Legal Tips

Join the panel discussion on the importance of civility in the courtroom. Attorney Jill Mariani hosts a roundtable of these influential members in law: • The Honorable James Holderman: The Chief Judge of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois joined the court in 1985 after he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan. He became Chief Judge in 2006. Holderman is also chair of the ABA’s Commission on the American Jury Project, which focuses on the implementation of the ABA Principles on Juries and Jury Trials into the courtroom and reaching out to the public about the importance of jury service and jury reform. • Dick A. Semerdjian: Attorney Semerdjian is chair of the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS). TIPS is the knowledge and leadership hub for trial practice and issues of justice that involve tort insurance and law. • MaryGrace Schaeffer: As vice president of DecisonQuest, Schaeffer has been a trial consultant for more than 22 years. Her expertise includes strat

In today’s segment of Legal TIPS, 2008-2009 TIPS Financial Officer Randy Aliment underscores the merit of adequately funding projects and as an example, co-host Attorney Gilda Mariani questions trusts and estates attorney Peggy Hoyt about ensuring the fiscal soundness of a Pet Trust.

In this episode of Legal TIPS, 2008-2009 TIPS Vice-Chair Ginger Busby highlights TIPS diversity interests in a wide range of practice law areas and to make the point co-host Attorney Gilda Mariani interviews trusts and estates attorney Peggy Hoyt about forming a Pet Trust.

On this Legal TIPS program, 2008-2009 TIPS Chair-Elect John Tarpley stresses the importance of bar membership in obtaining career opportunities and as an illustration, co-host Attorney Gilda Mariani chats with Joyce Tischler, the founder and general counsel of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, about forging a career in the practice area of animal law.

Attorneys can be more than lawyers, when the next disaster strikes. In part two of this emergency management series on Legal TIPS, host Barbara J. Gislason interviews two visionary lawyers, with unique perspectives. First, lawyer Richard Friedman, President of the National Strategy Forum, discusses the dangers he sees on the horizon, and how lawyers can prepare. And Melissa Rubin, Vice President of Field and Emergency Services of the Humane Society of the United States shares a compelling story about pets in a disaster, and offers legal and practical advice.

In part one of this two part emergency management series on Legal TIPS, host, Attorney Barbara J. Gislason welcomes Attorney Leo Jordan, Chair of the ABA TIPS Task Force on Disaster Insurance Coverage to deconstruct the complexities of knotty wind and rain insurance. Gislason and Jordan also discuss the task force’s concerns and recommendations to improve the way insurance coverage is offered in an emergency, which have been adopted as policy by the American Bar Association.

On this edition of Legal TIPS program, join host Attorney Gilda Mariani, as she discusses with Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) leadership, Attorney Peter Bennett of Portland, Maine and Attorney Dick Semerdjian of San Diego, California how the organized bar can assist the judiciary to preserve and promote its independence and the importance of maintaining fair and impartial courts for the proper functioning of our government.

In this episode host Attorney Gilda Mariani speaks with Professor Rebecca Morgan, the Director of the Center for Excellence in Elder Law at Stetson University College of Law, and John Christopher, a multi-media presentation consultant who works at DecisionQuest, about the innovative use of technology in the courtroom to provide the elderly and people with disabilities with equal access to justice. Hear a description of the model Eleazer Courtroom at Stetson’s main campus at Gulfport Florida.

In this episode host Attorney Gilda Mariani speaks with senior deputy prosecutor Ellen O’Neill-Stephens, founder of the Courthouse Dog Program, and Deborah Starr, a psychologist who works at DecisionQuest, about how trained and certified "courthouse" dogs provide emotional support for everyone in our criminal justice system and how these animals have changed lives. You won’t want to miss hearing about this fascinating program that is gaining national momentum.

On this Legal TIPS program, co-hosts Attorney Gilda Mariani and Attorney Barbara Gislason, chat with Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section ("TIPS") Chair Timothy Bouch about TIPS' diversity initiatives. And host Attorney Gilda Mariani explores the formation and development of one of TIPS diversity initiatives, the Leadership Academy, with its current dean Attorney Peter Neeson, as a vehicle for drawing young lawyers from diverse backgrounds who aspire to serve the public.