On-Demand CLEs
The following CLEs have been approved as on-demand CLEs by the Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education
Effective January 1, 2024–A lawyer may now claim all 45 hours of credit with approved on-demand CLEs.
COMPLIMENTARY- Alumni Series On Demand CLEs
2023 Hon. Steven E. Rau Memorial Lecture: A burned out and isolated attorney is an unproductive employee (if they stick around at all)
Description
A burned out and isolated attorney is an unproductive employee (if they stick around at all). The reasons why wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (beyond lip service) are necessary for the overall financial health and long-term stability of your organization.
Speaker
Jessica Klander defends businesses and professionals against liability and malpractice claims in the consumer law defense, professional liability, and general liability arenas.
Also experienced in complex litigation, employment law, non-compete disputes, and class action lawsuits, Ms. Klander regularly represents clients in both state and federal courts across the United States. She currently defends creditors and credit professionals against federal consumer statute claims, defends health care providers and professionals against liability claims, and represents businesses in a spectrum of commercial disputes. She also consults with and trains clients on compliance with state and federal regulations.
Ms. Klander serves as Secretary of the Hennepin County Bar Association and on the insideArm Legal Advisory Board. Ms. Klander also serves on Bassford Remele’s Board of Directors and as a Chair of its Recruiting Committee.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Elimination of Bias CLE credit. The code 487599 is valid through June 23, 2025.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Jessica Klander.
2024 Hon. Steven E. Rau Memorial Lecture: The Critical Importance of Civility for our Institutions
Description
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and President and Dean Camille M. Davidson have a conversation on the significant role civility plays in maintaining the health of our institutions.
Speakers
Eric Holder served in government for over three decades and was the first Black attorney general in U.S. history, serving under President Obama from 2009 to 2015. Named as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2014 and the recipient of the NAACP’s Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, Holder is an internationally recognized leader in promoting civil rights and equal justice. He currently serves as senior counsel at Covington & Burling and as chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.
Camille Davidson became president and dean of Mitchell Hamline School of Law on July 1. She most recently came from Southern Illinois University, where she served as dean of Simmons Law School and brought in the largest gift in the university’s history. Prior to SIU, she held teaching and administrative positions at Charlotte School of Law and Wake Forest University School of Law, and she has also worked in private practice and the public sector.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 516441 is valid through November 5, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Dean Camille Davidson.
A Conversation About Academic Freedom
Description
This program will explore the topic of Academic Freedom and the free pursuit and expression of knowledge, ideas, and learning in higher education.
A panel of national and local constitutional scholars and experts will discuss the purpose and protections of academic freedom, free inquiry, and freedom of expression in an academic community and its impact on students, faculty, staff, and others.
The program will explore the following questions among others:
- What is the purpose of academic freedom?
- What are the protections and limitations of free speech in higher education?
- What impact does the substance and forum, including social media, have on the application of free speech and academic freedom in this environment?
- What is the relationship between academic freedom, academic responsibility, and ethics?
- What ethical obligations do speakers in higher education have to consider the impact of their communications on their audiences?
- What is the relationship between academic freedom and diversity, equity, and inclusion?
- Does academic freedom impose an obligation on speakers to include diverse points of views in the classroom and to avoid suppression of diverse voices?
This event is part of Mitchell Hamline’s First Amendment Scholars Program which focuses attention and scholarship on the interpretation of the First Amendment in contemporary society among legal scholars and historians.
Speakers
Amna Khalid
Associate Professor, History, Carleton College
Professor Khalid specializes in modern South Asian history, the history of medicine and the global history of free expression. Growing up under a series of military dictatorships in Pakistan, Khalid has a strong interest in issues relating to free expression. She hosts a podcast and accompanying blog called “Banished,” which explores censorship controversies in the past and present.
Jeff Snyder
Associate Professor, Educational Studies, Carleton College
Professor Snyder is a historian of education, whose work examines questions about race, national identity and the purpose of public education in a diverse, democratic society. Snyder is the author of the book, Making Black History: The Color Line, Culture and Race in the Age of Jim Crow.
Professor Khalid and Professor Snyder speak regularly together about academic freedom, free speech and campus politics at colleges and universities across the country. They also write frequently on these issues for newspapers and magazines, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Daily Beast, The New Republic and The Washington Post. Khalid and Snyder were fellows with the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement in 2022–23, where their research focused on threats to academic freedom in Florida. Based on interviews they conducted with Florida faculty members, Khalid and Snyder submitted an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs who are challenging the Stop WOKE Act.
Mark Berkson
Professor and Chair, Department of Religion, Hamline University
Professor Berkson teaches courses in Asian religions (including the Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and Hindu traditions), Islam, and comparative religion. Mark received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in religious studies, his M.A. from Stanford University in East Asian Studies, and his B.A. from Princeton University.
Mark’s scholarly work has addressed topics such as Confucian and Daoist thought, death and dying, religion and non-human animals, and interfaith dialogue. His work has been published in numerous books and journals including the essay “Teaching Religion and Upholding Academic Freedom” in a special issue of the Journal of Religious Ethics. He has released two lecture series with the Great Courses: Cultural Literacy for Religion and Death, Dying and the Afterlife: Lessons from World Cultures.
Stacy Hawkins
Professor of Law and former Vice Dean, Rutgers Law School
Professor Hawkins is an award-winning teacher and scholar who teaches courses in Constitutional Law, Employment Law and an original seminar on Diversity and the Law. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2023 Chancellor’s Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership, the 2022 BLSA Champion for Social Justice Award, and the 2018 AALS Derrick A. Bell Award, which is given to those junior faculty who exemplify a commitment to diversity and critical race theory in their teaching, scholarship and service. She was also named Faculty of the Year by the graduating class of 2013 and Co-Professor of the Year by the graduating class of 2018.
Professor Hawkins’s scholarship focuses on the intersection of law and diversity and can be found in journals published by the University of Michigan Law School, Fordham Law School, UCLA School of Law, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, the University of Maryland School of Law, and Columbia Law School, among others. She is a recognized expert on employment law and diversity, has given testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, and has been interviewed or quoted in various news outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNBC, NBC, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, Bloomberg News, The Courier Post, and Philadelphia Magazine.
