The LACBA Student Lounge Blog

ART LAW PRIMER: Another “Fine Art” Mess We’ve Gotten Ourselves Into

An excellent program for law students to take a look at art law, join us for an exclusive gathering at Marine, a private art salon in Santa Monica, for a dynamic discussion with contemporary artists and attorneys in the arts and entertainment industries.

With the Associated Press' suit raging over the ownership of the Obama photo, recent attempts to terminate copyright transfers in Marvel comics now owned by Disney, rampant infringement of art through the sale of reproductions on the Internet, the law has certainly put modern day artists, and their attorneys, in precarious positions. Join the panel as they discuss these and other issues that artists and their lawyers face, in a unique setting, surrounded by a showcase of works by emerging and established contemporary artists, with plenty of cocktails and delicious hors d'oeuvres.

Marine Art Salon represents local and international contemporary artists, whose works usually can be viewed by invitation only. Marine is generously opening its salon to ELIPS for this special event. Space, however, is extremely limited and hosted valet parking is available.

Presented by: Entertainment Law & Intellectual Property Section (ELIPS) of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Speakers

Robert Helfing, is a senior partner and head of the Intellectual Property Practice Group at Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold. Mr. Helfing represents clients on both the commercial and talent sides of the entertainment and art industries.

Maria Seferian, is a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. Ms. Seferian’s practice encompasses a wide variety of corporate transactions and other business matters, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, arts and entertainment transactions, and intellectual property.

Greg Victoroff, is a partner at Rohde & Victoroff. Mr. Victoroff’s practice has involved negotiating copyright and trademark transactions in the motion picture industry, recording and fine arts fields and handling trials and appeals in state and federal courts. He is the editor and co-author of “The Visual Artists Business and Legal Guide” (Prentice Hall 1995) and a contributor to the Graphic Artist Guild’s “Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines” (GAG 2001-2008). In 2008 he received the first Artistic License Award presented to an individual attorney from California Lawyers for the Arts.

ELIPS is pleased to announce that Sean Higgins and Kellismone Waits will be featured on the panel.

Program Chairs:

Allison Rohrer, White O'Connor Fink & Brenner LLP

Elena Muravina, Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman LLP

Jonathan Hyman, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear

Speakers:
Robert Helfing
Sean K. Higgins
Maria Seferian, Munger Tolles & Olson LLP
Gregory T. Victoroff, Rohde & Victoroff

Location: Marine Contemporary Art Salon, 716 Marine Street , Santa Monica

Parking: Hosted Valet Parking

Times:
Registration: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Meal/Reception: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Program: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Law Student LACBA Members: $35

Register online here.

Networking Mixer: International Law (11.19.09)

The International Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association will be holding a networking mixer, along with other organizations, on November 19, 2009 at the Edison.

For law students, this will be a great opportunity to network with attorneys and meet new people in the profession.

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: The Edison - 108 West 2nd Street, #101
Parking: $9 valet available at corner of Harlem Place Alley and 2nd Street. Lot nearby off of Spring and 2nd Street.

Other organizations involved: the Integrated Bar of the Philippines California Chapter, the Philippine American Bar Association of Los Angeles.

RSVP here.

Hidden Cameras in the Workplace: Legitimate Surveillance or Employer Spying?

Produced by the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Hidden Cameras in the Workplace: Legitimate Surveillance or Employee Spying? is a free event for law student members of LACBA (meal included). If you're not a Law Student member of LACBA, membership is $15/year.

The event will take place at the historic Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on November 16, starting at 6:00 pm.

Did the California Supreme Court recently go too far in allowing employers to conduct hidden surveillance of employees or does Hernandez v. Hillsides strike the proper balance between an employee's reasonable privacy expectations and an employer's need to identify employees who, as the Court put it, "pose a risk of liability and harm in the workplace." The panelists, who represented both sides before the Court, will discuss these issues, and the implications of Hernandez v. Hillsides for both employers and employees.

This will be a great opportunity for law students to network with attorneys who practice in the field of labor and employment law.

Speakers:
Holger G. Besch, Seyfarth Shaw, LLP
Mark S. Eisenberg, Eisenberg & Associates
Arnold H. Kessler, Arnold Kessler, Attorney at Law
Laura Shelby, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

For more information and online registration, look here.

Chemerinsky and Rasmussen on the Future of Legal Education and ADR: USC Gould and UCI Law Schools

If you're wondering what's around the bend for legal eduction and ADR, why not get the skinny from the trail blazing Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the law school in Irvine that's so new they're still playing with the bubble wrap, or from Robert Rasmussen, dean of USC Gould, one of the oldest law schools in the state?

