Tuesday, March 21, 2017
12:00 p.m. — 1:00 p.m.

Going to small claims court can be intimidating. Even though the proceedings are simplified, you have to know certain basic information to win your claim or defend against someone else’s. This class provides the information you need to go to small claims court with confidence. You will also learn about the free resources available through the Small Claims Advisor.

Class covers:

• Which claims can be filed in small claims court
• Writing (or responding to) the claim, and knowing who to sue
• Serving papers
• Gathering evidence
• Going to court
• Making the defendant pay

Presented by Stephen L. Kane: 
Stephen L. Kane is an attorney with legal and business experience ranging from corporate to small business to startup. He is a former associate at the national firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP, and earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford University. In addition to his legal practice, Stephen also founded and runs ArbiClaims, an online small claims court alternative.

Registration fees: $10
Non-refundable payment reserves seat

Photography / Videography:
If you register for this class, you may be photographed or recorded. By registering for this class you are giving the LA Law Library your consent to photograph, videotape, record and broadcast your picture, likeness, voice and statements.  

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Wednesday, March 29, 2016 
12:15 p.m. — 1:45 p.m.

With the number of tech, entertainment, and fashion startups growing in L.A. and innovation on the rise, the time to master the fundamentals of assisting clients in selecting and forming business entities has never been better. Business attorneys, creditor’s rights attorneys, in-house counsel, family law practitioners, and estate planners will benefit from this comprehensive overview of corporations, LLCs, and partnerships, and the protections and advantages conferred by each.

Class covers:

• Major characteristics of partnerships (general and limited), LLPs, S- and C-corps, close corporations, social purpose and benefit corporations, and LLCs
• Suitability of business types and their protections
• Income tax considerations
• Management and control, and fiduciary duties
• Transferability of interests and continuity of business

Earn 1.5 hours general MCLE credit

Presented by Ryan Gustafson:
Ryan Gustafson is a partner at Gustafson Nicolai PC. He previously worked at national and international firms including Greenberg Traurig LLP, and Ballard Spahr, advising on corporate and real estate matters. His practice now focuses on contract review and negotiation, lease and finance issues, securities matters, corporate advisory services, employer/employee issues, intellectual property, collection, and litigation defense and prosecution. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University (B.A. 1995) and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law (J.D. 1999).

Registration fees: $50
Non-refundable, payment reserves spot.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016
6:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

From film’s beginnings as a nickelodeon amusement to its emergence as a multi-million dollar business, court decisions and laws have influenced what movies could be made – and what state censors and regional regulators had the power to suppress. Dirty Words reveals how changing interpretations of the First Amendment affect the media industry, both historically and today.

Class covers:

• Historical perspective of censorship in America
• Development of First Amendment regulations and changing definitions of obscenity
• Current international issues in state censorship
• Update on content regulation in the U.S. today

The presenter’s book Dirty Words & Filthy Pictures: Film and the First Amendment (The University of Texas Press) will be available for sale at a special discounted price.

Earn 1 hour general MCLE credit

Presented by Jeremy Geltzer:
Jeremy Geltzer is an author and attorney who has worked for Paramount, Warner Bros., ABC/Disney, and Lions Gate. Prior to his legal career, he was a writer and producer at Turner Classic Movies where he worked with classic stars including Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Charlton Heston, and Anthony Quinn. He has taught Film History at Georgia State University and is teaching an upcoming course on Media and Censorship at UCLA.

Registration fees: $35
Non-refundable, payment reserves spot.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016
12:15 p.m. — 1:15 p.m.

This class will cover effective written advocacy, including rhetorical tips and tricks, and provide practical guidance for persuading courts. Many motions and virtually all appeals are decided on the papers. Find out how to make yours more compelling.

Class covers:

• The importance of the introduction
• Briefing do’s and don’ts
• How the little things – structure and composition – can make a big difference
• What lawyers can learn about rhetoric from non-legal writers
• How reading recreationally improves writing

Earn 1 hour general MCLE credit

Presented by Cindy E. Tobisman and David E. Hackett:
Cindy Tobisman is a partner at Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP (GMSR). She’s been repeatedly named a Rising Star and SuperLawyer in appellate law. Over the last eighteen years, she’s written appeals and dispositive motions in every sort of civil matter under the sun. She currently co-chairs the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s amicus briefs committee. She’s also the author of a legal thriller, DOUBT, which will be published by Thomas & Mercer in August 2016.

David Hackett, a GMSR associate, has briefed numerous appeals, writ petitions, and post-trial motions in a variety of substantive areas, including agency and partnership, civil procedure, constitutional law, personal injury, probate, real estate, and tax matters. Before joining the firm, he served as a law clerk to Judge Alfred Goodwin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and Judge Gary Feess of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Registration fees: $35
Non-refundable, payment reserves spot.

No legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.