In addition to law teaching, Professor Hawkins has spent more than two decades advising and training clients in both the public and private sector on issues of workplace diversity. She has held or holds a number of professional and civic appointments, including as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement, as an advisory board member of the Public Interest Law Center, and as an inaugural member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Diversity Team.
Professor Hawkins earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, where she earned various honors including the title of national champion of the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition.
Nadine Strossen
John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law Emerita, New York Law School; past president of the American Civil Liberties Union
Professor Strossen is a senior fellow with FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights and Education) and a leading expert and frequent speaker/media commentator on constitutional law and civil liberties, who has testified before Congress on multiple occasions. She serves on the advisory boards of the ACLU, Academic Freedom Alliance, Heterodox Academy, National Coalition Against Censorship, and the University of Austin.
The National Law Journal has named Professor Strossen one of America’s “100 Most Influential Lawyers,” and several other publications have named her one of the country’s most influential women. Her many honorary degrees and awards include the American Bar Association’s prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award (2017). In 2023, the National Coalition Against Censorship (an alliance of more than 50 national non-profit organizations) selected Professor Strossen for its Judy Blume Lifetime Achievement Award for Free Speech.
When Professor Strossen stepped down as ACLU President, three (ideologically diverse) Supreme Court Justices participated in her farewell/tribute luncheon: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, and David Souter.
She is the author of HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship (2018) and Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know (2023). She is also the Host and Project Consultant for Free to Speak, a 3-hour documentary film series on free speech release on public television in fall 2023.
Her book Defending Pornography: Free Speech, Sex, and the Fight for Women’s Rights was named a New York Times “notable book” of 1995, and will be republished in 2024 as part of the New York University Press “Classic” series. Her book HATE was selected as the “Common Read” by Washington University and Washburn University.
Professor Strossen has made thousands of public presentations before diverse audiences around the world, including on more than 500 different campuses and in many foreign countries, and she has appeared on virtually every national TV news program. Her hundreds of publications have appeared in many scholarly and general interest publications.
Professor Strossen graduated phi beta kappa from Harvard College and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. Before becoming a law professor, she practiced law in Minneapolis (her hometown) and New York City. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Anthony Sanders
Director and senior attorney, Center for Judicial Engagement at the Institute for Justice
Anthony Sanders joined the Institute for Justice in 2010. He educates the public about the proper role of judges in enforcing constitutional limits on the size and scope of government through various means, including live events, books, articles, and podcasts.
Anthony’s expertise is on using state constitutions to protect individual rights. He is the author of the book, published by University of Michigan Press, Baby Ninth Amendments: How Americans Embraced Unenumerated Rights and Why It Matters. He has also written several law review articles on state constitutional law, unenumerated rights, judicial review, economic liberty, property rights, international law, and other subjects. His work has appeared in publications such as the Iowa Law Review, Minnesota Law Review, American University Law Review, and Rutgers Law Review. He has published opinion pieces in leading newspapers across the country and has been a contributor to various journals including The Unpopulist, the Brennan Center’s State Court Report, Discourse Magazine, and Arc Digital. He frequently speaks to various audiences on these matters and others, including judicial engagement, free speech, civil forfeiture, and the continuing importance of Magna Carta. Additionally, he hosts the weekly Short Circuit podcast which often records live in front of law student audiences.
Anthony has litigated several cases concerning state constitutional protections in various state courts, as well as in federal courts on matters such as economic liberty, free speech, administrative law, and fines and fees abuse. Prior to joining the Institute for Justice, Anthony served as a law clerk to Justice W. William Leaphart on the Montana Supreme Court. Anthony also worked for several years in private practice in Chicago where he was an active member of the Chicago Bar Association and chaired its Civil Rights Committee.
Anthony received his law degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2004, his undergraduate degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and his master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a member of the Federalist Society, the Selden Society, the American Society for Legal History, and the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society.
Credits
This event has been approved for 3 Standard CLE credits. The code 506817 is valid through May 14, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Prof. Leanne Fuith.
Adventures in Expungement-Land
Description
An overall how-to for the expungement of criminal cases in the State of Minnesota, from case review to courtroom arguments. With special emphasis on the changes that recently went into effect, and a small overview of the coming changes in the next few years.
Speaker
Landon Ascheman is a criminal law attorney, having practiced private criminal defense, served as a special assistant public defender, and a contract prosecutor. He has assisted law students with the Mitchell Hamline Self-Help clinic since its inception, and volunteers with SMRLS and other criminal expungement clinics. He has chaired the MSBA, HCBA, and RCBA Criminal Law Sections at different times, and is the Past-President of the HCBA, and current President of the Mitchell Hamline Alumni Board.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 491848 is valid through September 12, 2025.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Landon Ascheman.
Adventures in Expungement-Land CLE Relevant Docs
Civility Matters
Description
The Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”) is proud to present in collaboration with Mitchell Hamline School of Law “Civility Matters,” an effort to promote the first specific purpose in ABOTA’s constitution: “To elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession.”
ABOTA created Civility Matters with the hope that the program would be presented at ABOTA educational activities, other Bar and professional programs, and, especially, in every law school in the country. The programs feature first-hand lessons and experience from ABOTA members and are intended to instill values and standards that promote high regard for the legal profession.
Speakers
Dave Hutchinson, Esq. Geraghty, O’Loughlin & Kenney, PA
Dave has been part of Geraghty, O’Loughlin & Kenney since 1977. He has been instrumental in building a thriving practice as well as becoming a renowned medical malpractice defense litigator. Dave has served as lead trial counsel in over 80 jury trials. He is also a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (1991 to Present).
Angela Nelson, Esq. In House Counsel University of Minnesota Physicians
Angela Nelson currently serves as Assistant Counsel, Senior Director of Clinical Risk Management at the University of Minnesota Physicians. Prior to this role, she served as an attorney at the law firm Gislason & Hunter, LLP from 2003 – 2020. In addition, Angela served as an Associate Attorney at Bye, Goff & Rohde, Ltd. From 2000 – 2003.