On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, The Los Angeles County Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Services, in association with The Rutter Group, will host the 4th Annual Robert I. Weil Lecture. Here, Chemerinsky and Rasmussen will discuss The Future of Legal Education and the Role of ADR.

The event will take place at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker, LLP, located at 515 South Flower Street, 25th Floor, Los Angeles, California.

Reception: 5:30 PM

Program: 6:30 PM

Student pricing: $25

Weil Lecture proceeds benefit the LACBA DRS Youth Peer Mediation & Conflict Resolution Programs.

For more information and to register, Click Here.

Judge Robert I. Weil: A legend of the California judiciary, Robert I. Weil served as a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1975 to 1990, when he retired to become a private judge and began a new career in the field of alternative dispute resolution. A past president of the California Judges Association, he co-authored and nurtured the widely used Weil & Brown's California Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial published by The Rutter Group. He was a man of varied interests, and began his career as a journalist after graduating from Columbia University's School of Journalism in 1944. He later attended law school at USC. Whether on the bench or in the private sector, Judge Weil was a consummate educator of all who came in contact with him. The DRS Robert I. Weil Lecture honors his memory by continuing his tradition of sharing knowledge and offering a forum for dialogue on important topics related to alternative dispute resolution.

LACBA High School Mentoring Program: Diversity

LACBA Law Student members are encouraged to participate in the 2009-2010 High School Mentoring Program. By participating in the program, law students can turn the tables and become mentors to a Los Angeles high school student that is interested in the legal profession.

Recognizing the urgent need to increase the pipeline of underrepresented minority students preparing for and entering a career in the law, the LACBA High School Mentoring Program was established to connect local high school students with lawyers and law students in Los Angeles County who can serve as mentors and role models, and, in the process, motivate and assist students in pursuing a career in the legal profession.

 Four times a year, groups of mentors meet with groups of high school students for a two hour meeting. Each meeting includes a different area of the legal profession, including areas such as the courts, public service, private practice or the judiciary. The first portion of each meeting includes talks from very well respected judges, public officials and attorneys regarding their journey to becoming an attorney. The later portion of the program includes one-on-one mentoring.

Not only is this a unique opportunity to mentor high school students who are interested in the legal profession, but it is also an opportunity for law students to meet with LACBA attorney members, public officials and judges who are participating as mentors in the program.

The next meeting will be held at Garfield High School on August 13 starting at 3:30 p.m. Please feel free to come to this meeting. No registration required. Question? Contact Seth Chavez at (213) 896-6560 or send an email.

The "Real" Deal: How do you fit into the Real Estate Investment Deal?

Event date: August 11, 2009

Real Estate Investment know-how from the experts in the field. This “Real Estate 101” course will help young professionals learn the ins and outs of real estate investing by delving into selected tax, legal, and accounting issues having a direct impact on property owners and investors. Learn to identify key transactional and planning issues through an interactive moderator-led panel discussion.

This is a free event for LACBA Law Student Members, meal included. Become a LACBA Law Student member today for $15.

Objectives:
Survey important tax topics related to real estate taxation and investment. • Expand your knowledge of the tax aspects of popular real property acquisition, ownership, and dispositions.

Major Topics:
Strategies for tax elimination and deferral • Title, transfers and gifts • Basic partnership / JV agreements-structures • Mortgage finance, points and interest • Renting v. buy/sell agreements • Depreciation and basis allocation • Passive loss rules • At-risk rules • Capital gains and loss taxation • Home sale exclusion • Like-kind exchanges

Designed for:
All young and emerging professionals in the tax, legal, and finance professions involved in client tax planning and consultation whether in public practice or in industry. A basic knowledge of relevant accounting and auditing rules will be assumed.

Speakers:
Arlen R. Gunner, Valensi, Rose, Magaram, Morris & Murphy
Andy Harwood, Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Christopher J. Sands, The Sands Group of Marcus & Millichap

Location:
Los Angeles County Bar Association, 1055 West 7th Street 27th Floor , Los Angeles

Parking:
Self Parking at 1055 W. 7th St. After 5:00pm: $5.00 Parking in surrounding areas: -Macy’s Parking (Indoor Parking) - 920 Seventh Street - $7.00 Daily -Medici Parking (Indoor Parking) - 722 South Bixel Street - $5.00 Daily Rate -Ingraham Street (Outdoor Parking – Structure #1) - $5.00 Daily Rate -Ingraham Street (Outdoor Parking – Structure #2) - $5.00 Daily Rate -1100 Wilshire Blvd. (Indoor Parking) - $5.00 Daily Rate

Times:
Registration: 6:00 - 6:30 PM
Meal/Reception: 6:30 PM
Program: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Registration Code: 010504

Registration closes the day before most events at noon.

