1.0 Hour of Professional Conduct CLE via Zoom Only

This program explores the practical habits, professional behaviors, and ethical obligations that shape a lawyer’s reputation in the legal community. Using real disciplinary cases and examples of professional conduct in litigation, the presentation examines how credibility can be damaged through misrepresentations, incivility, and poor judgment. The program then shifts to concrete strategies lawyers can use to build and maintain professional credibility with courts and opposing counsel.

Participants will learn practical techniques for communicating with judges and opposing counsel, resolving disputes professionally, and developing a reputation for reliability and professionalism both inside and outside the courtroom. The program also addresses modern considerations such as maintaining a professional online presence and the ethical use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in legal research and case preparation.

By the end of the session, attorneys will better understand how credibility develops over time through consistent professional conduct and how thoughtful advocacy, civility, and reliability can strengthen both their effectiveness as advocates and their long-term professional reputation.

Expert Speaker:

Elizabeth A. Hohauser

Most lawyers graduate from law school knowing how to analyze cases but with little guidance on how to build a law practice that is both professionally responsible and financially sustainable. Elizabeth Hohauser mentors attorneys who are considering starting their own firms and has developed a structured program focused on the ethical and practical challenges of building an independent law practice.

Liz is a Michigan attorney and founder of Elizabeth A. Hohauser, PLLC, a law firm she established in 2018 after working in traditional firm environments. She focuses on family law, juvenile law, and child welfare matters, with an emphasis on thoughtful advocacy, strong client communication, and maintaining credibility with courts and opposing counsel.

In addition to her legal work, Liz serves as a member of the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly and has held leadership roles within the Oakland County Bar Association, including service on its Law Related Education Committee and involvement in programs supporting students and newer attorneys entering the profession.

Liz is also the founder and executive director of Justice Speaks Legal Aid, a nonprofit organization that helps families maintain stability and avoid unnecessary foster care placements by providing legal planning tools and social work support to parents facing temporary crises such as incarceration, hospitalization, or housing instability.

Through her Attorney Practice Consulting program, Liz teaches attorneys how to build law firms that are both professionally responsible and financially sustainable. Her CLE presentations address issues lawyers are rarely taught in law school, including evaluating whether leaving a firm makes sense, structuring a new firm, developing reliable client pipelines, setting professional boundaries, and building a professional reputation that supports long-term success. Her programs are particularly relevant for young lawyers, solo practitioners, and attorneys considering transitioning from firm practice to independent practice.