The Latest on the Law: Updates from the Boston Bar

Creepy or Cool: How to Handle a Client Combining AI and Personal Data in Questionable New Ways

Clients sometimes get ahead of themselves. They can become so excited about a new thing they’ve discovered that they forget to ask whether they should do it. When those questions involve personal data and privacy, smart clients eventually approach their attorneys and ask “This new thing we can do, is it creepy or cool?” That new thing might involve using algorithmic analysis of existing data to infer new personal data about the client’s users, creating a new profiling function that improves functionality of existing user applications, etc. But the question “Is this creepy or cool?” is one that attorneys should be able to walk their clients through. In this webinar, John Weaver and Andrew Sutton from McLane Middleton’s artificial intelligence practice group discuss how they approach this question with clients and offer recommendations for how other attorneys can do the same thing.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Subleasing Basics

This will be a primer on Subleasing, covering topics from reasons for subleases to market considerations to documenting the transaction. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Tax Exempt Fundamentals: Dissolutions

Dissolution is the last part in our six-part Fundamentals Series on public charities and private foundations.  The series will provide a basic overview geared toward new attorneys and attorneys new to the practice area on forming, operating and dissolving a tax-exempt organization in Massachusetts.  The Dissolution program will describe the legal requirements and the steps involved for tax-exempt organizations in Massachusetts to be able to dissolve.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Wiretaps – Basics and Beyond

This program will provide an overview of state and federal wiretap law, practice pointers for both criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors, and will discuss pending litigation. Hear from experienced prosecutors and defense attorneys about the unique aspects of any case involving wiretap evidence.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Tax Exempt Fundamentals: Dissolutions

Dissolution is the last part in our six-part Fundamentals Series on public charities and private foundations.  The series will provide a basic overview geared toward new attorneys and attorneys new to the practice area on forming, operating and dissolving a tax-exempt organization in Massachusetts.  The Dissolution program will describe the legal requirements and the steps involved for tax-exempt organizations in Massachusetts to be able to dissolve.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Well-Being Leadership Skills Series Part 2: Building Capacity for Difficult Conversations

The BBA, in collaboration with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) is offering a three-part series directed at helping leaders improve their skills in three key areas-building connections, building capacity for difficult conversations, and building capacity for innovation. We strongly encourage BBA leaders and all BBA members that are leaders within their firm or organization to watch the introductory recording linked here and attend all three sessions. The series will end with a celebration during our June Community Connections Breakfast.

 

Building Capacity for Difficult Conversations: Growing Your Leadership Skills for the Wellbeing of Your People and Your Business

 

While building connections will build trust, cohesion, and improve followership, self-management is key to developing the capacity to face challenging circumstances. Even while building capacity for self-management, there are techniques that can make difficult conversations more effective. 

 

This session provides leaders with the opportunity to refine their communication skills specifically focusing on giving and receiving feedback. Using the foundations of interpersonal mindfulness, leaders will explore ways to enhance how they share information with others. Through experiential exercises, leaders will have the opportunity to practice giving and receiving feedback in a way that is productive and avoid the classic pitfalls of avoidant, hostile, indirect, or passive-aggressive communication. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Trusts & Estate Fundamental: Overview of Estate Administration

This program will provide an overview of the basic steps to administer the estate of a deceased person, including probate, paying debts, satisfying creditor claims, preparing income and estate tax returns, accountings, and the distribution of the decedent’s assets.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Rights of First Refusal

Massachusetts has a well-developed body of law on ROFRs. The panel will provide both a transactional and a litigation perspective on what they are, why they exist and what this body of law tells us (and does not tell us) about how courts will handle disputes over them. Additionally, the panel will address the still-open question of how to handle “unique” offers.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Unveiling the Risks: AI Challenges in Labor & Employment Law

Employers and employees are learning how to best utilize AI and tools like ChatGTP in the workplace. Along the way they are being confronted, for the first time, with the legal issues that arise with the use (and misuse) of the new technology. This program will focus on the issues that AI and related tools pose for labor and employment attorneys and their clients, address the coming challenges, and explore potential best practices for the future. 

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org

Not Selected In The Lottery? Visa Options Beyond The H-1B Cap

Panelists will discuss creative visa options for professionals not selected in the H-1B CAP, detailing relevant considerations, practical experiences, common questions, and potential implications for each option. Attendees will gain insight on “go to” approaches for each option and how to leverage new and existing immigration policies.

 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org