Fundamentals of Lawyer-Client Relations 2026
December 15, 2026
DSBA

Registration and Check In:  8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Moderator:
Wali W. Rushdan, Esq. | Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Panels:

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. – The Delaware Way
The Honorable Jan R. Jurden | Wilmington University School of Law
The Honorable Joseph R. Slights | Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Avoiding Disciplinary Complaints
The Office of Disciplinary Counsel

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Break

10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Lawyers Assistance Program and Professional Guidance Committee
James Deel | Delaware Lawyer’s Assistance Program (DELAP)
The Honorable Candace E. Holmes | Family Court of the State of Delaware
John P. Deckers, Esq. | John P. Deckers, P.A.

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – The Fundamentals of Malpractice
Kyle Murphy | USI Insurance Services LLC

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Fee Disputes:  How to Avoid Them and How to Address Those That Arise
Jeffrey Alexander Young, Esq. | Young & McNelis

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Your Client and Ethical Considerations in Alternative Dispute Resolutions
William D. Johnston, Esq. | Delaware ADR, LLC
The Honorable Vivian L. Medinilla | Weiss, Saville, Medinilla & Houser, P.A.
G. Kevin Fasic, Esq. | Offit Kurman P.A.

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – The Bounds of Zealous Advocacy
The Honorable Maryellen Noreika | United States District Court for the District of Delaware
The Honorable Morgan T. Zurn | Supreme Court of the State of Delaware

2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Working with the Difficult Client
Kevin J. O’Connell, Esq. | Office of Defense Services
Josiah R. Wolcott, Esq. | Connolly Gallagher LLP

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Break

3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – What is a Conflict of Interest?
Lauren C. McConnell, Esq. | Wharton Levin
Zoe Plerhoples, Esq. | Balaguer, Milewski, & Imbrogno

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Pro Bono Aspiration
Ryan P. Newell, Esq. | Newell Dispute Resolution
Makayla Rae Monica, Esq. | Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP

Newly Admitted Attorneys: Please note that if you are unable to attend the entire day, please do not register to attend in person. Instead, you may watch the video in its entirety to receive your full CLE credits.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer partial CLE credit to newly admitted attorneys completing their Fundamentals requirements. However, members who are not taking the class to fulfill their Fundamentals requirements may attend and receive partial credit for the time they attend.

This seminar offers 6.5 ethics credits to Delaware and Pennsylvania Attorneys; 7.8 ethics credits to New Jersey Attorneys.

Locations available are Wilmington, Live stream options in Georgetown, Dover, and Seaford.

To register by mail or email, please click the blue registration link below.

To register online, please click the green link below.

 * Advertised price is for the standard member rate.

OUT OF STATE CLE CREDIT INFO

Those attendees who wish to receive CLE credit, other than from Delaware, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, should contact their individual State’s CLE Commission for credit. The Delaware State Bar Association can provide you with the agenda (included in the Materials sent with your registration confirmation) and a Certificate of Attendance (upon completion of the webinar), which should meet the requirements of compliance.

All rates include CLE Seminar and any materials. To register now or review DSBA CLE Policies, click HERE.

All materials provided by the deadline will be available by QR code on the day of the seminar.

Reporting of credits:

Please be advised that the DSBA has 30 days from the date of the seminar to report credits. Credits will be reported according to the date of the seminar not the date they are entered.