The 2026 NJSBA Summer Conference
Thursday, August 20 (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) | Earn up to 8 credits, including 2.0 in ethics | Online Only
A Special One-Day Virtual Event
Tuition Rates: |
| – Member: $211 |
| – Non-Member: $264 |
A Special One-Day Virtual Event
The New Jersey State Bar Association is excited to host the 2026 CLE event of the summer! Come out of the heat, pour yourself some lemonade or iced tea and enjoy the very best of CLE. You’ll earn up to 8 credits, including in ethics, as you explore the hottest topics and the most important information for your practice.
Access the seminars by logging in to our easy-to-navigate conference website. Just like our Annual Meeting and Convention and other major conferences, there’s no need to pre-register for individual seminars. You’ll be able to attend the sessions you want throughout the day.
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Law Office Management/Ethics |
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How to Manage Your Workload – Time, Task, Email & Distraction Management for Lawyers Is technology serving you, or are you a servant to technology? Today, lawyers are constantly distracted by legal technology, connectivity, electronic case information, discovery, and information overload … email, instant messaging, social media, phone calls, interruptions, etc. Lawyers switch tasks on their computer nearly 600 times a day. We are drowning in technology-based interruptions! These technologies are essential and, in fact, required by many jurisdictions, but they are also killing productivity if we don’t have the processes in place to deal with them! Join Paul Unger, a national speaker and author who coaches lawyers on how to be more efficient with time management, as he shows lawyers how to focus and manage distractions, emails, tasks, and deadlines. Paul’s superpowers are cleaning up law firm messes and turning digital chaos into well-organized machines. He will demonstrate how to take back control of your day and your practice with practical methodologies utilizing tools like Microsoft Outlook that you already own. Speaker: |
For Every Attorney/Ethics |
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U.S. Rep. Barney Frank – His Life, His Legacy and His Impact on the Law Congressman Barney Frank was one of a kind. A plain-talking New Jersey born legislator, he fought tirelessly for the people of Massachusetts for 30 years, helped make housing more affordable, stood up for the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, and helped pass one of the most sweeping financial reforms in history designed to protect consumers and prevent another financial crisis. The Congressman, who died on May 19, leaves a legacy that will resonate well into the future. Join a panel of speakers as they explore Frank’s impact on the law, on LGBTQ+ rights and the lives of all Americans. Speaker: |
10:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Civil and Criminal Trial |
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How to Apply NJRE 702 Re: Expert Witnesses to Your Cases The New Jersey Supreme Court Evidence Rules Committee recently proposed amendments to NJRE 702 re: the admission of expert testimony. The amendments would mirror the more detailed and specific Federal Rule of Evidence 702. Proponents of mirroring the federal rule aver that the amendments would fix widespread misapplication of the rule by courts and clarify existing law regarding the admissibility of expert testimony, and that it would also clarify the gatekeeping role of trial judges to prevent unreliable expert testimony from reaching juries. Opponents of the amendment disagree, arguing that the amendments would not further the goal of clarity and that the current rule is sufficiently clear. Both sides agreed on one essential point, and that is that more education surrounding the qualification of experts and the admission of testimony would benefit the legal community. In this session, a panel of experienced plaintiff and defense attorneys will take a deep dive into the application of NJRE 702. They will discuss what qualifies someone to be an expert, effective methods of arguing for and against admissibility, and additional information you need to better represent your clients at trial.