Nate Bjerke, TSR Injury Law
Nate is a Partner at TSR Injury Law who is known as one of the most fearless and skilled trial lawyers in the region. Nate’s peers have voted him a Top 100 Super Lawyer (top .5% of all attorneys) every year since 2014; The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers; Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”); and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. About half of Nate’s work comes from other lawyers who ask him to either help try their client’s cases or to simply take the cases over for trial.
Nate has lectured and taught trial practice skills to lawyers across the United States. He has also tried and won catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases from Florida to Washington, to California to Vermont. Nate spent the first 12 years of his career defending big business and now uses that experience to help injury survivors when businesses and insurance companies refuse to fairly treat the people they hurt.
Nate went to college at Hamline University in St. Paul where he was on the Dean’s List and was a two-time all-conference football player. He transferred to the University of St. Thomas where he graduated with honors in 1993. Nate then attended the University of Minnesota Law School and graduated with honors in 1996.
Senior Judge Kathryn Davis Messerich
Judge Messerich was appointed to the bench on April 19, 2004, by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Following her appointment, she was re-elected in 2006, 2012, and 2018. Judge Messerich retired on Sept. 2, 2021. Following her retirement, she was appointed and assigned to serve statewide as Senior Judge from Oct. 4, 2021, to June 30, 2025. William Mitchell College of Law (J.D. 1987) (Law Review Editor 1985-86)
Credits
This event has been approved for 1.5 Standard CLE credits. The code 522618 is valid through Feb. 5, 2027.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Dave Hutchinson.
Compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act and Minnesota Indian Preservation Act in Minnesota
Description
Learn how collaboration among Minnesota’s eleven tribes and the State of Minnesota has strengthened and expanded ICWA. The State of Minnesota has had a Tribal/State agreement since 1985. Parts of the agreement have been codified into law (MIFPA) and provide a greater protection for the preservation of Indian families. The agreement also establishes many unique provisions including ICWA/MIFPA compliance through a complaint process. Minnesota law also mandates an annual ICWA compliance review process that has been in place since 2018. Provisions of ICWA/MIPFA that are a part of this process will be discussed along with the accomplishments and challenges we have had along the way.
Speaker
Cindi Miller is a 1999 graduate of William Mitchell Law School. She initially practiced family law and child welfare law in both state court and various tribal courts in Minnesota. Since 2018, she has been working for the State of Minnesota in the American Indian Well-Being Unit at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (formerly the Department of Human Services), first as an ICWA Compliance Consultant and now as the attorney for the unit. Cindi is an enrolled member of the Cansayapi Dakota Community also known as the Lower Sioux Community in southwestern Minnesota.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credits. The code 527532 is valid through April 22, 2027.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Cindi Miller.
Crossing Ethical Lines for a Client: Former President Trump’s Lawyers and Co-Conspirators
Description
One noteworthy fact in the recent August 1, 2023 Department of Justice indictment and August 15, 2023 Fulton County Georgia indictment of Former President Trump, was the indictment of several lawyers, including Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Sydney Powell, and Kenneth Chesebro, as co-conspirators in alleged criminal action to overturn the results of the 2020 Election. In addition to facing criminal prosecution for their actions on behalf of their client, these lawyers have also faced disciplinary action in the states where they are licensed for their violation of legal ethics rules. Using President Trump’s Lawyers and Indicted Co-Conspirators as a case study, this CLE will examine the alleged actions of these lawyers that “crossed the line” into conduct prohibited by the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, including:
- Model Rule 1.2(d) – Prohibiting lawyers from counseling clients to engage, or assisting a client in conduct the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent;
- Model Rule 3.1 – Prohibiting lawyers from bringing or defending a legal claim that lacks legal merit or is frivolous
- Model Rule 3.3 – a lawyer’s duty of candor to the tribunal;
- Model Rule 4.1(a) – prohibiting a lawyer from making false statements of material fact or law to third parties; and
- Model Rule 8.4(a)-(e) – prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in:
Actions that violate or attempt to violate the Model Rules of Professional Conduct;
Criminal acts that reflect adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer,
Conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;
Conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice; or
State or imply an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official.
Speaker
Ana Pottratz Acosta, MHSL Clinical Instructor and Professor of Law
Ana Pottratz Acosta joined Mitchell Hamline in 2016 as clinical instructor teaching the Health Law Clinic and overseeing the Medical-Legal Partnership between the law school and United Family Medicine, a Federally Qualified Healthcare (FQHC) facility in St. Paul. Immediately prior to joining the MHSL faculty, Ana practiced at Stinson Leonard Street as an attorney in the immigration law group where she represented clients in employment-based immigration matters and supervised non-immigration attorneys on pro bono immigration matters for clients of the Deinard Clinic, the firm’s pro bono program providing legal services to patients of the University of Minnesota CUHCC Clinic.
Additionally, from 2004 to 2010, Ana served as an immigration attorney for the Lutheran Social Services of New York (LSSNY) Immigration Legal Services Program where she provided direct legal services to low-income immigrant populations in New York City. As part of her work with LSSNY, Ana also served as lead attorney in the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) Special Registration Project where she represented men from Muslim majority countries placed in removal proceedings after complying with the NSEERS Special Registration Program and served as supervisor of the LSSNY Refugee Resettlement Program from 2008 to 2010. Ana is a 2004 graduate of Columbia Law School and a 2001 graduate of the University of Minnesota.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Ethics CLE credit. The code 492826 is valid through September 27, 2025.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Prof. Ana Pottratz Acosta.
Does Democracy Matter?
Description
On the eve of one of the most anticipated Presidential elections in U.S. history, the American Bar Association (ABA) released its 2024 Survey of Civic Literacy. The results showed a general concern about the status of our democracy, placing blame on misinformation, political parties, social media, and a lack of civility. And half of those responding to the survey felt that the public is not very informative about how democracy works. As lawyers we have taken an oath to support rule of law in an honest and courteous manner. Come listen to a moderate panel discussion about the status of our democracy and what we can do to preserve it for the future generation.
