Legal Ethics Seminar Set for Sept. 21

Area lawyers are invited to attend a one-day legal ethics seminar covering a broad range of ethical and practical issues at the Portland Marriot at Sable Oaks, 200 Sable Oaks Drive, South Portland, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 21.

"We are at a critical juncture in the legal profession," said litigation attorney Jeffrey A. Thaler, a partner at Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson and a chair of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's Advisory Committee of Professional Responsibility. He is scheduled to speak at the seminar. "The times demand that lawyers have a deep knowledge of and respect for ethical rules of conduct, as these are not only the issues they will face with their clients, but also with unrepresented citizens and other attorneys."

Topics to be covered include "Recent Changes and Proposals Involving the Maine Bar Rules," "A Proposal for the Unbundling of Legal Services," "Mandatory Continuing Legal Education and the Role of the Board of Overseers of the Bar," "Ethical Issues Relating to Multi-Disciplinary Practice," "Ethical Issues in the Family Law Practice," and "The Grievance Process." Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. To register, call (715) 833-3959. For more information, call (715) 833-3940.

Other scheduled speakers include John M.R. Paterson, chair of the Board of Overseers of the Bar's
Professional Ethics Commission and co-chairman of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson's Litigation Department; Karen B. Lovell, also of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, and a member of the Board of Overseers of the Bar; J. Scott Davis, Bar Counsel to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's Board of Overseers of the Bar; Matthew F. Dyer of Dyer & Gustafson; and Elizabeth K. Scheffee, Esq., of Givertz, Lunt, Hambley & Scheffee, P.A. The seminar is sponsored by Lorman Education Services of Eau Claire, Wisc.

Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson is one of the state's largest law firms, with 60 attorneys in offices in Portland and Augusta. The firm provides legal services in all major subject areas, including corporate and commercial law, litigation and trials, municipal and governmental affairs, and tax and estate planning. Bernstein, Shur also has an active practice in health law, environmental law, technology and commerce, employment law, legislative law, intellectual property, public utilities and other regulated industries. For more information, visit, the firm's web site at www.mainelaw.com.

# # #