A requirement of lawyer competence is surprisingly more recent than one might expect. Temptations abound where lawyers accept a case in a wholly novel field to them. Ineffective assistance of counsel is seldom excusable, though more egregious in some instances than others as observed in a myriad of interesting and even surprising array of cases.
DVD Supplemental Information
Title: Unique Ineffective Assistance Claims and Rulings
Instructor: Dr. William Brown, Ph. D.
Presenters: Dr. William Brown, Ph. D. and James R. Wrenn, Jr., J.D.
Description:
A requirement of lawyer competence is surprisingly more recent than one might expect. Temptations abound where lawyers accept a case in a wholly novel field to them. Ineffective assistance of counsel is seldom excusable, though more egregious in some instances than others as observed in a myriad of interesting and even surprising array of cases.
Credit Hours: 1 CLE Hour (Ethics, Dual, General)
*Note - DVD's are not preapproved for CLE. Written materials are provided as a url link on the cover of the DVD. TRT, Inc. does provide documentation following the written materials, for you to submit to your state bar for approval.
Materials: Cases, opinions, and articles relating to seminar topic, plus appropriate correlating selections from –
The Ethics of Legal Ethics (Vol. I)
William D. Brown, Ph.D.
Washington: The Wayne Smith Company, 1995
Board of Directors – Corporate Governance Lapdog or Watchdog?
William D. Brown, Ph.D.
Leesburg, VA: Wycliff Publishers, 2007
Dissemination: DVD
Seminar Content:
0.50 hr. Twists and turns of lawyer competency
Competency a relatively recent rules requirement
DR 6-101 (A) and MR 1.1
When providing representation in a wholly novel field
Attention and preparation determined in part by stakes
0.500 hr. Caselaw on ineffective assistance, aka incompetency
Florida Bar v. Sandstrom, 609 So.2d 583 (Fla. 1992) – capital case
In re Zautcke, 508 N.W.2d 387 (Wis. 1993) – shareholder disputes
State ex rel. Picerno v. Mauer, 920 S.W.2d 904, 912 (Mo. 1996) – contempt
upheld
Walker v. State, Md. Ct. Spec. App., No. 1811-2003, 2/24/05) – cone of silence
In re Wolfram, 847 P.2d 94 (Ariz. 1993) – inadequate investigation
Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission v. Manger, Md., Misc. Docket AG No.
50, 12/14/06) – attorney learns, client yearns…
_____
1.0 hr. = Total CLE Credit (Ethics, Dual, General)
Presenter:
William D. Brown, Ph.D.
wdb@trtcle.com
Education
Ph.D. - Florida State University
M.Th. - Texas Christian University
B.D. - Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University
B.A. - Lynchburg College
Positions
Chairman and presenter, TRT, Inc.
President, The Ethics Institute
Private Practice (Clinical Psychology)
Academic Appointments
Chair, Dept. of Family Psychology and Community Development, University of Maryland
Department Head, Dept. of Child Development & Family Relations, and Associate
Professor, Human Factors Research Laboratory, Colorado State University
Professor of Family Life, Stephens College
Instructor (Psychology), United States Armed Forces Institute
Publishing/Writing
Board of Directors – Lapdog or Watchdog?, Leesburg, VA: Wycliff Publishers, 2007
The Ethics of Legal Ethics (Vol. 1), Washington: The Wayne Smith Company, 1995
The Right Thing: ethics inaction/ethics in action, Washington: The Wayne Smith Company,
1991
Welcome Stress! It Can Help You be Your Best, Minneapolis: CompCare Publishing Co.,
1983
Families Under Stress, Washington: Prentice Hall (Brady Division), 1977
Affiliations
American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility
American Psychological Association
Potpourri
Married to Nett Brown
Two children
Seven grandchildren
Veteran, United States Navy (Submarines)
Presenter:
James R. Wrenn, Jr., J.D.
jwrenn@wrennlaw.com
Education
J.D. - University of Virginia Law School (1971)
B.A. - (History) University of Richmond (1968)
Bar Membership
Virginia State Bar: Member since 1972
Admission to Practice
Virginia Supreme Court & all inferior courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia
US District Courts for Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Positions
Virginia State Bar Counsel (1976-1977)
Virginia State Bar Special Counsel (1972-1976)
Private Practice since 1977
Academic Appointments
Adjunct Instructor on Legal Ethics, University of Richmond Law School (1978-1980)
Adjunct Professor, School of Business, Virginia Commonwealth University (1975-1977)
Publishing/Writing/Lecturing
Author/Lecturer (pro bono) for seminars and publications by pro-bono CLE organizations and bar associations (continually since 1975)
Author/Lecturer VLR Seminars (1986-1975) Recent Case-Law; Professional Responsibility Issues
Editor of Virginia Law Reports (VLR) (formerly VRR) (private reporting service for appellate case-law in Virginia) (1981-1995)
Affiliations
President, National Organization of Bar Counsel (NOBC) 1976
Virginia Sate Bar (participation on various committees not listed)
Potpourri
Major Fields of Interest: Lawyer discipline, legal ethics, reinstatement, judicial ethics, Judicial Inquiry & Review, Commission matters, expert-witness issues