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Estate Planning and Administration |
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23 and Who? Protecting Your Client’s Assets from Newly Discovered Heirs Genetic testing companies offer an easy and entertaining way to check into someone’s ancestry. However, what happens when a long-lost relative finds out you’re related and wants to stake a claim on your client’s estate?! This program will address estate planning in the 21st century with a view toward protecting your clients’ assets from newly discovered heirs. Speakers: |
Criminal Law |
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From TV Dramas to Legal Insight – High-Profile Crimes in Focus A noted defense attorney and former prosecutor and an esteemed panel of practitioners return for another installment of this virtual conference favorite! Join them as they explore criminal cases in the current headlines to spur an informative discussion that connects theory with real-world practice. This exciting seminar brings the true crime genre to continuing legal education! Moderator/Speaker: Speakers: |
Labor and Employment |
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Safe to Learn, Safe to Work: Legal Duties for Psychological Safety in Schools and the Workplace This program will examine the emerging legal landscape surrounding psychological safety in both workplace and educational settings. As employers, schools, and public institutions face increasing scrutiny regarding harassment prevention, discrimination, bullying, retaliation, mental health concerns, and organizational culture, attorneys must understand the legal duties, compliance obligations, and potential liabilities associated with maintaining psychologically safe environments. Through analysis of statutes, case law, and real-world scenarios, the CLE program will provide attorneys with practical tools for counseling employers, educational institutions, and public entities on their legal obligations and best practices for promoting psychologically safe environments. Moderator/Speaker: Speakers: |
12:50 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Civil Litigation |
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Verdicts, Settlements, Damages and Your Client’s Estate – What Personal Injury Attorneys Need to Know about Trust and Estate Law Estate and trust practice interacts with personal injury practice more than you might think! If you are a personal injury attorney who isn’t familiar with estate and trust law, you may be putting your client’s hard-won case or settlement at risk. This is a crash course for civil litigators in how estate law interacts with personal injury, wrongful death, workers comp claims and more. Join a seasoned trust and estate lawyer and an experienced personal injury lawyer as they take you through the basics of estate administration, probate, powers of attorney, executor or administrator appointment, guardianship, and special needs trusts. They will show you how understanding some basic planning concepts and tax rules will save your clients money and keep you from opening yourself to possible malpractice claims. Speakers: |
2:50 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wellness |
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The Sandwich Generation Practicing Law – How to Care for Yourself and Your Clients While Caring for Others This program is for anyone who has balanced a computer on their lap while accompanying a loved one to the emergency room, dragged themself into work after being up all night with a chronically ill child, or has taken a client call while supporting a parent with dementia. If your day is divided between legal deadlines and conversations with medical providers, hospice professionals, or social workers, this program is for you. During this 100-minute seminar, the presenters will offer practical guidance, support, and insight. Panelists will share personal experiences navigating the intersection of caregiving and legal practice, discuss strategies they have developed to manage stress and maintain professional responsibilities, and highlight resources available through the New Jersey State Bar Association and the courts to support attorney caregivers. This program aims to foster understanding, provide practical tools, and remind attorney caregivers that they are not alone in facing these challenges. Speakers: |
Criminal Law |
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What Criminal Attorneys Need to Know about AI Crimes Artificial Intelligence and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), as with any technology, may be used for good and bad purposes. Those bad purposes may give rise to investigations and prosecutions for criminal activity, as we have seen with “deepfakes” involving child pornography. This session will examine known or foreseeable AI and GenAI-related crimes, the nature of investigations into and prosecution of such crimes, discovery of the fruits of those investigations, and relevant principles under the United States and New Jersey constitutions. The session will also look at the admissibility of AI and GenAI and “hallucinations.” Speakers: |
CLE CREDITS:
CLE Credits |
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| NJ CLE: | NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 8 hours of total CLE credit, including 2.0 in Ethics (Full Credits Available: NJ Ethics: 2.0, NJ General: 6.0). |
| NY CLE: | NY Ethics Non-Transitional: 2.0, NY Professional Practice Non-Transitional: 6.0 |
| PA CLE: | PA Ethics Credit: 1.5, PA Substantive Credit: 5.0 New: No PACLE fee is required for this program. To earn PA CLE credits, a valid PA Bar ID number must be entered into the CLE form provided after attending the program. |
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Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
To secure your spot and receive important updates about our events, meetings, and other gatherings, such as schedule changes, remember to register in advance.
Digital Materials & Environmental Commitment: As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, unless otherwise noted, all seminar materials are provided as digital downloads. You can access these materials through:
- The “My Links” section at the top of our website for in-person or online events
- Or, for online programs, the event access link included in your joining instructions
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
If you need to cancel your registration and are not transferring to another program or date, please submit a written request to us at least three business days before the event, meeting, or gathering. You will receive a refund minus a $20.00 cancellation fee. No refunds or registration changes will be issued within three business days of the event, meeting, or gathering.
Stay Informed:
Registered participants will be notified of any schedule changes. For updates regarding inclement weather, please check your email or visit NJSBA.com.
Media Consent:
By participating in our events, meetings, or other gatherings, you agree to be photographed and/or recorded. Additionally, all media content captured during these gatherings will become the property of NJSBA. This content, including your image and name, may be used in our future promotional materials without additional consent or compensation.
Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy:
Read our Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy and submit an Application here: https://njsba.com/njicle/cle-programs/scholarship/