Co-Sponsored by the Mitchell Hamline School of Law and the Ramsey County Bar Association
Speakers
Andy Brehm | Deputy General Counsel Burwell Industries
Victoria Brenner | Partner, Taft Law
Erik Detlefsen | Partner, Dorsey & Whitney
Hon. Victoria Elsmore | Referee, 2nd Judicial District
Hilary Fox | Lead Counsel, Client Legal Services Allstate
Bryce Miller | Attorney, Collins Buckley P.A.
Maya Missaghi | Attorney, Hvistendahl, Moersch, Dorsey & Hahn
Andrew J. Rorvig | Partner, McEllistrem Fargione P.A.; RCBA President
Moderators
The Honorable James Farnsworth | U of Minnesota Regent
Amanda Karls | JD, Principal at Foodvocate LLC
Credits
This event has been approved for 2 Standard CLE credits. The code 515886 is valid through October 16, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Andy Rorvig.
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Patent Cooperation Treaty But Were Afraid to Ask
Description
The objective of this CLE webinar is to demystify the PCT – an essential but cumbersome treaty-based system – and help participants become better PCT practitioners. Based on the presenters’ own experience and drawing from their 2023 book, The Practitioner’s Guide to the PCT, published by the ABA-IPL, the webinar will take participants through the various stages of the PCT process, with examples, strategies, tips on avoiding pitfalls, and the questions that need to be addressed to move from one stage to the next.
Topics will include: when and why to use the PCT; filing challenges and choices; the international search process and what to do about it; what to do when circumstances change or things go wrong; and how to optimize moving from the international to the national stage.
Speakers
Jay Erstling is former Director of the Office of the PCT at WIPO in Geneva, Switzerland, and a Professor Emeritus at Mitchell Hamline.
Megan M. Miller received her JD degree from Mitchell Hamline and is an attorney at Winthrop and Weinstine in Minneapolis.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 506819 is valid through May 14, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Megan Miller or Prof. Jay Erstling.
From Bong Water to Tin Foil: Statutory Interpretation in the Minnesota Supreme Court
Description
We’ll review key cases illustrating some of the changes and some of the continuities in the supreme court’s approach to statutory interpretation since State v. Peck. The focus of the hour will be on the strengths and limitations of textualism.
Speaker
Professor Peter B. Knapp
Education
A.B., 1980, Harvard University
J.D., 1983, Harvard Law School
Experience
Mitchell Hamline School of Law: professor of law, 2015–; interim president and dean, 2019–20; co-director of clinical program, 2015–17.
William Mitchell College of Law: professor of law, 1994–2015; associate professor of law, 1992–94; co-director of clinics, 1989–2015; assistant professor of law, 1989–92.
Attorney, Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly, St. Paul, 1983–89.
Admitted: Minnesota, 1983.
Leadership & Service
Member and subcommittee chair, Minnesota Supreme Court Legal Services Planning Committee, 2003–; member, 1996–; and chair, 1998, 2001, Law School Initiatives Subcommittee; legal assist. for the Disadvantaged Committee, Minnesota State Bar Assn.; president, 1994–; and member, 1990–; board of directors, Liberty Plaza Housing Project; chair, Legal Services Coordinating Commission, MN Supreme Court, 2005–.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 498542 is valid through January 18, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Peter Knapp.
From Promise to Practice: The Role of Courts in Ensuring Equal Justice Under Law
Description
Equal protection is a foundational principle of the U.S. system of justice. Courts play a pivotal role in translating these promised principles into meaningful practice through the daily administration of justice. In Promise to Practice: The Role of Equal of Ensuring Equal Justice Under Law join various District Court Judges and members of State Court Administration to discuss the work of the branch both past, present and future. Specifically, we will examine the actions the Minnesota Judicial Branch has put into practice to eliminate bias from court operations, promote equal access to the court, and inspire a high level of trust and public confidence in the Minnesota Judicial Branch. This presentation will examine the historical work of the 1989 Gender Fairness Task Force, the 1993 Race Bias Task Force, and their Implementation Committees, and the current work of the Committee for Equality and Justice. In addition, we will discuss various statewide efforts to address diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts including recent updates to statewide jury instructions and bench cards to address issues of implicit bias, updates to the Minnesota Pretrial Release Evaluation Form and Assessment Tool (MNPAT) to ensure parity of predictiveness for defendants by race, updates from oneCourtMN Hearing Initiative to ensure continued meaningful access to justice post-pandemic, updates on statewide community outreach efforts based on findings of a recent study on race data of Minnesota Juries, statewide efforts to address probation revocation rates for minority populations, and how the Branch has committed through its long-range roadmap to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive court system. We hope that you will join us for this meaningful discussion on the role of the Court’s in ensuring Equal Justice Under Law: past, present, and future.
Speakers
Justice Margaret Chutich was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to the Minnesota Supreme Court on Mar. 17, 2016, and she was elected in 2018. Previous to her service on the Supreme Court, she was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Feb. 16, 2012, and she was elected in 2014. Before being appointed to the Court of Appeals, Justice Chutich served in a number of roles spanning education, government service and private practice. Justice Chutich earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota, and graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School.
Judge Jamie Cork was appointed August 3, 2016, by Governor Mark Dayton, and elected in 2018. Previous to her service on the bench, Judge Cork held roles in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and she worked as a correctional officer. She earned her B.S. from Mount Senario College and graduated from Hamline University School of Law.
Judge Sara Grewing was appointed Feb. 2, 2015, by Governor Mark Dayton, and elected in 2016 and 2022. Previous to her service on the bench, Judge Grewing held roles in government service, orked as the State Director for United States Senator Amy Klobuchar, and was an associate at Flaherty and Hood, P.A. She earned her B.M. from the University of Minnesota and graduated from William Mitchell College of Law.
