CLE Program thriving at Brooklyn Bar Association

May 26, 2015 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Danielle Levine runs the Brooklyn Bar Association's thriving Continuing Legal Education program, which offers more than 20 live courses per year and has an additional 40 pre-recorded programs available. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

Share this:

If a good Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program makes for good lawyers, then Kings County must have some of the best around, because the Brooklyn Bar Association’s (BBA) CLE department is thriving with more high-quality offerings than ever before.

Under the direction of Danielle Levine, the vitality of the CLE program has increased at the Bar Association, as it has embraced new technology while continuing to present relevant topics discussed by some of the most respected jurists available.

“The BBA’s CLE Department has had a successful year so far, with 16 courses since January and another 10 scheduled before the summer break,” Levine said, also noting that the Bar Association offers more than 40 pre-recorded CLE courses available online or via DVD as well.

The Brooklyn Bar Association’s CLE has always had a reputation for being less expensive than its Manhattan and New York state counterparts, but it has managed to go even further recently with the introduction of its new “CLE Loyalty Pass,” which offers discounts to lawyers willing to pay an annual fee. The annual pass costs just $289 for members and $489 for non-members.

“We’re excited to offer the CLE Loyalty Pass because it gives our audience an opportunity to pay a flat annual fee for unlimited live CLE courses,” Levine said.

Of course, the BBA has some of the most respected jurists stopping by to deliver its CLE courses. Just last year, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia participated in a CLE. Hon. Nancy T. Sunshine, Kings County Clerk, Hon. Frank R. Seddio and Hon. Miriam Cyrulnik are other local jurists who participated in recent months. Hon. Katherine Levine and Hon. Carolyn E. Demarest are featured in upcoming CLEs this June.

“The BBA is a great place to do your CLE because our speakers are all talented local judges and attorneys with extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of practicing law in Brooklyn,” said Levine. “They share not only outstanding legal insight, but also a deep understanding of the nuance of Brooklyn legal practice.”

The BBA hosts its next CLE course, called “Verifying Expert Qualifications and Ethics of Internet Research,” on Wednesday, May 27, at 12:30 p.m. The speaker is Karen Silverman.

Lawyers looking to get their required 24 CLE credits before the end of the year will have plenty of opportunities if they can’t make it on Wednesday, as nine others are planned in the upcoming months, and courses are available online or via DVD. There are more than 40 pre-recorded offerings on topics ranging from bankruptcy to trial techniques to estate planning.