Conference Schedule and Session Information
Desserts & Drinks Reception
Thursday, 9/17 7:30–9:30 p.m.
Start the conference on a sweet note! Join us Thursday evening after dinner for delicious desserts, refreshing drinks, and the chance to unwind with fellow attendees and guests. This casual reception is the perfect opportunity to relax, mingle, and kick off the conference. Conference attendees and their guests will receive drink tickets.
View Dining Recommendations
Breakfast Buffet
Friday, 9/18 7:15-8:15 a.m.
You are invited to enjoy a bountiful breakfast buffet featuring fresh seasonal selections, traditional breakfast favorites, and a few sweet touches to round out the morning. This inviting spread offers a warm and satisfying start to the day.
Thank you to DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger, P.C., our breakfast sponsor.
Keynote Session
Friday, 9/18 @ 8:45 a.m.
Persuasion – the Art of Changing Someone’s Mind or Opinion
Presented by Roger Dodd, Esquire
The Franklin County Bar Association is honored to welcome Roger J. Dodd as keynote speaker for the 19th Bench Bar Conference of the 39th Judicial District. A nationally respected trial lawyer, teacher, and lecturer, Mr. Dodd is known as one of the country’s top experts on cross-examination and trial practice skills, and he has instructed lawyers and judges across the United States and abroad.
His keynote address, “Persuasion – the Art of Changing Someone’s Mind or Opinion,” will offer valuable insight into the techniques of persuasion and advocacy that can be used both in and out of the courtroom.
Persuasion – the Art of Changing Someone’s Mind or Opinion (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Persuasion in the courtroom:
Opening Statements
Closing Arguments
Direct Examinations
Cross Examinations
Objections and Responses to Objections
Demonstrative Evidence
Bench Trials
First Interviews of Clients and Others
How to use the opponent’s examples and analogies against them
Rhetorical and Oratorical Specific Techniques and Devices:
Historically there are Dozens and Dozens of specific techniques dating from Aristotle. There are many specific techniques just from the courtroom. There are great non-lawyer, non-courtroom resources to expand our ability to create them.
Learn more about Roger Dodd, Esquire
ROGER J. DODD has active offices in Park City, Utah (Dodd & Kuendig), Jacksonville, Florida (Spohrer and Dodd), and Valdosta, Georgia (Dodd and Burnham) where he practices trial work of all types. This includes personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, and domestic relations. He has been listed in Best Lawyers for more than 20 years. He is one of a handful of lawyers nationally who are listed in Super Lawyers in more than one state simultaneously (Georgia, Florida and Mountain States (5). He was Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Practice from 1990 until 2020 (30 years) and was a Board Certified in Criminal Trial Practice from 1989 until 2009 (20 years).
He acts as co-counsel all over the United States and in select foreign countries. He also coaches individual lawyers in individual cases. See www.rogerdoddtriallawyercoaching.com.
He has lectured and taught lawyers and judges in all 50 states, and multiple foreign countries. TV and legal credits include CourtTV, TruTV, CNN, ABC, CBS, and cable TV.
Dodd & Kuendig
Park City, UT 84068
(435) 200-4962
www.doddkuendig.com
Spohrer & Dodd, P.L.
Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 309-6500
www.spohrerdodd.com
Dodd & Burnham
Valdosta, GA 31601
(229) 242-4470
www.doddlaw.com
Breakout Sessions
Friday, 9/18 @ 9:55 a.m.
Click on the name of the CLE Session for more information
Objection! Evidence Issues Every Pennsylvania Lawyer Should Know
Objection! Evidence Issues Every Pennsylvania Lawyer Should Know @ 9:55 a.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Professor Marian Grace Braccia
From hearsay headaches and authentication battles to impeachment missteps and evidentiary surprises, lawyers routinely encounter evidence issues that can make or break a case. Designed for both civil and criminal practitioners, this fast-paced and interactive session examines some of the most common—and commonly misunderstood—evidence questions arising in Pennsylvania courtrooms. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can use immediately, along with a review of recent developments and noteworthy Pennsylvania appellate decisions interpreting the Rules of Evidence.
Marian Grace Braccia has served as the Director of the LL.M. in Trial Advocacy and a Practice Professor of Law at Temple University Beasley School of Law since 2018. Braccia earned her Juris Doctor from Temple Law School in 2006, after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies. An accomplished litigator, Braccia served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2018, handling Major Trials and cases in the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit. At Temple, Braccia teaches Evidence and Integrated Trial Advocacy to JD students. She frequently presents on gender bias in the courtroom, with a focus on its impact on transgender and gender-diverse people and cisgender women. Internationally, she teaches American trial advocacy to lawyers in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru through Temple’s Chilean pre-LL.M. program and Evidence Law to Chinese legal professionals as part of the Temple-Tsinghua LL.M. degree program. In 2024, she was appointed to a six-year term on the Pennsylvania Committee on Rules of Evidence.