Judge JaPaul Harris was appointed July 11, 2018 by Governor Mark Dayton, and he was elected in 2020. Previous to his service on the bench, he was a referee in the Fourth Judicial District. He also previously worked for Mid Minnesota Legal Aid, Minneapolis Public Schools, and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. He earned his B.A. from Syracuse University and graduated from Hamline University School of Law.
Kate Malmon is the oneCourtMN Hearing Initiative (OHI) Portfolio Manager and a Senior Project Manager in the Project Management Office within the Strategic Planning and Projects Office in SCAO. She started her career with the Minnesota Judicial Branch in 2014 as a business analyst in ITD and became a project manager in 2016. Some of the project she’s managed include the MNCIS Records Management, Supervision Module Implementation for treatment courts, and the Improving Remote Hearings Project. Kate has a BA degree in Biomedical Science with a minor in Criminal Justice from St. Cloud State University.
Katie Schurrer is the manager of the Strategic Planning and Projects of the State Court Administrator’s Office. Katie has worked for the court system for almost 20 years. Katie first worked for Washington County Court Administration temporarily in 1999 and 2000, and then joined the State Court Administrators’ Office in 2006 as a research analyst, focusing on the Statewide Adult Drug Court Evaluation, weighted caseload studies, surveys, and performance measures. Starting in 2013, Katie worked for Human Resources & Development (HRD) supporting and overseeing classification and compensation efforts, assisting in coordinating and planning judicial education programs, and providing legal assistance to the Legal Counsel Division on HR matters. Katie also served as a judicial law clerk for Judge John Rodenberg on the Court of Appeals for the 2014-15 term and has supported the Pretrial Release Initiative in various roles since 2015. In 2019, Katie became the manager of the newly formed Strategic Planning and Projects Office. Today, Katie oversees three units in that office: Court Research Office, Project Management Office, Strategic Consulting Office. Katie has a B.A. degree in Sociology from Augsburg University and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and is licensed to practice law in Minnesota.
Judge Richelle Wahi was appointed Feb. 26, 2016, by Governor Mark Dayton, and was elected in 2018. Previous to her appointment to the bench, Judge Wahi was partner at Lindquist & Vennum, following roles as an attorney at Moss & Barnett and Henson & Efron. She earned her B.A. at St. Catherine’s and she graduated cum laude from William Mitchell.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1.5 Elimination of Bias CLE credits. The code 486646 is valid through May 25, 2025.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Judge Richelle Wahi.
International Law and Violence Against Women
Description
Violence against women and girls is the most widespread human rights violation in the world. According to the World Health Organization, one in three women are survivors of intimate partner violence or sexual assault. Legal frameworks on the international, regional, and national levels have attempted to address this scourge with limited success. This CLE will examine the United Nations’ legal frameworks on violence against women, regional treaties, and the proposal for a new global treaty to end violence against women and girls.
Speaker
Helen Rubenstein is an experienced international human rights attorney with particular expertise in violence against women as a human rights issue.
Helen is currently serving as interim director of diplomacy with Every Woman Treaty, a coalition of more than 2100 activists and 840 organizations in 128 countries working to achieve a global treaty to end violence against women and girls. She was previously deputy director of Global Rights for Women, and deputy director of the Women’s Program at The Advocates for Human Rights, where she worked with women’s rights NGOs and governments around the world on legal reform and systems change to address violence against women.
Helen has traveled to Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tanzania, Moldova, Morocco, Colombia, Russia, Latvia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, and Turkey to conduct training and make presentations. She has trained police, prosecutors, judges, victim advocates, high government officials, and others on domestic violence and sexual violence. She carries out human rights fact-finding on the legal system’s response to violence against women. She has provided consultation on the drafting and implementation of laws on domestic violence in Mongolia, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Uganda, and Somalia, among others. Helen is the chief author of Time for a Change: The Need for a Binding International Treaty on Violence Against Women, and Time for Action: The Way to a Binding International Treaty on Violence Against Women.
Helen worked for the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office for many years, including enforcing the Minnesota Human Rights Act in cases of sexual harassment and sex, race, religious, and disability discrimination. She initiated the first sexual harassment class action case in the United States, Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co., on which the movie North Country was based.
Helen received her law degree cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from George Washington University.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 487597 is valid through June 23, 2025.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Helen Rubenstein.
Mastering Standardized Field Sobriety Tests: A Legal and Practicable Perspective
Description
This in-depth CLE course will focus on SFSTs as established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This CLE is ideal for defense attorneys, prosecutors, and any other legal profession involved in DUI/DWI cases who seek to enhance their understanding of SFSTs and improve their litigation strategies.
The NHTSA SFSTs, through extensive testing, created reliable roadside assessments to check for driver impairment. These tests, when administered correctly, provide police officers with vital clues to determine a driver’s level of impairment. However, the manual states “If any one if the SFST elements is changes, the validity may be compromised.”
Participants will dive into the proper instructions, demonstrations, and scoring criteria for each SFST to grasp what officers are trained to look for during a traffic stop. The course will cover:
A brief history on the development of SFSTs by NHTSA
Detailed instructions for administering Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand tests.
The standardized clues and interpretation of each clue according to NHTSA.
If time permits: a brief look into ARIDE tests
Modified Romberg, Lack of Convergence, Finger to Nose.
Speaker
Noah Pesola graduated from Hamline University with a degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology, a degree in Psychology, and a minor in Forensic Science.
In 2016, Noah joined the Montana Highway Patrol, where he served as a State Trooper until August of 2022. During his tenor, he excelled in various specialty roles including a Field Training Officer, a member of Special Response Team Alpha, drone pilot, use of force instructor, active shooter instructor, social media officer and camp commander at the Montana Highway Patrol Advanced Academy. Noah has many certifications, including Desert Snow, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and DRE Overview Training for Legal Professionals, which further highlights his specialization in DWIs.
Noah’s dedication and skill in enforcing DWI laws are evident through his leadership in both his detachment and district in DWI arrests in 2018-2019. Noah has approximately 150 DWI arrests and convictions and has properly conducted SFSTs thousands of times.
