In December, Newman Ferrara hosted New York Women's Bar Association's "Ethics Game Show" at our offices.
Here's a copy of an article about the program which appears in the January 2013 issue of the Association's newsletter:
N E W Y O R K W O M E N ' S B A R A S S O C I A T I O N
JANUARY 2013
MEMBERS LAUGH AND LEARN AT
NYWBA "ETHICS GAME SHOW" CLE PROGRAM
By Julie Hyman and Elizabeth A. Bryson
Who knew that you could have so much fun while attending a CLE program on ethics? Members and guests found out at the terrific "Ethics Game Show" presented by the NYWBA on December 6, 2012.
Participants had the opportunity to hear about some of the craziest cases involving ethics issues from across the country. After each scenario was presented, they were shown multiple-choice answers and asked to ponder which of four possible choices best described the outcome of the case (or the consequences for the lawyer accused of wrongdoing, or the relevant professional responsibility principles that influenced the outcome, etc.).
While everyone had the opportunity to vote on the answer they thought was correct (with a show of hands), matters were made even more exciting because four audience members volunteered to actually "compete" for prizes by answering the questions in front of the whole crowd. Many thanks to audience members Debra S. Cohen, Robert C. Epstein, Margo Blair and Diana M. Haladey for being such good sports and showing exactly how challenging ethical decisions can be in these real-life scenarios.
The evening was organized and hosted by Jeremy R. Feinberg, Esq., who is the Statewide Special Counsel for Ethics and the Commercial Division at New York's Office of Court Administration. He is a regular speaker on professional responsibility, is the Chair of the New York City Bar's Committee on Professional Ethics, and serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School.
Mr. Feinberg was ably assisted by a distinguished panel of experts, including Muriel Gennosa, Appellate Division, Second Department; Barbara Hamilton, Legal Aid Society; Nicole Hyland, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC; and NYWBA Board member Catherine M. Foti, Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, lason, Anello & Bohrer, P.C. The members of the panel took turns describing each scenario and then discussing the legal and ethical principles involved in each decision.
It was an amazing event, and everyone had a great time while learning important lessons. All participants also earned two CLE credit hours in Ethics.
Thanks to the NYWBA Board of Directors and a grant from the bequest given to the New York Women's Bar Association by our late Founder and Past President Hon. Florence Perlow Shientag, the program was free for members. (Non-members paid $50.) Participants also had the opportunity to enjoy light refreshments and network among themselves and with the panelists before and after the program.
NYWBA thanks the distinguished panel for presenting such a stimulating and thought-provoking program. We also thank Newman Ferrara LLP for hosting this event in its conference center at the firm.
We are delighted to announce that Mr. Feinberg has agreed to present another edition of the "Ethics Game Show" for Women's Bar members later in 2013. Details will be published soon.
In the meantime, members may want to consider attending the "Ethics Game Show: Matrimonial and Family Law Edition," which will be held on March 28, 2013 at the Practicing Law Institute, or the "Ethics Game Show: e-Discovery Edition," an "on demand" webcast that will be available from PLI on May 4, 2013. (For details, go to "www.pli.edu.")
Julie Hyman, Esq.is a Vice President of the NYWBA and has a solo matrimonial and family law practice, handling trials and appeals. Elizabeth A, Bryson, Esq. is litigator and appellate attorney and a Past President and current Director of the NYWBA.
