The NJSBA Summer Conference

FOR EVERY ATTORNEY

Attorneys and New Technology – How Versed Are You?

New or improved technologies appear on a seemingly daily basis. These technologies are often available to, and used by, both attorneys and their clients. The technologies can have benefits – they solve problems, help you work faster and can make you more efficient. However, they also carry risks.

This cutting-edge segment will fill you in on the latest technology for your practice. You’ll receive practical information about how to use it, plus important caveats about what to be aware of as you implement it. This will be presented by esteemed judges who are well-versed in technology – its benefits and potential problem – as well as an attorney who is the co-chair of her firm’s data privacy, protection and litigation group, and an internet pioneer and MIT Media Lab alumna.

Speakers include:
Hon. Ronald J. Hedges (Ret.)
Former USMJ
Principal, Ronald J. Hedges LLC, Hackensack

Hon. Julien X. Neals, U.S.D.J.
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Cristina Dolan
Engineer, Computer Scientist
CEO, Inside Chains

Naju R. Lathia, Esq.
Day Pitney, Parsippany

CIVIL / CRIMINAL

How to Spot a Liar

We are in a profession in which discerning the truth can mean the difference between success and failure, a large verdict or a no-cause, a conviction or an acquittal. We may think that we lawyers and judges are astute lie detectors. We may be confident, but are we accurate?

Mark Smith is a retired county prosecutor’s detective and expert in the science of polygraph testing. He has conducted over 5,000 polygraph examinations covering virtually every topic including murder, sexual assault, arson, theft, fraud, infidelity and many others. He has acted as an expert witness in the areas of polygraph, child sexual abuse and criminal investigation. He has cleared hundreds of people accused or suspected of wrongdoing. In this seminar, he will take you through the science of lying and show you in a practical way how to best determine whether someone is lying or telling the truth.

Topics will include: Developments in the 1950’s- The Reid Technique; The lasting influence of Reid: airport screening and your tax dollars; Using micro-expressions to detect lies; Using body language to detect lies: The DePaulo meta-analysis; Does polygraph add value? New technologies in lie detection; Using plausibility to detect lies; Verbal content analysis; Five rules for evidence-based lie detection and the future of lie detection.

Speaker includes:
Mark P. Smith
Expert Polygraph Testing

ESTATE PLANNING

A Matter of Trusts

When we discuss estate planning, we can’t overlook the importance of proper trust drafting. This seminar goes beyond the basics to explore some of the more complicated techniques in trust creation. The speakers will provide the latest information on trust decanting, trusts for minors, trusts for physically or mentally challenged minors and adult children, trusts for seniors and more.

Speakers include:
Mark R. Friedman, Esq.
Friedman Law, Bridgewater

CIVIL

Avoiding Affidavit of Merit Pitfalls

The Affidavit of Merit Statute has a simple premise of weeding out frivolous litigation while permitting meritorious ones to go forward. But the statute has become a trap for the unwary. Learn about the latest updates affecting medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice as well as other professional negligence matters.

Speakers include:
Christina Vassiliou Harvey, Esq.
Co-Chair, Medical Malpractice
Lomurro Munson, LLC., Freehold

John M. Hockin, Jr., Esq.
Ronan, Tuzzio & Giannone, Tinton Falls

Charles Murray, III, Esq.
Farkas and Donohue, Florham Park

Victoria A. Schall, Esq.
Co-Chair, Medical Malpractice
Schall At Law LLC, Marlton

ESTATE PLANNING

Where There’s a Defective Will – Is There a Way?

Most people are aware they need a will, but they are not necessarily aware of the requirements that allow a will to be probated. Some wills are handwritten on napkins, or printed out with blanks filled in and signed but not witnessed. If you represent an estate, how can you have imperfect wills admitted into probate? What can you do post mortem to perfect a will? Find out what the best options are and how to make it work so that the decedent’s intentions are carried out. Topics will include post-mortem techniques for dealing with imperfect wills, such as disclaimers, reformations, modifications and more.

Speaker includes:
Tara S. Sinha, Esq.
Witman Stadtmauer, P.A., Florham Park

FAMILY

Religious Divorce and Custody

New Jersey is a diverse state, which means that your clients are also diverse, from many religious and cultural backgrounds. Nowhere do religion and culture have a greater impact than in family law issues. Marriages are almost always influenced by cultural norms and values and therefore, so are divorces.

Religion and culture not only influence someone’s decision to get a divorce or file for custody, but they also influence their expectations in the legal process, and their interpersonal relationships within their communities. In order to properly represent your clients, it is vital that you understand the large role that a client’s ethnic, culture or religious background plays in their life during this especially trying time.

Register today to hear a thorough comparison of black-letter law with the realities of daily life for your clients, opening a window into their lives and enabling you to become a better advocate, advisor and litigator.

