MCLE Sample Presentations

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Sample Presentations

The Other Bar is a certified provider of MCLE courses in California. Viewing the video presentations below is for the limited purpose of familiarizing potential MCLE presenters with a variety of live MCLE presentations, and not for MCLE Credit.

Jerry Braun: A Definition of Alcoholism

Jerry Braun is a founder and senior partner in the San Francisco law firm of Farella Braun & Martel, one of California’s fifty largest firms, and an alcoholic in recovery with fourteen plus years of sobriety. He graduated from Stanford Law School in 1953. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a Past President of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the recipient of the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award, and the Ninth Circuit’s John Frank Award honoring a senior lawyer distinguishing himself for skill, professionalism and excellence in the profession and by devotion and contribution to the Ninth Circuit. Jerry will share his odyssey to and through the ravages of alcoholism and his journey in recovery.

Jerry Braun is a founder and senior partner in the San Francisco law firm of Farella Braun & Martel, one of California’s fifty largest firms, and an alcoholic in recovery with fourteen plus years of sobriety. He graduated from Stanford Law School in 1953. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a Past President of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the recipient of the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award, and the Ninth Circuit’s John Frank Award honoring a senior lawyer distinguishing himself for skill, professionalism and excellence in the profession and by devotion and contribution to the Ninth Circuit. Jerry will share his odyssey to and through the ravages of alcoholism and his journey in recovery.


Discussion on Substance Abuse with Orndoff, Heiting and Dorst

Discussion on Substance Abuse is a discussion explaining and exposing Substance Abuse as the real life problem experienced in many different forms by so many attorneys.

3 Other Bar members Judge George Orndoff, Jim Heiting and Greg Dorst share their true experience, strength and hope to highlight the journey from Chemical dependency to a life in Recovery. The Honorable George Orndoff is a Superior Court Judge in Kings County, California. He was formerly with the Office of the Kings County District Attorney, practiced in Texas, was a deputy District Attorney in Texas, and a Judge in Dallas, Texas. Judge Orndoff also has the distinction of being the first Vice President of the Other Bar. Jim Heiting is a trial attorney and managing partner of Heiting & Irwin, an AV rated Southern California Law Firm. He is former President of the State Bar of California, the Riverside County Bar Association, and the Other Bar. Greg Dorst holds a Juris Doctorate, and is a former prosecutor and defense attorney. He currently works full time in the recovery field. He is a Certified Addiction Specialist, frequent lecturer on chemical dependency and trainer of staff at recovery and treatment facilities. He is also the Southern California Consultant for the Other Bar.


Substance Abuse in the Legal Profession: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment by David Mann

David Mann is a graduate of Ohio State University and Stanford Law School. He served as a Deputy Public Defender in San Francisco before becoming a solo criminal defense practitioner. After 12 years of practice, substance abuse-related issues caused him to resign from the bar with disciplinary charges pending. Following a relentless battle with addiction which included numerous hospitalizations and periods of living on the streets, he succeeded in getting clean and sober in 1998. Since then he has worked, among other things, as a cab driver, a private investigator, a paralegal, and a drug and alcohol rehabilitation counselor. He presently serves as the Northern California Consultant to The Other Bar, a statewide organization of recovering attorneys, judges, and law students. In this capacity, he spends his time providing outreach and education to the legal community, and assisting attorneys as they struggle with substance abuse and related challenges that threaten their ability and/or eligibility to practice law.


Prevention Detection and Treatment of Substance Abuse: Wendy S.

Wendy L. Slavkin is a solo practitioner in Los Angeles and has practiced law since 1979. Her practice primarily focuses on all aspects of business and business litigation, representing a wide range of small to mid-sized companies, as well as individuals. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and her law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She is a member of the California Bar and is actively involved in giving back to her community. Ms. Slavkin is a frequent speaker in Southern California on the topic of Substance Abuse in the Legal Profession.