement and Intervention Issues for Employers and Health Plans ...bal company's total compensation (salaries, wages and all benefit costs) were lost due to presenteeism. Work site wellness programs can potentially make many important contributions to the measurement and reduction of productivity losses associated with presenteeism. This teleconference will cover a working definition of presenteeism, the major methodological approaches to its measurement, some  more...

Successful Strategies for Controlling Workers' Compensation Costs nMaintaining workers' compensation insurance is a necessary cost of business, but how do you stop the costs from spinning out of control? An effective workers' compensation program will utilize the available remedies to achieve the goals of reducing injuries, reducing benefit payment and reducing unsuccessful litigation results. This 90-minute teleconference will review the myths and  more...

An Overview of Maritime Law Torts nAdmiralty law is expansive in its reach covering operations in brown water, blue water and offshore industries. The issues are complex and often involve federal and state law conflicts. An overview of maritime law torts addresses the primary and secondary issues arising out of Jones Act, USL&H and OCSLA claims. This teleconference is of practical interest to the occasional and experienced  more...

Community Benefit Agreements ...benefits agreements can increase public participation in the planning process, promote smart growth and environmental justice goals, and bring neighborhoods, local governments, and private interests together to make development projects more sustainable, transparent and accountable. Negotiating a CBA can be a win-win solution for community groups and developers. The community receives  more...

Cumulative Impact Claims nCumulative impact claims may be one of the more common occurrences on projects with multiple changes over the course of the project. However, cumulative impact claims may be one of the most difficult claims to present and prove at trial or in arbitration. Evidentiary issues, logistics of proving what the cumulative impact was and proving damages can prove to be very difficult. Defenses to  more...

Real Estate Market Studies: Critical Decision Tool or Superfluous Information? ...uding the conclusions and understand the output. You will benefit from a better understanding of what is involved in the market study process and how to ensure the most insightful results. The outcome of a market study can make or break a project - be prepared to secure the best decision-making results possible. n nLearning Objectives n- You will be able to identify the best providers of market  more...

Stemming the Tide: 10 Best Practices for Litigation Expense Management nNew rules governing e-discovery, a continued increase in corporate reliance on electronic data and growing sophistication of plaintiffs' counsel have all combined to result in skyrocketing litigation costs with no end to this growth in sight. This comes at a time when pressure from business clients to reduce the cost of legal services is at an all time high. This teleconference will suggest 10  more...

Paycheck Calculation Basics nThis is an excellent teleconference for those new at withholding payroll taxes or for those who need a refresher course. You will learn tips on how and why to determine if the worker is exempt or nonexempt. We will cover the calculation of and the maximum deductions for Social Security and Medicare taxes in 2009. n nThere are multiple methods of calculating federal withholding, which one should  more...

Retirement Benefit Solutions For Nonprofit Organizations and Government Entities ... face many of the same issues regarding use of retirement benefits to attract and retain employees and executives as for-profit companies, but the tools available to them are often more limited. This teleconference will explore both broad-based retirement programs and executive deferred compensation available to nonprofit organizations. It will highlight new rules for 403(b) plans and pending  more...

Updating and Maintaining Wills, Trusts and Estate Plans for the Evolving Client ...state and inheritance tax rules. This teleconference will benefit any attorney who drafts, prepares or reviews wills, trusts and estate plans, and it's an excellent refresher course for the experienced drafting attorney. You'll get information on how other drafting attorneys are addressing certain drafting issues. For an attorney who is beginning or who only drafts occasionally, this  more...

Hot Topics for 501(c)(3) Organizations nThere has been a lot of talk about the revised Form 990 and it's finally here! Whether you love it or loathe it, you can't put it off any longer. We will spend a majority of the time talking about some of the hot-button issues that the new form raises both in terms of simple compliance and in communicating with and involving your board. But wait, there's more! After this teleconference, you'll  more...

Current Trends in Transit-Oriented Development ...help you to better understand what TOD is and how it will benefit under President Barack Obama's plan for a national economic stimulus. You'll find out what states, regional transit agencies and local governments are doing to encourage economic development through TOD and the role for the private sector, including investors and developers looking for new opportunities in our stagnating economy.  more...

Same-Gender Marriage Rulings: Impacts on Employee Benefit Plans Across the Nation nIn May 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot deny same-gender couples the right to marry. Same-gender couples - many of them, in fact - flocked to California and started getting legally married on June 17, 2008. But then in November 2008, California voters approved Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage going forward. Massachusetts and Canada also allow same-gender  more...

Preparing a Winning Closing Argument n"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we will now hear closing arguments." Even the most experienced trial lawyer may inwardly quake when the judge utters these fateful words. But what makes for an effective closing? Do closings even matter? When should you object? Should you really start preparing your closing the day you get a new case? These are questions that are not addressed in law school, and  more...

Multiplaintiff Settlement Negotiations ...FLSA. Plaintiffs' counsel increasingly are relying on the benefits of Rule 23 certification to bring their wage and hour claims under applicable state wage and hour laws, bypassing the more restrictive FLSA collective action "opt-in" process. Where courts have shown reluctance to certify Rule 23 classes under discrimination laws, plaintiffs' counsel simply bring multiplaintiff cases naming long  more...

Defining Electronic Data Terminology and Concepts nElectronic discovery has fundamentally altered both the corporate and legal worlds. The discovery and production of electronic records is now expected by litigants and courts alike. Attend this session and learn how to determine what is "electronically stored information" and proven methods for litigation readiness in the e-discovery era.  more...