Braccia is a second-year PhD student in the Klein College of Media and Communication. She intends to dedicate her doctoral research to the impact of gender perception on persuasion and communication.
A proud native of Philadelphia, Braccia lives here still with her husband Brian, their four children, and one fur baby.
Current Developments in Sentencing and Supervision: Act 44 Appellate Decisions and Enhancements in Practice
Current Developments in Sentencing and Supervision: Act 44 Appellate Decisions and Enhancements in Practice @ 9:55 a.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Robert J. Sisock
This session provides an overview of recent appellate court decisions interpreting and applying Act 44 of 2023, Pennsylvania’s probation reform legislation. Mr. Sisock will highlight rulings addressing the scope of court authority, the use of sanctions for technical violations, and evolving practices in probation revocation proceedings. The session will also include a discussion on the application of sentencing enhancements in practice. The discussion is designed to offer a practical understanding of current trends in sentencing and supervision, as well as emerging legal considerations, and to highlight areas to monitor as case law and policy continue to develop.
Robert J. Sisock is the Education and Outreach Manager for the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, where he oversees the development and delivery of training programs and educational resources focused on sentencing law, policy, and guideline application. He works closely with judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and court administrators to support consistent and effective implementation of sentencing practices across the Commonwealth. Mr. Sisock previously served as Criminal Court Administrator for the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, managing the operations of a high-volume criminal docket. He also serves as an adjunct instructor in public administration and criminal justice and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Public Administration at The Pennsylvania State University.
Item #3
Guardianship Review Hearings following Act 61: A new commitment and results
Guardianship Review Hearings following Act 61: A new commitment and results @ 9:55 a.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
With the passage of Act 61 in 2024, there is new emphasis on alternatives to guardianship, limited guardianship and timely review of guardianship cases when capacity may be at issue. Please join the panelists as they discuss the impact that review hearings have had on the guardianship cases in the 39th Judicial District and explore of the most effective and impactful ways guardianship cases can be brought before the court for a review hearing and results thereafter.
Panelists:
The Honorable Shawn D. Meyers, President Judge
Honorable Shawn D. Meyers. Since January, 2010 the Honorable Shawn D. Meyers has served as a judge for the Court of Common Pleas for the 39th Judicial District which is the general trial court for Franklin & Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania. In December, 2019, he began serving as President Judge. He lives in Chambersburg with his wife, Nancy, a practicing attorney. Judge Meyers has served as chair of the following committees during his time on the bench: Franklin County CJAB Committee; 39th Judicial District Orphan’s Court Local Rules Committee, 39th Judicial District Civil Procedure Local Rules Committee, 39th Judicial District Family Law Committee and has been a member of the Franklin and Fulton County CJAB & Criminal Caseflow Committees and Franklin County eFiling and Civil Case Management Committees. He has also spearheaded the effort to bring the first Court Facility Dog to Franklin County and an Autism Awareness Initiative for the entire 39th Judicial District. Since January, 2024 he is a member of the Office of Elder Justice in the Court’s Advisory Council. He serves as President of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges and has served as a member of the Education Committee, Website Committee and Orphans’ Court Section. He is a former member of the AOPC Guardian Tracking System Governance Committee. He graduated from the Mercersburg Academy, Kenyon College, earning a B.A. in Political Science and a juris doctorate degree from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. He started practicing law in 1993 with David C. Cleaver & Associates, P.C. Chambersburg, before becoming a partner in the law firm of Steiger, Steiger & Meyers, Mercersburg, and also serving as Franklin County Solicitor. He also served as Franklin County Solicitor to the Area Agency on Aging and Behavioral Health Department. He has served on numerous boards of various charitable organizations and clubs during his career. He is a member and past president of the Greene Township Lions Club. When time permits he enjoys reading novels, both fiction and nonfiction, occasional horseback riding, cross country skiing and traveling with his wife Nancy and their Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Galena and Morey.
Brady B. Johnson, IV, Esquire
Brady B. Johnson IV, Esquire concentrates his practice in Municipal Law, Employment Law, and General Litigation.
Brady graduated from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. After college Brady began his career in banking, where he held the role of Bank executive for over a decade.
Brady then received his Juris Doctorate from Widener Law School in Wilmington, Delaware. Brady joined Salzmann Hughes, P.C., as Associate Attorney in 2018. At Salzmann Hughes Brady has focused on Municipal Law, Employment Law, and Dependency Law while also serving as the Attorney Reviewer for the Guardianship cases in Franklin and Fulton County.
