Summer associate programs are more than a recruiting pipeline — they’re a reflection of your firm’s culture, values, and long-term strategy. In this webinar, we’ll explore how to design, manage, and evolve a summer program that attracts top talent, fosters meaningful engagement, and sets the stage for future firm leaders. From structuring assignments to creating authentic connections, we’ll share practical insights and proven approaches to ensure your program delivers real value — for both your firm and your associates.

Speakers:

Steven A. Mindel 

Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein, LLP 

https://fmbklaw.com/

Steven A. Mindel, Certified Family Law Specialist* and FMBK Managing Partner, divides his time between practicing Family Law and operating one of Southern California’s largest family law firms.  Since opening its doors in 1996, FMBK has grown to include over 20 attorneys, 3 office locations and over 40 employees. When he is not occupied with FMBK’s operations, he is busy applying his 35+ years of family law experience to attend to the legal needs of his valued clients.

Steve graduated college Magna Cum Laude from UCLA in 1981 and received his Juris Doctorate degree from USC Gould School of Law in 1985. Steve continues to be an avid member of his Alumni Associations and volunteers whenever possible. In 2023, Steve completed the Harvard Law School Executive Education Program. Because he values the importance of giving opportunities to law students all across the country and at all different schools, Steve created The FMBK summer program to give selected rising 3Ls the opportunity to gain experience in family law. 

Steve has been named a Super Lawyer by Los Angeles Magazine every year since 2004, he has made the Southern California’s Top 100 lawyers list every year since 2007, and for the past 3 years he has been selected to the Top 10 list.  In addition to being featured on the cover of the Super Lawyers insert in the 2009 issue of Los Angeles Magazine, he was featured in an article titled, “The Man Who Would De-Fang Divorce,” in the 2009 Super Lawyers Magazine. Steve was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers® 2010 – 2022 and has an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell.

Steve is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Southern California Chapter and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section Executive Committee and currently sits on the Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center Advisory Council. He was appointed and served a two year term on the California State Bar Family Law Section Executive Committee (“FLEXCOM”). He also served as an Advisor to FLEXCOM for four additional years.

With case backlogs, judge shortages, and mandatory time limitations, it is challenging to have pendente lite matters heard.  As a result, discovery disputes, temporary support motions, and custody issues are often delayed in favor of ongoing trials.  Many of these issues can and should be addressed in private arbitration.  Hear from experienced arbitrators on how they have been able to hear and resolve pre-judgment disputes through the arbitration process.

Speakers: Paul Tusch

Cacace Tusch Santagata

https://www.lawcts.com/

Richard Diamond

Diamond & Diamond P.A.

https://diamondanddiamond.com/

Join the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers for an engaging and fast-paced Tech Webinar designed to equip family law practitioners with the latest tools and strategies to modernize their practice. This one-hour session features four dynamic presentations from leading legal tech experts, covering essential topics such as cutting-edge technology tools, innovative marketing strategies, and powerful productivity solutions.

What You’ll Learn: 

• Practical Tech Tips to streamline your daily workflow and boost productivity. 

• Microsoft Co-pilot Insights to integrate AI tools into your practice for greater efficiency. 

• Outlook Updates to enhance communication and organization with the latest features. 

• Marketing Strategies to elevate your firm’s online presence and attract new clients.

Whether you’re looking to improve efficiency, adopt new technologies, or grow your practice, this webinar offers actionable insights to help you stay ahead in the evolving legal landscape.

Don’t miss out—register today to transform your family law practice with technology!

Speakers: 

Catherine Sanders Reach, Director, Center for Practice Management at the North Carolina Bar Association

Ben Schorr, Senior Content Program Manager, Microsoft

Brett Burney, eLaw Evangelist, Nextpoint

Gyi Tsakalakis, President and Founder, AttorneySync

This program will examine how state laws and the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act inform arbitration agreements in family law cases, providing valuable insights into their application and impact on resolving family law disputes. The agenda includes requirements for the agreement, determining the scope of the agreement, limitations on the authority of arbitrators, arbitration involving children's issues, issues involving domestic violence, enforcement of the agreement, the role of the court in arbitration cases, mediation-arbitration, and a checklist for creating the agreement to arbitrate. 

Speakers:

