7:45-8:15 a.m. | Registration
8:15-8:30 a.m. | Welcome
Speaker: Anita I. Rodarte, president of the Missouri chapter of AAML
8:30-9:30 a.m. | Michael Albano memorial lecture
Speaker: Steven N. Peskind, Peskind Law Firm, St. Charles, IL
9:30-9:45 a.m. | Break
9:45-10:35 a.m. | Advanced trial techniques
Speakers: Stephanie L. Jones, Jones Family Law Group, LLC, St. Louis; Abraham D. Kuhl, Law Offices of Young, Kuhl & Frick, LLC, Lee’s Summit; and Rebecca L. Leonard, The Gordon Law Firm, LLC, Lee’s Summit
10:40-11:30 a.m. | Mediation
Speakers: Hon. Douglas R. Beach, Retired, St. Louis; and Jonathan D. Marks, The Marks Law Firm, LLC, St. Louis
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Networking lunch (provided for in-person attendees)
12:30-1:30 p.m. | Judicial panel
Hon. Susan S. Jensen, Greene County Circuit Court, Springfield; Hon. Julia P. Lasater, 21st Judicial Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Division 32, St. Louis; Hon. Sherrill L. Rosen, 16th Judicial Court, Independence; Hon. Sara J. Miller, 13th Judicial Circuit, Boone County Courthouse, Columbia; Michelle J. Spirn, Spirn Family Law, LLC, St. Louis; and F. Richard Van Pelt, Van Pelt & Van Pelt, PC, Springfield
1:35-2:35 p.m. | Maintenance
Speaker: Michelle J. Spirn
2:35-2:50 p.m. | Break
2:50-3:40 p.m. | It's Not You, It's Me . . . No Wait, It IS You! A field guide to managing the difficult client
Speakers: Cary J. Mogerman, Carmody MacDonald, St. Louis; and Anita I. Rodarte
One of the greatest challenges to success in the practice of family law is the ability to manage clients who are challenged by their circumstances, emotions, anger and fears. Sometimes these challenges are complicated further by their own personality traits. This presentation will focus on identifying potential problems in advance and techniques for managing them successfully.
You will learn:
• How to identify and avoid potential problems in advance
• Techniques for defusing and managing unrealistic expectations of the client
• Techniques for defusing and managing unrealistic expectations of the lawyer
• Communication methods to protect the relationship as well as the lawyer
• Ethical obligations attendant to withdrawal
3:45-4:35 p.m. | Use of experts
Speaker: R. Scott Richart, Albano, Richart, Welch & Bajackson, LLC, Independence