Thursday, April 23, 2009

Continuing Bankruptcy Legal Education

Every month of the year, I take classes, seminars and programs in bankruptcy law. Every week, I read bankruptcy journals and newsletters. I go far beyond the minimum requirements for continuing my status as a Specialist in Bankruptcy Law, Certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California. On March 13,2009 I participated in an all day program put on by the American Bankruptcy Institute in Beverly Hills, California entitled, “Bankruptcy Battleground West.” Subjects covered included emerging real estate issues in bankruptcy, selling assets in bankruptcy proceedings, and the economic forecast for 2009. Many prominent bankruptcy attorneys from across the Country attended, as did the United States Trustee for Region 16 and 5 of the bankruptcy judges from the Central District of California.

On Saturday, April 11, 2009 I attended the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Association program on Tax Issues in Bankruptcy at Southwestern Law School.

On May 15-17, I will be attending the California Bankruptcy Forum Conference at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California. Every bankruptcy judge in California is invited to attend this program free of charge for both the judge and a guest, including the cost of resort lodging, food and all programs. In return, the judges help to teach the attending bankruptcy attorneys about recent developments in bankruptcy law. Most of the Judges in the Central District of California where I practice accept this offer every year. Past year’s events that I attended in Napa and in Palm Desert allowed me not only to further my bankruptcy education, but also to get to know more of the judges on a personal level. This event is always both educational and fun.