CLEs You Actually Want to Hear

California just became the latest state to turn up the heat on data center regulation in a move that could curtail the state’s positioning in the AI arms race. On September 21, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of seven new bills, which he branded as “the most comprehensive data center laws in the nation.” Collectively, the new bills seek to impose greater transparency and regulatory control over data centers’ electricity use, water consumption, and land use impacts, while aiming to prevent infrastructure and generation costs from being shifted to existing ratepayers. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

California's 2025 session produced the nation's first wave of companion chatbot regulation, and attorneys now have to sort out what survived and what it means for clients. SB 243, effective January 1, 2026, is the first companion chatbot law in the country, requiring operators to disclose AI interactions, implement self-harm protocols, block explicit content for minors, and file annual reports, backed by a private right of action. On the same day, Governor Newsom vetoed the more restrictive AB 1064, the LEAD for Kids Act, signaling California's preference for disclosure and safety protocols over outright use bans. Christabel Randolph, Associate Director of the Center for AI and Digital Policy, filed the original CAIDP complaint that helped prompt FTC scrutiny of generative AI. She traces the continuing thread from that complaint through California's new laws. Attendees will learn what each bill requires, why one became law and the other did not, how the state framework compares with federal FTC enforcement, and where chatbot regulation is heading. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

This program will explore the mediator's proposal as a tool for breaking impasse and resolving disputes, including how a mediator develops the proposal and determines when the time is right to make one. Presenters will also examine what happens when a mediator's proposal is unsuccessful and offer practical strategies for restarting negotiations and preserving opportunities for settlement. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Roughly a quarter of the U.S. labor force now works remotely, and many of those workers signed a restrictive covenant in one state while living and working in another. That gap has turned a familiar question about whether a noncompete is reasonable into a threshold fight over which state gets to answer it. Hon. David S. Cunningham III (Ret.) of JAMS examines how courts are resolving choice of law disputes over restrictive employment covenants when the employer, the employee, and the work sit in different jurisdictions. The program covers the current enforceability landscape for remote employees, the drafting and forum selection decisions that drive the outcome, and how these disputes present in mediation and arbitration. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for advising clients on either side of a noncompete that crosses state lines. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Judicial review of arbitration awards is extremely limited. Under the Federal Arbitration Act and California Code of Civil Procedure section 1286.2, courts may vacate an award only on narrow grounds. Errors of fact or law rarely qualify. In this program, Hon. Richard M. Aronson (Ret.) and Michael A. Zuckerman of JAMS examine an alternative that many practitioners overlook: appealing an award through the arbitral process rather than relying solely on the courts. The speakers examine how appellate arbitration works, how the reviewing tribunal is selected, and how arbitration providers differ on standards of review, remand authority, and available remedies. Justice Aronson and Mr. Zuckerman also address practical considerations, including time and expense, and how the availability of an arbitral appeal can affect the development of the record, arbitrator selection, settlement strategy, and arbitration clause drafting. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

An internal complaint, an unexpected subpoena, or a sealed qui tam complaint can turn routine business into high-stakes litigation overnight. Whistleblowers who bring claims under the federal False Claims Act and the California False Claims Act can recover a large share of what the government collects. That gives employees strong reasons to report suspected fraud, and employers face treble damages, per-claim penalties and retaliation claims as a result. This program gives in-house counsel, HR leaders, and compliance professionals a practical look at how whistleblower claims start, how they grow and how employers can protect themselves at every stage. Topics include: - How qui tam cases work under federal and California law: filing under seal, whether the government steps in, and what that means for your organization. - Retaliation risk: how anti-retaliation protections under the FCA, the California FCA and related California whistleblower statutes affect discipline and termination decisions. - Handling internal reports: when to investigate, how to preserve privilege, and how to avoid creating evidence that helps the plaintiff. - Building a compliance program that holds up: reporting channels, training and documentation that reduce exposure before a complaint is ever filed. - Litigation and resolution strategy: early case assessment, coordinating with the government, and settlement points to consider. Leave with concrete steps your organization can take now to spot red flags, respond carefully when concerns come up, and limit liability if a whistleblower comes forward. Dedra Curteman, Jackson Lewis P.C. Credits: 1.00 Hours. Credit Type: General. Specialty Area: None. Original Air Date: 10/22/2026. Program Materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b6nx84BdBPAaF3q0sgKI1sgK3qf14KvI/view?usp=sharing Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, together with heightened EEOC enforcement, has significantly expanded pregnancy accommodation obligations for California employers. Layer in FEHA protections, PDL entitlements, and the PUMP Act, and it’s easy to see why this area has become a compliance minefield. This program maps the overlapping requirements governing pregnancy accommodations and leave, with attention to recent trends and enforcement priorities. Learn how to structure policies that survive scrutiny, handle accommodation requests correctly, and minimize liability. Through real-world hypotheticals and recent case law, Courtney McFate of Epstein Becker Green will guide attendees through a practical compliance framework calibrated for California’s unique obligations. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Hon. Shelley Kaufman, Supervising Judge (Los Angeles Superior Court), and Hon. Angela J. Davis (Los Angeles Superior Court) cover everything you wanted to know about the crossover issues between the child support courts and family courts. Credits: 1.00 Hours. Credit Type: General. Specialty Area: Family Law. Original Air Date: 10/16/2026. Program Materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LstUr9Adn3nfMSDEwPiZn4NpvGHQCbI0/view?usp=sharing Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Words matter—but the right analogy, metaphor, or story can transform a difficult conversation. In mediation, negotiation, and legal advocacy, figurative language helps simplify complex concepts, reduce emotional resistance, and create opportunities for understanding and resolution. Join Hon. Jamie Jacobs-May (Ret.) as she explores how lawyers and neutrals can strategically use figurative language to communicate more effectively, build rapport, and overcome common barriers to settlement. Drawing on examples from mediation, judicial opinions, and persuasive advocacy, Judge Jacobs-May will demonstrate how carefully crafted metaphors and analogies can reframe entrenched positions, help parties process emotionally charged disputes, and move negotiations forward. Attendees will gain practical techniques for incorporating figurative language into mediations, settlement negotiations, client counseling, and courtroom advocacy while learning when these tools enhance persuasion—and when they may undermine it. Participants will learn how to: Use metaphors, analogies, and other forms of figurative language to explain complex legal concepts more clearly. Reframe emotional and positional conflicts during mediation to promote productive dialogue. Recognize opportunities to use figurative language to break impasse and encourage movement in negotiations. Draw lessons from effective uses of figurative language by judges, including U.S. Supreme Court justices. Avoid common pitfalls, including clichés, mixed metaphors, and language that may confuse or alienate an audience. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

The effective financial management of your law firm involves countless time-sensitive tasks that impact not only the revenue and cash flow of your firm, but also its compliance with state bar requirements. While each of these tasks are critical, the more time they take, the more administrative burden can pile up across your firm. That’s why many law firms are turning to powerful workflows to automate billing, collect payments faster, and seamlessly manage trust accounting in the same platform they use to manage their cases. Join the Beverly Hills Bar Association and PracticePanther on Thursday, October 15th at 10 AM PT for a live tips, tricks, and shortcuts webinar featuring practical ways leading law firms are reducing clicks by automating trust accounting, simplifying billing, and streamlining payment collection.