Currently, Noah serves as an investigator for the Minnesota State Public Defenders Office. Additionally, he owns Pesola Inc LLC, where he operates as a private investigator and criminal law consultant, specializing in DWIs. His expertise heave earned him recognition as an expert in multiple courts throughout Minnesota.
Noah’s career is marked by a dedication to law enforcement, education, and the pursuit of justice. Although not currently working in law enforcement, he continues to make a significant impact in the legal and law enforcement communities.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 515874 is valid through October 16, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Noah Pesola.
Prof. Ken Port Memorial Lecture – Trademark Ethics in the U.S. and China
Description
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) have both been hit with an avalanche of fraudulent trademark applications, and both offices have responded with the largest intellectual property professional responsibility disciplinary campaigns in their respective histories. Although most of the fraudulent applications originate in China, US trademark attorneys bear responsibility for filing and prosecuting the bulk of those applications in the USPTO. The ethical and professional responsibility considerations for US practitioners are therefore highly significant.
The purpose of this CLE panel presentation is to look at the efforts that both the USPTO and CNIPA have undertaken to combat fraudulent applications, and to examine the relevant provisions of the USPTO Code of Professional Responsibility and Practice that are aimed at prohibiting such unethical behavior.
The panelists will also explore other proposed strategies for combatting fraudulent trademark filings in the US, such as establishing a mandatory professional trademark bar with an active registration process and continuing trademark ethics legal education requirements, or requiring that USPTO practitioners inform their non-US clients on such matters as the duty of candor in practice before the USPTO, limitations on attorney-client confidentiality, specimen requirements, and prohibitions against the unauthorized practice of law. Comparing current and potential remedies at the USPTO to efforts at CNIPA will provide the panelists the opportunity to discuss not only legal, but also cultural differences between the offices and how those differences impact the understanding of attorney responsibility and the appropriateness of various disciplinary measures.
The panelists have outstanding expertise in trademark law, international trademark practice, and professional responsibility. They are well suited to tackle the issue of trademark ethics and fraudulent filings in the US and China.
Speakers
Will Covey is Deputy Director General and Director of the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) at the USPTO. He is responsible for ensuring that the nation’s patent and trademark attorneys are of good moral character and sufficiently knowledgeable to practice before the USPTO.
Mark Cohen is the author of the China IPR blog (www.chinaipr.com), the oldest continuously published blog on China IP matters. Until recently, he was a Distinguished Senior Fellow, Director and Lecturer of the Asia IP Project at the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology at the University of California, Berkeley.
Michael McCabe is the Managing Partner of McCabe Ali LLP, in the Washington, DC area. He is a registered patent attorney specializing in ethics advice and representation of intellectual property professionals before the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) and in related State Bar matters.
The moderator of the presentation will be Lucas Hjelle. Mr. Hjelle is a patent attorney and Principal at the Minneapolis firm of Schwegman, Lundberg and Woessner P.A.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Ethics CLE credit. The code 510644 is valid through August 2, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Deanna Burns.
Transforming Legal Education for the Future of Law
Description
Ten years ago, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, the leader in blended legal education, became the first ABA-approved law school to offer a J.D. program that law students could attend partially online and partially in person. Since then, blended legal education has become increasingly prevalent, with more law schools adopting hybrid models that combine online and in-person learning to offer greater flexibility and accessibility to law students.
As we enter our second decade of blended learning, join us as we continue to transform legal education and prepare new lawyers for the future of law. This program will explore the key skills and competencies that new lawyers entering today’s legal market need to be successful and how artificial intelligence and other technologies are reshaping the practice of law and the work of lawyers. The program will also feature a panel of law professors and lawyers who will discuss how legal education must evolve to better prepare future lawyers for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Speakers
Click here to learn more about the speakers. Their bios will be at the bottom of the page.
Credits
This event has been approved for 2.75 Standard CLE credits. The code 522360 is valid through Jan. 29, 2027.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Kelly Von Ruden.
U.S. Supreme Court Review 2023
Description
A Review of Key Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, October Term 2022-23.
Speakers
Professor Mike Steenson, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Professor Mehmet Konar-Steenberg, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 493585 is valid through Oct. 12, 2025.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Prof. Mike Steenson or Prof. Mehmet Konar-Steenberg.
U.S. Supreme Court Review 2024
Description
A Review of Key Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, October Term 2023-24.
Speakers
Professor Mike Steenson, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Professor Mehmet Konar-Steenberg, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 517952 is valid through Nov. 26, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Prof. Mike Steenson or Prof. Mehmet Konar-Steenberg.
Well-Being CLE Series: Financial Stress, Mental Health, and Mindfulness
Description
To the outside world, law is often viewed as a golden ticket profession. While the reality is many lawyers struggle financially for reasons related to massive student loan debt to implicit pressure to display wealth beyond one’s means. Many lawyers wind up feeling trapped by their financial situations and shame and stigma around financial struggles can impede making progress towards financial well-being.
This program will explore the connection between financial stress and mental health for lawyers. It will consider common sources of financial stress for lawyers and law students and the barriers that interfere with emotional, mental, and financial well-being.
It will include an introduction to mindfulness through guided meditation as a tool to help lawyers be present in their lives when considering choices that impact their financial well-being. It will offer tips to empower lawyers to face their scary financial situations head on. Recognizing that every lawyer faces unique struggles and there is no one-size-fits-all solution, it will provide a framework to make decisions about one’s life and career that holistically support emotional, mental, and financial well-being. By recognizing that many lawyers are struggling financially, this program also aims to reduce shame and stigma for lawyers who are facing these challenges.
Finally, it will highlight mental health resources and financial management resources available to law students and legal professionals.
Speakers
Dee Baskin
Dee (she/they) helps people shine as their best selves, specializing in the merging of spirituality and science in work and life.