Register online.

Register by phone or ask a question: (213) 896-6560

Email.

Get a Job! The Legal Public Service Corps

The Legal Public Service Corps, created by the Los Angeles County Bar Association and its Litigation Section, brings public entities and nonprofit organizations together with recent law school graduates and attorneys whose careers have been disrupted by the current economic conditions. The goal of the Corps is to promote public service through pro bono activities and externships.

On Friday, September 11, 2009, LACBA will host a Legal Public Service Corps Career Day, where candidates will be able to meet face-to-face to discuss opportunities with organizations and entities with whom they would like to serve. The career day will take place at the LACBA offices at 1055 West Seventh Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

While no advance registration is required, candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the organizations for which they would like to serve and to provide them with the information requested in advance of the event. All inquiries should be addressed directly to the organizations.

Los Angeles Superior Court Litigation Program

If you're a law student and you plan to be in a Los Angeles courtroom sometime in your career, this is a must attend event that you can list on your resume.

This program, presented by judges and prominent trial attorneys, offers a general overview of the Los Angeles Superior Court. The presenters share valuable ideas for successful pretrial and trial techniques and discuss common pitfalls to avoid in the courtroom. The first hour will involve court administration issues and alternate dispute resolution. Among the topics to be covered during the afternoon session are: opening statements, voir dire, cross-examination, and final arguments.

- Learn valuable ideas for successful pretrial and trial techniques.
- Learn common pitfalls to avoid in the courthouse.
- Learn about litigating in Los Angeles Superior Court.
- Obtain valuable handouts, including a syllabus on seminar topics and court research attorney checklist forms.
- Continental breakfast, breaks and lunch included.
- Parking is available at no charge at lot 17 (entrance is on the west side of Olive Street, just south of First Street).

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

LACBA Law student members: $30
Others: $110

Register online (and more information)

Register by phone: 213.896.6560

World Day & International Justice: Southwestern Law School

Presented by the International Court Alliance and the International Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Rome Treaty of the International Criminal Court. This event will be held on Friday, July 17, 2009 from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm at Southwestern Law School (Bullock's Wilshire Tower, Floor 2).

On July 17, 1998, the nations of the world agreed on terms of the Rome Treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the first and only permanent international criminal tribunal established to hold individuals accountable for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including use of child soldiers, and widespread rape and mutilation used as weapons of war.

Join Antônia Pereira de Sousa, David Kaye, Edwin Smith and others to discuss the need for international cooperation to effect the goals of the ICC, why all nations should be parties to the Rome Treaty, and how you can help.

Speakers:
- ANTONIA PEREIRA DE SOUSA: Associate Cooperation Officer with the Jurisdiction, Complementarily and Cooperation Division (JCCD) of the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, responsible for cooperation and external communication, and the focal point within the OTP for developing an international student network.
- DAVID KAYE: Executive Director of the UCLA School of Law International Human Rights Program.
- EDWIN SMITH: Professor Smith received his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He also served as special counsel for foreign policy to United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Suggested donation: $10

More information.

LACBA Announces Small Firm and Solo Conference Scholarship

LACBA has announced that it will give a number of full scholarships for the LACBA 2009 Small Firm and Solo Practitioner Conference to LACBA Law Student members. The conference will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 24 and 25. Attending this conference will be a great value for law students who are considering a solo practice or working in a small firm.

Along with many networking opportunities and other benefits, the conference will include programs on the following topics:

Rainmaker 101: What to Do NOW to Build a Strong Book of Business
Cash Flow Tips to Thrive in a Down Economy
Follow Your Bliss
Are Lawyers Unbundling In a Frigid Economy
Do It Yourself Public Relations
Successful Strategies for Solo and Small Offices
Small But Mighty: How to Compete With the Big Guys
Get Paid What You are Worth: How To Get The Right Legal Fee
Work-Life Balance-Success Without Stress
Social Networking for Lawyers: A Roadmap to Success
Practical Solutions for Work-Life Balance
Negotiating and Mediating Your Way to Better Results in a Troubled Economy
Let’s Talk: Capturing the Wisdom of the Room
You can Have It All and Do It All
Computer Forensics in Civil Discovery a Primer
Turning Events Into Investments

For more information about the LACBA 2009 Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Conference, to inquire about the full scholarship or to become a LACBA Law Student member, contact Fatima in the LACBA Member Services Department by dialing (213) 896-6560.