Brady is a Board of Director member of the Franklin County Bar Association and a Board of Director member of the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board in Washington County, Maryland.
Anthony V. Fernando, Esquire
After a term in the army and a career as a pilot and fish biologist, Anthony Fernando graduated from Penn State Dickinson Law and was admitted to the bar in 2023. While a student at Dickinson’s Community Law Clinic, he represented two incapacitated persons who needed modifications to their guardianships. As a general litigation attorney at Christopher Reibsome Law, LLC, guardianship matters remain a meaningful portion of his practice.
Coffee & Connections Break
Friday, 9/18 @ 10:55 a.m.
Enjoy an extended morning break in Constitution Hall to recharge, connect with fellow attendees, and visit with our conference sponsors whose support helps make this conference possible.
Thank you to Sipe Law, LLC, our Refreshment Sponsor.
Plenary Session
Friday, 9/18 @ 11:25 a.m.
Click on the Judge's name for their bio
39th Judicial District Judges Panel @ 11:25 a.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
This 1-hour session will give you updates from the Bench of the 39th Judicial District. Questions and topic suggestions may be submitted to the conference committee until August 14th via email to [email protected].
Panelists:
The Honorable Shawn D. Meyers, President Judge
Honorable Shawn D. Meyers. Since January, 2010 the Honorable Shawn D. Meyers has served as a judge for the Court of Common Pleas for the 39th Judicial District which is the general trial court for Franklin & Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania. In December, 2019, he began serving as President Judge. He lives in Chambersburg with his wife, Nancy, a practicing attorney. Judge Meyers has served as chair of the following committees during his time on the bench: Franklin County CJAB Committee; 39th Judicial District Orphan’s Court Local Rules Committee, 39th Judicial District Civil Procedure Local Rules Committee, 39th Judicial District Family Law Committee and has been a member of the Franklin and Fulton County CJAB & Criminal Caseflow Committees and Franklin County eFiling and Civil Case Management Committees. He has also spearheaded the effort to bring the first Court Facility Dog to Franklin County and an Autism Awareness Initiative for the entire 39th Judicial District. Since January, 2024 he is a member of the Office of Elder Justice in the Court’s Advisory Council. He serves as President of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges and has served as a member of the Education Committee, Website Committee and Orphans’ Court Section. He is a former member of the AOPC Guardian Tracking System Governance Committee. He graduated from the Mercersburg Academy, Kenyon College, earning a B.A. in Political Science and a juris doctorate degree from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. He started practicing law in 1993 with David C. Cleaver & Associates, P.C. Chambersburg, before becoming a partner in the law firm of Steiger, Steiger & Meyers, Mercersburg, and also serving as Franklin County Solicitor. He also served as Franklin County Solicitor to the Area Agency on Aging and Behavioral Health Department. He has served on numerous boards of various charitable organizations and clubs during his career. He is a member and past president of the Greene Township Lions Club. When time permits he enjoys reading novels, both fiction and nonfiction, occasional horseback riding, cross country skiing and traveling with his wife Nancy and their Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Galena and Morey.
The Honorable Angela R. Krom
Judge Angela R. Krom joined the Court of Common Pleas for the 39th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, which includes Franklin and Fulton Counties, in January 2010. She was retained in 2020 for another 10-year term.
Judge Krom presides primarily over criminal matters, as well and juvenile dependency and delinquency cases. In addition, Judge Krom serves on the State Leadership Roundtable for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Office of Children and Families and the Court and co-chairs Leadership Roundtable 5/6, forums where the dependency court and child welfare work to improve outcomes for dependent children and their families. Judge Krom serves as a co-chair for the nine-county District 3 Behavior Health Council and actively participates in this effort to unite the Commonwealth’s three branches of government in improving the Court’s response and outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs.
Locally, Judge Krom participates in Franklin County’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Fulton County’s Criminal Justice Advisory Board, and leads the 39th Judicial District’s Local Children’s Roundtable.
Prior to taking the bench, Judge Krom served as both an Assistant District Attorney and the First Assistant District Attorney in the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office. Judge Krom worked in the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office for more than 13 years, prosecuting all types of criminal cases, including domestic violence, sexual assault, violent felony offenses, and criminal homicides.
Judge Krom earned a degree in Political Science, with a minor in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College. She earned her law degree from the Dickinson School of Law.