Dee serves in paid and volunteer roles as an Executive Director, Teacher, Speaker, and Consultant. A forever learner, Dee is currently enrolled in the *new* AI for Nonprofits Certificate program from NTEN (nten.org) and reviewing the Associate Certified Pranic Healer training (pranichealing.com). This adds to her rich educational background that includes a JD from the University of Minnesota Law School, a Bachelor’s in English and Public Relations from the University of Indianapolis, and an Associate’s in Computer Information Systems from Ivy Tech Community College.
When not working, Dee engages in everything art, music, and nature; travels to meditation retreats (often in her camper van); and cooks and bakes for folks who love to eat.
Natalie Netzel
Natalie Netzel is an Associate Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She serves as the director of clinical legal education, where she oversees the school’s nationally recognized clinical program. Her teaching interests include criminal law, evidence, child welfare law, and resilient practice.
Her scholarly interests include trauma-informed lawyering, trauma-informed pedagogy, and law student and attorney mental health and well-being. She is involved with the American Association of Law Schools’ Section on Balance and Well-Being in Legal Education and the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Well-Being Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.
Professor Netzel is an affiliated professor with the Institute to Transform Child Protection (ITCP). She has extensive experience representing parents and relatives in child protection cases in district court and on appeal. She relies on that experience to train attorneys, judges, social workers, guardians ad litem, and other professionals on best practices in child protection proceedings.
Professor Netzel joined the faculty as a staff attorney with the ITCP in August of 2016. In her time at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, she has served in a variety of roles including the education and advocacy director of the ITCP and the director of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project.
Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Netzel was a judicial law clerk for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. She received her B.A. from Hamline University, her M.S.E. in counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Mental Health CLE credit. The code 523960 is valid through Feb. 28, 2027.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Prof. Natalie Netzel.
Well-Being CLE Series: Lawyers! You Could be Nicer to Yourselves- An Insider/Outsider Perspectives on Mental Health in the Law
Description
As a social worker who has worked in a legal setting for ten years, Miriam Itzkowitz finds herself with a unique “insider outsider” perspective on the ways in which legal education and the legal profession frame work-related stress, burnout, and mental health and substance use concerns. Sometimes the very skills that make attorneys good at their jobs are the same ones that prevent them from utilizing strategies that many other disciplines embed in their professional education. This CLE will expose attendees to the ways in which work-related stress and mental health concerns are framed in legal settings, and among legal professionals historically, as compared to other professions. Included in the training is a discussion of ways to identify and address common mental health concerns from a strengths-based and systems perspective. Attendees will also be asked to think about how borrowing techniques from other disciplines may allow legal professionals to build awareness of these issues, as well as capacity for avoiding and navigating them, in themselves and their colleagues.
Speaker
Miriam Itzkowitz, MSW, LICSW, is the Director of Trauma-Informed Care for the Institute to Transform Child Protection at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Through the ITCP Parent Representation Clinic, Miriam works directly with individuals, families and communities impacted by the child welfare system. She serves as the social work supervisor for graduate-level MSW students to link theory and practice in their field work, providing holistic family representation. Miriam develops programming and trains on best practices at the intersection of legal services and trauma-responsive care. Miriam has clinical experience counseling adults and adolescents in clinical, home, and school settings. In her private practice, Reframe Consulting, Miriam uses an eclectic approach to individual and couples therapy, incorporating cognitive, somatic, and holistic techniques to assist clients in sustaining authentic identities, coping with difficulties, and overcoming trauma. Miriam is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas School of Social Work. She received her BA from Grinnell College and her MSW from the University of Minnesota School of Social Work.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Mental Health CLE credit. The code 520565 is valid through Jan. 7, 2027.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Miriam Itzkowitz.
Well-Being CLE Series: Mutual Care and Mental Health
Description
Mutual care provides a framework for attorneys to help support each other when to prevent and respond to issues that exacerbate mental health struggles in the legal profession. Mutual care recognizes that self-care efforts are often not enough on their own to combat the mental health crisis in the legal profession. Mutual care recognizes that, we must treat out colleagues’ well-being as our business. Embracing mutual care involves training legal professionals to give what they can, when they can and receive what they need when they need it. This one-hour CLE will explore mental health issues in the legal profession. Specifically, it will:
•Identify root causes of mental health issues in the practice of law.
•Invite lawyers to reshape harmful norms that exacerbate mental health issues in law.
•Train lawyers support colleagues who are struggling mentally and emotionally.
•Encourage lawyers to ask for help and support from their colleagues when they are struggling.
•Highlight resources available to legal professionals and their families in times of struggle.
Speaker
Natalie Netzel is an Associate Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She serves as the director of clinical legal education, where she oversees the school’s nationally recognized clinical program. Her teaching interests include criminal law, evidence, child welfare law, and resilient practice.
Her scholarly interests include trauma-informed lawyering, trauma-informed pedagogy, and law student and attorney mental health and well-being. She is involved with the American Association of Law Schools’ Section on Balance and Well-Being in Legal Education and the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Well-Being Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.
Professor Netzel is an affiliated professor with the Institute to Transform Child Protection (ITCP). She has extensive experience representing parents and relatives in child protection cases in district court and on appeal. She relies on that experience to train attorneys, judges, social workers, guardians ad litem, and other professionals on best practices in child protection proceedings.
Professor Netzel joined the faculty as a staff attorney with the ITCP in August of 2016. In her time at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, she has served in a variety of roles including the education and advocacy director of the ITCP and the director of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project.
Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Netzel was a judicial law clerk for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. She received her B.A. from Hamline University, her M.S.E. in counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Mental Health CLE credit. The code 517951 is valid through Dec. 5, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Prof. Natalie Netzel.
Well-Being CLE Series: Navigating Accommodations in the “Real World”: How the Interactive Process Impacts Well-Being
Description
The CLE course titled “Navigating Accommodations in the “Real World”: How the Interactive Process Impacts Well-Being” will feature four lawyers with disabilities who are active members of the Minnesota Disability Bar Association (MDisBA). The panelists will discuss their lived experiences with disabilities, as well as the interactive processes they have navigated individually, or with employees they supervise, in seeking workplace accommodations.