David M. Johnson

Johnson Kush PC

https://www.johnsonkush.com/ 

David M. Johnson practices in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he has specialized in family law for over 42 years. Mr. Johnson is a 1971 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He received his law degree from St. Louis University in in 1976. He is a member of the Missouri and Colorado bars. Mr. Johnson is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has been named in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006. He is certified as a Family Law Arbitrator by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Johnson received the ICON Award of the CBA Family Law Section in 2014 and the Ben S. Wendelken Award from the El Paso County Bar Association in 2015. In 2021 he received the Award of Merit from the Colorado Bar Association. He is the author of numerous articles on family law issues and has presented dozens of CLE presentations. He has acted as a mediator or arbitrator on complex family law cases for over 20 years. Mr. Johnson was a faculty member of the AAML Family Law Arbitration Institute in June 2024.Mr. Johnson's service includes: District Court Magistrate in the Fourth Judicial District from 1995-1997; Chair of the Family Law Section of the CBA in 2006-2007; past member of the Colorado Supreme Court's Standing Committee on Family Law Issues and the Subcommittee for Revisions of Rule 16.2; past member of the Supreme Court Committee on Ethical Issues in Family Law; past member of the Judicial Nominating Committee of the 4th J.D. He served as the President of the El Paso County Bar Association 1989-1990; and as President of the Colorado Bar Association 2009-2010. He has served on the Boards of the Legal Aid Foundation, Colorado Lawyers Trust Fund Foundation, Safe Passage, TESSA, and CASA of the Pikes Peak Region.Mr. Johnson currently serves on the Supreme Court Legal Regulation Committee; the Judicial Performance Commission of the 4th Judicial District and the Board of the El Paso County Bar Association Foundation.

This program will explore the balance between zealous advocacy and ongoing civility. The panel will discuss how professionalism and civility will lead to greater personal satisfaction at work, increased income and a greater reputation in the community.

Dignity and courtesy are the attributes of positive and successful advocacy which will be discussed in this webinar. It is important to note (as the presenters will state) that a law degree is not a license to destroy personalities, careers and/or reputations. Preserving dignity and reputation without compromising advocacy can and should be rewarding in many ways.

Speakers:

The Honorable T. Olon Engleman

Douglas County, Nebraska

Steven A. Mindel

Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein, LLP.

https://fmbklaw.com/

John Slowiaczek

Slowiaczek Albers & Whelan PC, LLO

https://www.saalawyers.com/

Robert C. Brandt

Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein, LLP.

https://fmbklaw.com/

Family law cases with children with special needs can be particularly challenging and complex.   Learn how to identify when your case involves such considerations and how to handle these unique challenges and issues that present themselves.   Learn how to properly educate yourself, third party investigators/evaluations, and judges about issues facing special needs children and their parents.  

Speakers: Philip Schipani

Schipani, Norman & McLain, P.A.

https://www.manasotalawyer.com/

Explore practical and ethical applications of AI in family law. This webinar offers real-life use cases to enhance everyday practice, providing family law practitioners with actionable insights and tools to integrate AI effectively and responsibly in their work.

Speakers:

Patrick A. Wright 

 The Wright Firm, LLP 

https://www.thewrightlawyers.com/

Scott Bassett 

Scott Bassett, Esq., A Michigan Virtual Appellate Practice

https://divorceappeals.com  

Kimberly Quach 

Quach Family Law, P.C.

Sally Pretorius 

KoonsFuller, P.C. 

https://koonsfuller.com/ 

Tom Daley 

KoonsFuller, P.C. 

https://koonsfuller.com/

Join past presidents, Elizabeth Lindsey, Jim McLaren, Cary Mogerman and Susan Myres for a wide-ranging analysis and discussion about the tsunami in discovery in our family law cases. Learn of some innovative tools from different jurisdictions and practices.

We will visit topics such as the strategies of written discovery; harvesting data from our clients, the other party and third parties; evaluation of the vast volumes of responses; and best practices for using discovery responses to present and persuade in multiple venues.

Staff members and associates of fellows are invited to join in viewing the session as we all work to elevate the practice of family law.

Speakers: 

Elizabeth Lindsey

Harrison LLP

Jim McLaren

McLaren & Lee

http://www.mclarenandlee.com/

Cary J. Mogerman

Carmody MacDonald, PC

https://carmodymacdonald.com/

Susan Myres

Myres and Associates, PLLC

https://www.thehoustondivorcefirm.com/

Discover the secrets to persuading clients to opt for arbitration, a faster, more cost-effective, and private alternative to traditional litigation. Learn proven strategies to highlight the benefits of arbitration, handle common client objections, costs and selection of an arbitrator and ultimately secure more successful resolutions. Learn about unique issues in New Jersey and North Dakota regarding arbitration. Enhance your practice by mastering the art of guiding clients towards arbitration for a smoother, more amicable divorce process.

Speakers:

Alisha Ankers
Alisha Ankers Law Office
https://www.alishaankers.com/

Carolyn N. Daly
Partner at Cohen Seglias
https://www.cohenseglias.com/

This presentation will cover Alternative Asset Management firms, such as hedge funds, private equity, venture capital and other forms of complex income sources which lead to complicated support issues.  The audience will learn about how these different types of structures lead to different equity compensation, as well as the complicated ways to determine income available for support for each.  These differing types of compensation present attorneys and parties with alternatives to reach agreements for creative ways pay support.  The panel will address the tax consequences and considerations to be made when these types of compensation are involved.

Speakers: 

Michèle Bissada, CFLS, AAML

Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada LLP

www.fkkblaw.com

Marie Ebersbacher, CPA

CBIZ

www.cbiz.com

Alexandra Peais, CPA

Gursey | Schneider, LLP 

www.gursey.com