Speakers include:
Stacey L. Miller, Esq.
Atkins, Tafuri, Minassian D’amato, Beane & Miller, P.A., River Edge

Cipora Winters, Esq.
Keith, Winters, Wenning & Harris, LLC, Bradley Beach

ETHICS/DEI

This presentation focuses on Cautionary Case Law. It’s the kind of case law in which a New Jersey lawyer never wants to be mentioned. The individual topics cross many of the primary ethical duties of a lawyer that every practitioner not only needs to know something about but also needs to know a lot about to avoid disciplinary complaints and malpractice claims. Ultimately knowing the ethical rules is one of the major risk management tools available to lawyers to ward off claims and keep insurance premiums manageable. This two-hour presentation is geared to that objective.

Topics include: The Risk of 11th Hour Electronic Filing, The Tragedy of Substance Abuse, The Ethical Obligation to Report Another Lawyer’s Misconduct, Attorney/Client Privilege, Duty of Communication, Referrals and Associates, Negligent Settlements, and the Entity Theory of Representation.

Speaker includes:
Thaddeus J. Hubert, III, Esq.
Hoagland Longo Moran Dunst & Doukas LLP, New Brunswick

Say What? A Primer on the Do’s and Donts of LGBTQ+ Etiquette

Words matter. Issues involving LGBTQ clients and colleagues cut across every area of law, along with topics involving professional practice and civility. You cannot provide superior representation to your clients unless you understand their needs and perspectives, and how sexual orientation and gender identity can impact a client’s access to justice.This program will provide you with a primer on do’s, don’ts and etiquette that will help you to best represent your clients who are members of the LGBTQ community.

Speaker includes:
Alision C. Leslie, Esq.
Leslie Law Firm, LLC, Morristown

CRIMINAL LAW

From TV Drama to Legal Insight: High-Profile Trials in Focus

Join our panel of criminal law experts as they explore the most captivating moments from recent high-profile trials, including the Young Thug trial, the Karen Read trial, and more. They will create an informative discussion that connects theory with real-world practice. This exciting seminar brings the true crime genre to continuing legal education!

Speakers include:
Hon. James J. Guida, J.S.C. (Ret.)
LoFaro Carver, LLC, Hackensack

Robert A. Bianchi, Esq.
The Bianchi Law Group, LLC, Parsippany and Red Bank

David J. Bruno, Esq.
The Bianchi Law Group, LLC Parsippany and Red Bank

Jennifer Mara, Esq.
Baldassare & Mara, LLC, Roseland

CIVIL

Public Records Challenges for Litigators – OPRA 2.0

The revisions to the Open Public Records Act signed by the governor on June 5 will drastically change New Jersey’s OPRA law and will have a negative impact on many litigators who have depended on OPRA. While discovery is limited to parties involved in litigation, and obtaining information from non-parties requires a subpoena, OPRA has allowed the requester to obtain information from any state or local agency, whether it’s a party to a case or not. This is bound to change.

Join seasoned litigators as they discuss the new law, how it will change litigation practice and what litigators can do to minimize the negative impact the new law will have on your practices.

Speakers include:
Jordan M. Asch, Esq.
Riker Danzig, LLP, Morristown

Stuart J. Leiberman, Esq.
Leiberman Blecher & Sinkevich, PC, Princeton

Michael G. Sinkevich, Jr., Esq.
Leiberman Blecher & Sinkevich, PC, Princeton

FAMILY

Handling International Custody Disputes

More and more, marriages in New Jersey are comprised of one spouse from outside of the United States. In divorce occurs, it can lead to complex custody battles if a parent wants to raise their children in their original home country. International custody disputes are more complicated than domestic ones not only for the logistical problems in visitation and parenting time, but also because of legal issues such as jurisdiction, the Hague Convention and the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act.

This presentation will demystify the issues involved in international custody battles and help you represent a client involved in these complicated cases.

Speaker includes:
Stacey L. Miller, Esq.
Atkins, Tafuri, Minassian D’amato, Beane & Miller, P.A., River Edge

LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT

A Watchful Eye? Considerations on Staff and Office Security

There has been an increase in potentially harmful incidents directed at members of the judiciary, attorneys and staff. All practitioners must ensure that we are providing a physically secure environment for ourselves, our clients and our employees.

Join us for what may be the most important 100 minutes of your month as panelists will discuss the following:
1) What physical security measures are appropriate for the office? For instance, can you install a security camera at the point of entry or any other parts of the office to monitor the comings and goings of visitors/clients?
2) What federal and state privacy laws are impacted here?
3) What are the restrictions on recording employees?
4) Does capturing a client on camera in for an office visit a violation of attorney client privilege? Is it potentially discoverable evidence?
5) Are there other lesser security measures that can be taken? What about obtaining a security assessment from a consultant or perhaps giving some basic safety training to staff?
6) What kind of disclosures on these security measures need to be made to clients and/or staff? (i.e., posting a sign? Disclosure in a retainer agreement?)

Moderator/Speaker:
Jill Roth-Gutman, Esq.
Roth-Gutman Law, LLC, Voorhees

Speakers include:
Donald Newman
Office of Small Business Advocacy, New Jersey Business Action Center

Elizabeth Rozin-Golinder, Esq.
Rozin Golinder Law, LLC, East Brunswick

Alix R. Rubin, Esq.
Rubin Employment Law, Fairfield

Beth Zoller, Esq.
KSBranigan Law P.C., Montclair

CLE Credits