The Honorable Jeremiah D. Zook
Judge Zook was born and raised in the State of Ohio, graduating from Central Christian High School in Kidron, Ohio in 1993. He enrolled in Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, graduating in 1997. He then attended the University of Akron School of Law in Akron, Ohio, earning his juris doctorate in 2000. While in law school, Judge Zook clerked for the Honorable Robert J. Brown, Judge of the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas in Wooster, Ohio. He passed the Ohio Bar Exam and began practice as a staff attorney, and later sworn prosecutor, for the child support enforcement agency in Wayne County.
In 2002, Judge Zook passed the Pennsylvania Bar Exam. He moved to Franklin County, taking up the private practice of law with the then firm of Dick, Stein & Schemel, LLP, in Waynesboro.
Judge Zook joined the Franklin County Public Defender’s Office in 2003 as a full-time assistant public defender. After two-years as a public defender, Judge Zook was appointed an assistant district attorney by then District Attorney John F. “Jack” Nelson. Upon D.A. Nelson’s untimely passing in 2009, newly-appointed District Attorney Matthew D. Fogal appointed Judge Zook First Assistant District Attorney of Franklin County. In 2013, Judge Zook sought election to the Court of Common Pleas. He won election in November 2013 and began a 10-year term on January 6, 2014. He was retained by the voters in 2023, and began a second 10-year term in 2024.
Judge Zook is married to his wife of 30 years, Melanie (Baer). They reside in Guilford Township. They have two adult sons living in the Chambersburg area, and a teenage daughter at home to keep them on their toes. They attend King Street Church in Chambersburg. In his spare-time, Judge Zook enjoys playing Farming Simulator 25, kayaking, fishing, golf, and rooting for The Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Honorable Todd M. Sponseller
Judge Todd Sponseller has served as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 39th Judicial District since January of 2016. His current areas of assignment are family court, criminal, civil litigation and appeal from the suspension of drivers’ licenses.
Judge Sponseller is a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the eldest son of the late Dr. Edwin and Suzanne Sponseller (née Slaybaugh). He graduated from Chambersburg Area Senior High School and then Shippensburg University with a Bachelor’s in History. He earned his J.D. from West Virginia University in 1999 and then enjoyed a career as an insurance defense attorney that lasted more than a decade and allowed him to practice throughout the State of West Virginia and in Ohio and Virginia via pro hac vice admission. Judge Sponseller returned to Franklin County in 2010 to marry his wife Laura Sponseller (née Nicklas), also a Chambersburg native. After obtaining admission to practice in Pennsylvania, he was a solo practitioner concentrating primarily in the areas of criminal defense, family law and civil litigation, and served on the boards of directors of several local charity and community organizations.
Judge Sponseller enjoys traveling, golf, skiing, music, cooking, reading, a variety of podcasts, cycling, and fishing. He and Laura have two children Cooper (24) and Emmeline (15) and two black Labradors, Scout (9) and Ruby Sue (4).
The Honorable Mary Beth Shank
Judge Mary Beth Shank has served as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 39th Judicial District since January of 2020. Her current areas of assignment include criminal, family and juvenile matters.
Judge Shank graduated from Chambersburg Area Senior High School, Grove City College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and earned her J.D. from Dickinson School of Law of Penn State University. As a practitioner, Judge Shank focused on a general civil practice and eventually concentrated her practice in municipal law, serving as solicitor for Franklin County and assistant solicitor and special counsel for various municipalities and boards. She has served on the board of directors of numerous local charitable and community organizations, including Keystone Rural Health Center, Cumberland Valley School of Music, Totem Pole Playhouse, and Downtown Chambersburg, Inc. She also served a term as an elected representative on Chambersburg Borough Council.
Judge Shank is married to John McPaul, who works as the Operations and Facility Manager for Salzmann Huges, P.C. She and John are proud parents of Katelyn, a research assistant at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Katelyn is currently a doctoral student in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering through a joint program between WHOI and MIT.
Judge Shank enjoys spending time reading, cooking/baking, and listening to podcasts on a variety of topics. Most of all she enjoys time with family.
Officer Dudley will be in attendance for the Judges' Panel
Officer Dudley is the first court facility dog to serve in the 39th Judicial District. He supports the mission of the Franklin County Probation and Parole Department’s oversight and rehabilitation of individuals under court-ordered supervision, drug treatment court, and general criminal court assistance.
Lunch
Friday, 9/18 @ 12:25 p.m.
You will enjoy a plentiful buffet lunch with a selection of fresh salads, grilled favorites, and house-made sweet treats. It’s a delicious and relaxed way to recharge for the afternoon.
Lunch is brought to you by our Title Sponsor Orrstown Financial Advisors.
Breakout Sessions
Friday, 9/18 @ 1:45 p.m.
