CLE Program

ADR Services, Inc., is a California State Bar certified MCLE provider that offers legal education programs to our clients throughout California at no charge.

About Our CLE Program

Our panel of neutrals consists of attorneys and retired judges who have the experience and legal knowledge that make them not only skilled, effective ADR professionals, but also arm them with the practiced legal expertise and communications skills essential to effective legal education. Presenters are available to conduct complimentary CLE programs at law firms, events, or in one of our ADR Services, Inc. offices across the state.

Presenters

Our award-winning panel of neutrals offers substantial experience as mediators and arbitrators in every area of civil litigation.

Our neutrals have given MCLE presentations at many of the top 100 law firms in Los Angeles, corporate legal departments, government legal departments, bar associations, and non-profit organizations.

Topics

Presenters have taught a wide variety of MCLE topics through this program, including the following subjects required by the California State Bar:

  • Legal Ethics
  • Competence Issues
  • Elimination of Bias

Inquiries & Scheduling

For a list of current topics and instructors, or to inquire about scheduling, please .

Employment Law Update
Presented at the Southern California Mediation Association’s Employment Mediation Institute 2025

This session cuts through the noise and delivers what you actually need to know:
⚖️ Major cases that are redefining worker protections
🧭 Where federal and state enforcement are clashing—and what it means for you
💡 How today’s legal trends shape tomorrow’s mediation strategies
Phyllis is known for translating complex laws into real-world impact.
You’ll leave informed and ready to mediate smarter.

1 Hour General CLE Credit

A Judge’s Perspective on Personal-Injury Damages
Presented by the Beverly Hills Bar Association Personal Injury Law Section

Hon. Margaret L. Oldendorf (Ret.) offers a candid and practical look at how judges evaluate personal-injury damages in both trial and mediation. Drawing from her experience on the bench, she explores how attorneys can effectively handle damages—economic and noneconomic—while avoiding common missteps that may undermine credibility or risk reversible error. This program will cover key topics such as tailoring your approach to the judge’s style, using CACI jury instructions to frame damages, handling preexisting conditions, and presenting persuasive yet measured arguments that resonate with jurors and neutrals alike.

1 Hour General CLE Credit

Resolution on the Brink: Mediating High-Stakes Disputes When Time Is Running Out
ADR Services, Inc. Complimentary In-House CLE Program

When negotiations stall and trial looms, experienced mediators know that breaking impasse requires more than persistence—it requires insight into what’s really holding the case back. In this practical, example-driven CLE, former settlement judges Hon. Suzanne Bolanos (Ret.) and Hon. Kathleen Kelly (Ret.) draw from courtroom and mediation experience to unpack some common barriers to resolution in high-stakes civil disputes—and how to overcome them.

Through a series of thematic segments, the judges will examine:

  1. Client Control Issues
  2. Entrenched Fees
  3. The Uncertainty of Trial

Whether you’re deep in trial prep or navigating a delicate mediation, this program offers concrete strategies and judicial insights that can move even the most entrenched case toward resolution.

1 Hour General CLE Credit

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Resolving Easement, Title and Homeowners’ Disputes
Complimentary In-House CLE Program with ADR Services, Inc.

Do you get client calls or referrals concerning neighbor disputes?  Join real estate trial lawyers and ADR experts for valuable legal education and strategies for handling easement and quiet title litigation, as well as title insurance. The panelists will provide best practices for resolving neighbor and homeowners’ association (HOA) matters, and ADR tips including client management.

Gideon Kracov is a mediator at ADR Services, Inc. in Los Angeles specializing in real estate matters.  He serves on the adjunct faculty at Loyola Law School where he teaches land use law and dispute resolution.  He is former Chair of the California Lawyers’ Association Environmental Law Section Executive Committee.

Zachary Schorr is a trial attorney at Schorr Law in Los Angeles where he focuses exclusively on real estate law from advice to litigation and appeals.  He is lead counsel on several recent published Court of Appeal cases that have shaped the law of easements in California.  He has served a first chair in over 50 real estate trials and has handled hundreds of neighbor dispute matters.

Stephanie Goldstein is a seasoned real estate litigator and trial law partner at Schorr Law in Los Angeles.  She provides advice and general counsel on a wide variety of homeowner’s association (HOA) matters.  She is a contributing author of CEB – California Title Insurance Practice.

1 Hour Wellness Competence CLE Credit

Wellness, Resilience and Authenticity for Legal Professionals
Presented by The National Italian American Bar Association and the Italian American Lawyers of Los Angeles

The legal profession has long been considered the pantheon of balancing issues in the pursuit of justice. Yet balancing personal and professional well-being with the need to provide clients with zealous representation is difficult. National studies and data increasingly suggest that the adoption of new strategies by legal professionals to combat stress, anxiety and other debilitating mental health issues are needed. This presentation will explain techniques about how to support wellness, build resilience, and how to remain authentic to your true self and be a happier and better lawyer.

Best Practices for Trying a Case at Arbitration
15th Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Conference and the 41st Labor and Employment Law Annual Conference

"As more employment cases are tried in arbitration, mastering the nuances of litigating in this forum has become essential for practitioners. This session offers a comprehensive exploration of best practices for effectively handling employment disputes in arbitration, from initial case assessment to final award.

A panel consisting of an arbitrator and experienced employment litigators will guide attendees through key stages of the arbitration process, including navigating discovery and evidentiary challenges, preparing persuasive presentations, and managing cost-efficiency without compromising advocacy. Attendees will gain practical insights into arbitrator expectations and effective case strategy unique to arbitration.

Whether representing employees or employers, this session equips counsel with the tools and strategies necessary to successfully advocate for clients in this increasingly prevalent setting."

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Elimination of Bias
Presented at the ADC Summer Session

Soak up summertime fun with a getaway to the mountains. Earn MCLE, including specialty credits. Spend time with your family and friends, hiking through the wildflowers, swimming in the pools or at the lake, and enjoy camaraderie with your fellow ADC colleagues. This is a “Do Not Miss” opportunity.