Ethics, The Media, and Practicing Law CLE

Ethics, The Media, and Practicing Law

September 2010

Ethics, The Media, and Practicing Law

Program Description:

More than ever, the media is impacting how lawyers practice. Successful lawyers need to know how to use the media - be it newspapers, magazines, TV, radio or the ever-expanding reach of the Internet-based media - to benefit their clients and to grow their law practices.

The faculty will walk you through the ethics, legalities, and practicalities of dealing with the media. Whether it is getting quoted in the New York Times, CNBC, Wall Street Journal, the daily paper, local TV news, and industry trade publications, there are rules lawyers should know.

- What are the ethics rules on talking with the media?

- Will the judge be upset if I am quoted in the newspaper?

- How do I develop a relationship with a journalist?

- Do I need my client's permission to talk to a reporter?

- How can I know if my cases might be newsworthy?

- What can I do to prepare for a crisis management situation?

- Does my law firm need a media plan?

- How do I get quoted as an expert in my practice area?

- What does “off-the-record” mean?

- How can I use the media to get more clients?

- Should I worry about Bloggers? Or should I write a Blog myself?

- How do I get an Op-Ed published in my local newspaper?

- What is the new Colorado media coverage of court proceedings rule?

Agenda:

11:30 am - 12:00 pm

Registration

12:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Program

1:45 pm

Adjourn

Faculty:

Mark Curriden, J.D.

Mark Curriden was educated and trained as a lawyer but never practiced law. Instead, he chose a life of journalism, book writing, and lecturing. The specialty topics about which he writes and lectures include legal history, trends at the U.S. Supreme Court, the American jury system, and relationships between lawyers and journalists. In 2000, he authored a highly-acclaimed 16-part series on the role of the American jury in resolving disputes in our nation's history. Also in 2000, Mark published his award-winning and national best-selling book, Contempt of Court: A Turn-of-the-Century Lynching.

Honorable Terry Ruckriegle

Judge Ruckriegle graduated from Indiana University with a business degree in 1969 and a law degree in 1973. He served as a prosecutor in the Fifth Judicial District Attorney's office in Georgetown for 9 years. Judge Ruckriegle has served on the district court bench since 1984 and has acted as chief judge of the 5th Judicial District since 1994. He sits primarily in Breckenridge and Georgetown. Judge Ruckriegle is retiring from the bench in August 2010.

Cecelia “Cindy” A. Fleischner, Esq.

McConnell Fleischner Houghtaling & Craigmile, LLC

Cindy Fleischner is a civil trial lawyer with twenty-five plus years of courtroom experience. While she has tried numerous legal malpractice, discipline/grievance, wrongful death, products liability, premises liability and other personal injury lawsuits in Colorado's federal and state courts, she now specializes in the defense of attorneys in discipline and legal malpractice matters. She is a founding shareholder of McConnell Fleischner Houghtaling & Craigmile, LLC. Ms. Fleischner is recognized in Colorado Super Lawyers in civil litigation and legal malpractice defense. She has served on the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee since 1992 and is the chair of its Education Subcommittee.