Click on the name of the CLE Session for more information
Persuasion – the Art of Changing Someone’s Mind or Opinion, part 2
Persuasion – the Art of Changing Someone’s Mind or Opinion, part 2 @ 1:45 p.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Roger Dodd, Esquire
Persuasion in the courtroom:
Opening Statements
Closing Arguments
Direct Examinations
Cross Examinations
Objections and Responses to Objections
Demonstrative Evidence
Bench Trials
First Interviews of Clients and Others
How to use the opponent’s examples and analogies against them
Rhetorical and Oratorical Specific Techniques and Devices:
Historically there are Dozens and Dozens of specific techniques dating from Aristotle. There are many specific techniques just from the courtroom. There are great non-lawyer, non-courtroom resources to expand our ability to create them.
ROGER J. DODD has active offices in Park City, Utah (Dodd & Kuendig), Jacksonville, Florida (Spohrer and Dodd), and Valdosta, Georgia (Dodd and Burnham) where he practices trial work of all types. This includes personal injury, wrongful death, criminal defense, and domestic relations. He has been listed in Best Lawyers for more than 20 years. He is one of a handful of lawyers nationally who are listed in Super Lawyers in more than one state simultaneously (Georgia, Florida and Mountain States (5). He was Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Practice from 1990 until 2020 (30 years) and was a Board Certified in Criminal Trial Practice from 1989 until 2009 (20 years).
He acts as co-counsel all over the United States and in select foreign countries. He also coaches individual lawyers in individual cases. See www.rogerdoddtriallawyercoaching.com.
He has lectured and taught lawyers and judges in all 50 states, and multiple foreign countries. TV and legal credits include CourtTV, TruTV, CNN, ABC, CBS, and cable TV.
Dodd & Kuendig
Park City, UT 84068
(435) 200-4962
www.doddkuendig.com
Spohrer & Dodd, P.L.
Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 309-6500
www.spohrerdodd.com
Dodd & Burnham
Valdosta, GA 31601
(229) 242-4470
www.doddlaw.com
Item #2
Cybersecurity: Don’t get burned focusing on technology (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Carmine Cicalese
Most firm owners and partners are convinced cybersecurity is an IT upsell. While cyber and IT have some overlap, strong cybersecurity synchronizes people, processes, and technology across six domains. Don’t get caught being short sighted thinking this doesn’t apply to your law firm. Attend this session to understand the threat and visualize your firm’s cybersecurity status.
Carmine Cicalese is the President and Founder of CYBER CIC, a cybersecurity consulting firm that advises small and mid-sized business leaders on protecting their company on their timeline. Carm started his information security journey during a 29-year US Army career. Highlights include serving at the National Security Agency, throwing the information warfare kitchen sink at the nation’s adversaries after 9-11, and managing the U.S. Army’s cyberspace strategy and portfolio from the Pentagon. Having his fill of serving the federal government and those with substantial resources, Carm shifted CYBER CIC’s emphasis to serve proactive private businesses and independent professional services who want to stay ahead of the evolving threat.
Breakout Sessions
Friday, 9/18 @ 3 p.m.
Click on the name of the CLE Session for more information
Civil Litigation & Advocacy Today
Civil Litigation & Advocacy Today @ 3 p.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Timothy R. Lawn, Esquire
Working up and presenting a civil case to adjusters, mediator, arbitrators, and juries has changed drastically in just the past handful of years. Tim Lawn has been teaching trial advocacy, and successfully representing clients in complicated civil litigation matters, from both sides of the aisle, for well over 30 years. This presentation will offer suggestions and tips for effectively presenting a powerful case (plaintiff or defense) to today’s decision makers.
A member of Rayne & Lawn in Philadelphia, Tim Lawn has spent his 37-year legal career litigating complex injury and death cases throughout Pennsylvania. He has been voted one of the Top 10 lawyers in the state in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers rankings for the past seven years and has been repeatedly listed in Best Lawyers in America and named its “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation in Philadelphia in 2021. Tim is a Fellow of both the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has given more than one hundred presentations, lectures and seminars to lawyers and judges on trial advocacy and all aspects of civil litigation, including providing the Civil Law Update to the Pennsylvania State Conference of Trial Judges on multiple occasions. Mr. Lawn is a reviewer of two textbooks on Pennsylvania Civil Trial Practice and is the Co-Editor of the last three editions of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Civil Practice Manual. He is past-President of both the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Actively involved with many non-profit organizations, Tim still proudly chairs the Board of Directors of the Dave Palmer Memorial Foundation, a tax-exempt public charity that he founded in 1992 after the passing of a dear friend. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $750,000 of financial assistance to children who have lost a parent to an untimely death. In recognition of his professional accomplishments and commitment to his community, Tim was inducted into the Bishop McDevitt High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2008.
