Practice and Procedure

The long countdown to the Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) is over! The law takes effect on February 19. Thousands of struggling small businesses will now have a faster, cheaper and more efficient process for filing Chapter 11. SBRA includes several significant changes to current law. Join our panel to update your legal toolbox so you’ll be ready when businesses come calling. Learn more at: https://www.abi.org/sbra

This session will feature a mock trial of a fraudulent-transfer case demonstrating email, Facebook, Instagram, smartphone, messaging and metadata issues.

This session is for attorneys who are moderately proficient in the use of technology.

This session features a panel discussion covering new legislation (Small Business Reorganization Act, HAVEN Act, Family Farmer Reorganization Act, new Rules, new Procedures and new Administrative Orders), as well as proposed changes to PACER and operating programs for electronic filing.

A presentation on wellness, performance enhancement and mindfulness in your practice.

This panel will be led by a senior program analyst for the Law Assistance Program for the State Bar of California and will be an interactive discussion about how prevalent substance use and mental health issues are among attorneys, and how substance use and mental health issues impair an attorney’s ability to perform legal services competently. The panelists will also describe the signs and symptoms of substance abuse, addiction, depression, anxiety and stress, and provide information on lawyer-assistance programs and other resources.

Financial difficulties, especially bankruptcy, are among the most traumatic events an individual can experience. This session will focus on some of the mental health issues that can arise when advising clients with financial difficulties, and in filing and going through bankruptcy. How do mental health issues influence consumer credit choices? What resources are available for you to refer to your clients to help them cope with financial difficulties and bankruptcy? How do mental health issues impact a debtor’s ability to obtain a discharge of student loans? What legal standing must be shown to take action on behalf of a mentally ill individual who is either filing a bankruptcy case or is a debtor in a pending case? What are the best practices for interacting with debtors who have mental health issues?

Panelists will discuss ethical issues relating to due diligence and debtor and creditor actions online as well as practice pointers for engaging in social media.