Speakers
Danny Bihrle is Senior Associate at Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis who practices primarily employment law. In his employment law practice, Danny provides clients with comprehensive legal guidance to help navigate the increasingly complex landscape of federal, state and local employment laws. Danny also maintains a practice advising tribal governments and tribal-owned businesses on litigation, employment and governance issues. In his personal life, Danny has been through the reasonable accommodations process at two large law firms and uses this experience to support not only his regular practice, but to support others in the broader community, especially through his role as a member of the Volunteer Lawyers Network’s Employment Law Clinic.
Prateek Viswanathan is an intellectual property trial lawyer at Robins Kaplan and a former federal judicial law clerk. He has severe hearing loss and has worn hearing aids since childhood. Currently he chairs the Judicial Endorsements Committee of the Minnesota Disability Bar Association.
Sierra Grandy (she/her), is an attorney and business owner specializing in neurodiversity, mental health, and disability topics. She lives with multiple disabilities ranging from autism to fibromyalgia. She is an active community volunteer with positions in the National Alliance on Mental Health, the State Advisory Council on Mental Health, and as the Chair of the Education Committee of the Minnesota Disability Bar Association.
Chad Wilson is a supervising attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid at the Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC). He supervises MDLC’s voting rights, outreach, and community services integration work. Chad has a physical disability and is a wheelchair user. He is a member of the Minnesota Disability Bar Association.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Elimination of Bias CLE credit. The code 529152 is valid through May 7, 2027.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Sierra Grandy.
Well-Being CLE Series: Navigating Therapeutic Services as Lawyers
Description
Have you ever felt that you don’t know where to start in order to feel better? Legal professionals face a unique set of expectations and demands that can lead to mental health challenges. However, legal knowledge and skills don’t always translate into comfort navigating the many options available for growing personal and professional balance. This CLE will explore resources available to attorneys and how to take the first step in accessing them. Attendees will gain an understanding of the most commonly used therapeutic modalities that may enhance personal well-being and professional functioning. Participants will have key takeaways including: how to identify a therapist who meets personal and professional needs, practical tips for assessing qualifications, specialization, and therapeutic approach and evaluating if a particular therapist is a good fit for your needs, covering critical factors such as communication style, therapeutic approach, cultural competence, and the therapeutic relationship.
Speakers
Miriam Itzkowitz, MSW, LICSW, is the Director of Trauma-Informed Care for the Institute to Transform Child Protection at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Through the ITCP Parent Representation Clinic, Miriam works directly with individuals, families and communities impacted by the child welfare system. She serves as the social work supervisor for graduate-level MSW students to link theory and practice in their field work, providing holistic family representation. Miriam develops programming and trains on best practices at the intersection of legal services and trauma-responsive care. Miriam has clinical experience counseling adults and adolescents in clinical, home, and school settings. In her private practice, Reframe Consulting, Miriam uses an eclectic approach to individual and couples therapy, incorporating cognitive, somatic, and holistic techniques to assist clients in sustaining authentic identities, coping with difficulties, and overcoming trauma. Miriam is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas School of Social Work. She received her BA from Grinnell College and her MSW from the University of Minnesota School of Social Work.
Peter Larsen is an Assistant Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law where he teaches constitutional law. Prof. Larsen has owned his own firm for the past five years, specializing in civil rights and appellate litigation. He earned a J.D. in 2019 from Drake University Law School and following graduation clerked for Justice Brent Appel of the Iowa Supreme Court. For several years, he has served in policy roles for a variety of organizations, as well as serving as a Commissioner and Vice-Chair of the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights. Larsen earned a master’s degree at the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree at Augsburg University.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credits. The code 526684 is valid through April 4, 2027.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Miriam Itzkowitz.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Term in Review: 2022-23
Description
Looking to catch up on the latest developments in Wisconsin law? This presentation surveys recent trends in the Wisconsin appellate courts, focusing on several noteworthy civil cases decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in its 2022-23 term. We’ll take a look at opinions that affect Wisconsin law in several fields, such as products liability, insurance, taxation, constitutional rights, and more. Plus, we’ll look ahead to what we can expect from the court in its 2023-24 term following the election of a new justice.
Speaker
Caleb Gerbitz is a commercial and appellate litigator at the Milwaukee law firm of Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. He is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law and previously clerked for Justice Brian Hagedorn of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Besides his regular practice, Caleb co-hosts a monthly podcast series that highlights recent developments in Wisconsin’s appellate courts.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 491116 is valid through August 25, 2025.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Caleb Gerbitz.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Term in Review: 2023-24
Description
Looking to catch up on the latest developments in Wisconsin law? This presentation surveys recent trends in the Wisconsin appellate courts, focusing on several noteworthy civil cases decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in its 2023-24 term. We’ll take a look at opinions that affect Wisconsin law in several fields, such as constitutional law, employment, and civil rights. Plus, we’ll look ahead to what we can expect from the court in its 2024-25 term.
Speakers
Caleb Gerbitz is a commercial and appellate litigator at the Milwaukee law firm of Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. He is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law and previously clerked for Justice Brian Hagedorn of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Credits
This event has been approved for 1 Standard CLE credit. The code 514230 is valid through October 2, 2026.
Cost
This content is complimentary to Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Presenter Contact
Per Rule 6E(2) of the MN State Board of CLE regarding On Demand CLEs, attendees may contact the presenter to ask questions by emailing Caleb R. Gerbitz.
Additional CLE Content from Mitchell Hamline
The courses below were hosted by the Health Law Institute and are available as on-demand CLEs for alumni at no cost. Please reach out to the Health Law Institute at healthlawinstitute@mitchellhamline.edu to register.
Health Care Fraud & Abuse/On-demand – CLE info: 2.25 credits/ Expires: 12/3/2025
In Case You Missed It/On-demand – CLE info: 3.25 credits/ Expires 2/2/2026
Managing Change: Chevron, FDA, Food Regulations and State Packaging Laws/On-Demand – CLE info: 3.25 credits/ Expires 11/19/2026
AI in Health Care: Adapting to World-Changing Technology/On-demand – CLE info: 2.75 credits/Expires 4/9/2027