Cybersecurity: Don’t Get Burned Focusing on Technology
Cybersecurity: Don’t Get Burned Focusing on Technology @ 3 p.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Carmine Cicalese
Most firm owners and partners are convinced cybersecurity is an IT upsell. While cyber and IT have some overlap, strong cybersecurity synchronizes people, processes, and technology across six domains. Don’t get caught being short sighted thinking this doesn’t apply to your law firm. Attend this session to understand the threat and visualize your firm’s cybersecurity status.
Carmine Cicalese is the President and Founder of CYBER CIC, a cybersecurity consulting firm that advises small and mid-sized business leaders on protecting their company on their timeline. Carm started his information security journey during a 29-year US Army career. Highlights include serving at the National Security Agency, throwing the information warfare kitchen sink at the nation’s adversaries after 9-11, and managing the U.S. Army’s cyberspace strategy and portfolio from the Pentagon. Having his fill of serving the federal government and those with substantial resources, Carm shifted CYBER CIC’s emphasis to serve proactive private businesses and independent professional services who want to stay ahead of the evolving threat.
Pre-Nups vs. Mid-Nups: Because Who Knew Love Had Terms & Conditions?
Pre-Nups vs. Mid-Nups: Because Who Knew Love Had Terms & Conditions? @ 3 p.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Maria Cognetti, Esquire & Brandon O’Donnell, Esquire
This program provides a practical overview of prenuptial and midnuptial agreements, with a focus on the fundamental distinctions between the two and when each is most appropriately used. Attendees will examine the legal framework governing enforceability, including timing, financial disclosure, and the role of independent counsel.
The presentation will also address key drafting and negotiation considerations, including what may constitute sufficient consideration and how these issues arise in both pre- and post-marital contexts.
In addition, the program will touch on the role these agreements can play in broader planning, including their use in protecting family assets and aligning with estate planning objectives. Through real-world examples, participants will gain a working understanding of how to advise clients on the use of agreements, avoid common pitfalls, and structure agreements that are both practical and enforceable.
Ms. Cognetti is the former owner of the Cognetti Law Group and now a Shareholder at the Mette Firm. She is a Past-President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and past President of its PA Chapter. She was also a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and a past Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (formerly the IAML). She is past Chair of the PBA’s Family Law Section. Ms. Cognetti also worked tirelessly with the legislature on various issues; having testified on numerous occasions. In 2011 she was recognized by the PBA with a Special Achievement Award for her work on the new Custody Act and was recognized by the AAML as Fellow of the Year for her efforts on national issues. Lastly, Ms. Cognetti was awarded a Presidential Service Award by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Ms. Cognetti is also a Past Chair of the Pa. Supreme Court Domestic Relations Rules Committee and is a former Senior Hearing member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Brandon is a founding member of Sommer & O’Donnell, LLC based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he focuses his practice exclusively on family law, handling matters such as divorce, custody, support, and adoption. Brandon earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law where he received the Pro Bono Distinction for his community service. He currently serves on the Cumberland County Bar Association Board of Directors; as a Chair of the Cumberland County Bar Association Family Law Section; as co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association LGBTQ+ Rights Committee; and remains active in his local community in a variety of service positions.
When and How to Use Directed Trusts
When and How to Use Directed Trusts @ 3 p.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Patti S. Spencer, Esquire
Directed trusts are being utilized with increased frequency and offer a powerful and flexible tool for estate planning, providing the opportunity to split trust functions between a trustee and one or more “trust directors”. Pennsylvania enacted a version of the Uniform Directed Trust Act on July 15, 2024 with an effective date of October 14, 2024. This important modernization of Pennsylvania’s trust laws allows trust settlors to involve family members in the administration of a trust when appropriate but to use professionals to ensure compliance with fiduciary duties, provide professional investment management, deal with contentious beneficiary relationships, manage complex assets, and provide independent judgment concerning discretionary distribution decisions.
We will examine the pros and cons of directed trusts, discuss when a directed trust is appropriate, and identify important drafting issues.
Ms. Spencer has been practicing law for more than 40 years and continues to focus her practice on estate planning, probate, trusts, taxation, and closely held business issues. Ms. Spencer often works as a consultant to other attorneys and financial professionals in estate planning, trust and taxation matters as well as providing expert witness services including expert witness testimony. Before founding Spencer Law Firm in 1996, Ms. Spencer was the head of the Personal Trust Department at a regional bank in Pennsylvania. She graduated, summa cum laude, from Dickinson College and received her J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. She is a member of both the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Bars. She has taught courses in estate and tax law for Boston University School of Law and for Franklin and Marshall College. Her column, Taxing Matters, appeared weekly in the “Business Monday” section of the Lancaster Intelligence Journal for 14 years. She is a frequent lecturer for several continuing education providers and is the author of numerous articles on estate planning topics. Elected by her peers, Ms. Spencer is a fellow of the American College of Probate and Trust Counsel. Your Estate Matters, a book which is a compilation of Ms. Spencer’s columns, was published in January 2015. Ms. Spencer is also the author of a reference book for lawyers: Pennsylvania Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Library Forms and Practice Manual, originally published 2007 and updated annually. It is available from Data Trace Publishing Company, www.datatrace.com.
Breakout Sessions
Friday, 9/18 @ 4:15 p.m.
Click on the name of the CLE Session for more information
Mediation by the Numbers
Mediation by the Numbers @ 4:15 p.m. (1 Ethics CLE Credit)
Presented by David Fitzsimons, Esquire
The PBA has recently adopted the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators. The Standards were previously adopted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), American Bar Association and the Association for Conflict Resolution. The PBA encourages all practicing mediators in Pennsylvania to adhere to the professional and ethical standards set forth in the Model Standards, including but not limited to its members. Kristen Hamilton PBA President
One of many extraordinary accomplishments of her year as PBA President, Kristen Hamilton provided the platform to reintroduce and emphasize the close parallels between the Standards of Conduct for Mediators and Pennsylvania’s Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Understanding the Mediator’s professional obligations and duties is invaluable to attorneys seeking the best fit and outcome for their clients.
This program with 1 Ethics Credit will identify the salient considerations in selecting, preparing and designing a mediation experience that will confirm your status as an insightful problem solver while encouraging client buy in and self determination in the final result.
David Fitzsimons, principal of ADRFitz LLC in Carlisle, PA, has over 42 years’ legal experience in all aspects of Civil Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution as a trainer, neutral mediator, and attorney representing interested parties. This gives David unique perspectives in addressing disputes involving construction, business operations/succession, employment, land use, probate and estate matters, commercial litigation and personal injury whether in active litigation, or pre-litigation. David’s career arc has led to a personal and professional commitment to the value of ADR in addressing the full spectrum of disputes.
David has most recently been the recipient of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee’s Sir Francis Bacon Dispute Resolution Award. He is committed to the value of mediation, arbitration, and peacemaking as powerful tools for helping individuals and organizations move forward with dignity, understanding, and resolution.
404: Character Not Found-Character Evidence in Criminal Trials.
404: Character Not Found-Character Evidence in Criminal Trials. @ 4:15 p.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by David Erhard, Esquire
This presentation will discuss the appropriate use of character evidence at trial, the potential pitfalls, and the practical preparation that comes with it all.
David Erhard is an attorney at Steve Rice Law, a private firm dedicated exclusively to criminal defense with offices across four counties in PA. He has handled thousands of state criminal cases across Pennsylvania, practices federally in the Middle District of PA, & litigates appeals though the PA Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, and Supreme Court. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Penn State at University Park, he received his J.D. from Widener School of Law (Harrisburg). There, while serving as the President of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society, he was awarded the James C. Crumlish Scholarship Award for Outstanding Advocacy, the Distinguished Board Member Award, and Outstanding Advocacy Award. For two years, he was a certified legal intern for the Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office. He has been Co-chair of the Young Lawyer’s Committee of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL), a two-term member of the Board of Directors for PACDL, a member of the federal Criminal Justice Advisory Panel for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and has addressed Pennsylvania Congress regarding cash bail reform. He is a member of various bar associations and defense organizations across the United States. He currently serves as Co-chair of the Cumberland County Criminal Law Section, a member of the PACDL Rules Advisory Committee, and a member of the PACDL Advocacy Committee. He spends his free time with wife / high school sweetheart, three children, and the myriad of pets they have talked him into allowing into their home.
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Stop Fearing AI and Embrace It
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Stop Fearing AI and Embrace It @ 4:15 p.m. (1 Substantive CLE Credit)
Presented by Paul D. Edger, Esquire
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Stop Fearing AI and Embrace It is an entry-level guide for lawyers who are AI-curious, AI-skeptical, or despite information otherwise, are convinced robots will do away with our profession. This practical session will walk attendees through simple, ethical, and useful ways to use many kinds of AI to save time, streamline routine tasks, improve efficiency, and free up more energy for the work that actually requires a law degree. No tech expertise required — just a willingness to stop fighting the future and harness AI instead of avoiding it.
Paul D. Edger is a Senior Deputy Attorney General in Charge of the Harrisburg region of the Bureau of Consumer Protection with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Additionally, Mr. Edger also serves as an Instructor of the Commonwealth Investigator Training Program, conducted at the PSP Academy in Hershey, PA. Prior to joining the Attorney General, Mr. Edger was a Regional Managing Attorney at MidPenn Legal Services, a non-profit legal aid firm for over seven years, representing clients and overseeing all services in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and Fulton counties. Mr. Edger was also an Adjunct Professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, teaching in the areas of family law, property, employment law, and trial skills.
Mr. Edger has been recognized for his accomplishment by receiving numerous awards throughout his career. In 2026 he was awarded the Frances H. Del Duca President’s Award by the Cumberland County Bar Foundation for his numerous leadership positions and service to the state and county bar, and working first-hand to better the local community. In 2025 he was awarded the Verdina Showell Award for his leadership as one of the three Wills for Heroes Statewide Directors for Pennsylvania, and in 2024 he was awarded the C. Dale McClain Quality of Life Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association for his leadership in providing volunteer opportunities to assist other individuals, providing others with a sustainable quality of life. He also received a Special Achievement Award in 2024 from PBA President Michael McDonald for his service as a co-Vice-Chair on the newly formed Technology Committee.
Mr. Edger currently serves as the Zone 3 Governor of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, representing lawyers in nine counties throughout Central PA. He previously served as the Chair of the PBA Young Lawyers Division from 2021-22, and served a three-year term on the PBA Board of Governors. In addition, Mr. Edger is one of three Statewide Directors of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Wills for Heroes program. Mr. Edger is also the immediate past President of the Cumberland County Bar Association.
Mr. Edger graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Elizabethtown College and earned his Juris Doctor from the Widener University School of Law. He lives in Carlisle with his wife Katelynn and his sons Connor and Aiden.
Disorder in The Court - The Crossroads of Incivility and Wellness in the Legal Profession
Disorder in The Court – The Crossroads of Incivility and Wellness in the Legal Profession @ 4:15 p.m. (1 Ethics CLE Credit)
Presented by Brian S. Quinn, Esquire
Education and Outreach Coordinator, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of PA, Inc.
Abrasive or burned out? Overworked or uncivil? Zealous advocate or bully?
The legal profession is currently navigating a critical crossroads where the traditional, often adversarial culture of lawyering meets an urgent need for practitioner and judicial well-being. Based on recent reports, it is widely believed that civility in the legal profession is under severe strain, with many arguing it is in critical condition. While not entirely dead, the standard of courteous, dignified, professional behavior is facing unprecedented challenges from rising polarization, digital communication, and a “win-at-all-costs” mentality.
Judicial incivility can include using demeaning language, exhibiting bias, engaging in improper ex parte communication, or losing one’s temper.
More importantly, evidence shows that incivility—ranging from bullying and excessive, unreasonable demands to routine discourtesy—is directly linked to substance misuse, burnout, anxiety, and depression, issues which lawyers and judges are already experiencing at significantly higher rates than the general population.
Mr. Quinn will discuss:
- The link between incivility and poor wellness, with emphasis on stress and burnout in the legal profession.
- How uncivil conduct can be confused with “zealous” representation.
- Ethical issues and violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct and Judicial Codes created by incivility for both lawyers and judges.
- A “master plan” for addressing mental health challenges facing lawyers.
- Initiatives that can be developed on an individual, firm, judicial and cultural level to support wellness and reduce uncivil conduct.
- How to access the free, confidential resources offered by Lawyer and Judicial Assistance Programs.
Brian S. Quinn, Esquire is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania who currently serves as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Lawyers Assistance Program established in 1988 for the purpose of helping lawyers, judges and law students recover from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health disorders.
Mr. Quinn obtained his undergraduate degree in 1970, his law degree in 1973 and a certificate in Drug and Alcohol counselling in 2012, from Villanova University. He has been a private practitioner for over 40 years, having litigated both civil and criminal matters during his career. Mr. Quinn also worked in the field of Alcohol and Drug Counseling in suburban Philadelphia from 2011 to 2017, allowing him to gain both practical and clinical experience with individuals suffering from alcohol, substance use and mental health disorders.
Mr. Quinn is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Delaware County Bar Association and is a past member of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, where he also served as a peer volunteer for over six years prior to accepting his current role as the organization’s Educator in 2017.
Mr. Quinn has written articles and made presentations on many lawyer wellness topics to law firms, Bar Associations, professional organizations and legal education providers on a state, national and international level reaching hundreds of thousands of lawyers during his career.
Mr. Quinn was the 2025 recipient of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s prestigious C. Dale McClain Quality of Life/Balance Award. This award honors someone who identifies issues relevant to attorney wellness, well-being and attorneys’ efforts to find balance in their professional and personal lives.