New Jewish Ethics Series Offers CLE Credits for Lawyers
“YOU BE THE JUDGE” RESUMES OCT. 15
Jewish attorneys in Atlanta now have a low-cost and engaging way to earn Continuing Legal Education credits thanks to a unique partnership between law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge and the Jewish National Fund.
The “You be the Judge” breakfast series teaches legal ethics through the lens of Jewish Law. Each event is free to the entire Jewish community, and lawyers can pay $10 to receive CLE credits.
“This is not a course that is taught in law school or, to my knowledge, offered by any other organizations that provide CLE accreditation,” said Steven Labovitz, who is spearheading the series along with attorney Alan Lubel. “It’s a great way for attorneys to obtain CLE credits while at the same time engaging in thought-provoking discussions on how legal and ethical issues were handled under Talmudic law, and comparing that with relevant issues facing lawyers today.”
Each class is designed around a provocative topic; recent subjects include “CEO compensation” and “wages of the working poor.”
Classes are hosted at the offices of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and facilitated by Rabbi Ephraim Silverman. Participants have the opportunity to question and discuss the subject matter, based on principle and precedent.
“The program content is great,” said Lubel. “Rabbi Silverman provides a very interesting, modern-day application and relevance to basic, age-old precepts of Judaism…[and] you have the opportunity to meet other professionals who share an interest in studying Judaism.”
The program is the brainchild of Labovitz, a partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge, and Lubel, who chairs Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) Lawyers for Israel society. Co-chairs of JNF’s Lawyers for Israel are Rachel Fox, an attorney with McKenna Long; and Peter Rivner, an attorney with Pachman Richardson LLC.
Labovitz attended a similar class sponsored by JNF and was eager to bring the unique “You be the Judge” offering to a wider audience. With his firm’s support, the series is presented to the community.
“I feel that it is important for attorneys to give back to their communities by getting involved with civic and religious organizations,” Labovitz said. “I happened to have worked with JNF in the past and feel personally connected to the organization.”
“You be the Judge” emerged from JNF’s Lawyers for Israel initiative. Lubel, a member of the JNF Southeastern Region Board of Directors, agreed to lead JNF’s Lawyers for Israel society as a means to discuss with his legal community colleagues – developed during his 37 years of practice in Atlanta – of the important work done by JNF.
It was also a great opportunity, he said, to work with two bright young lawyers, co-chairs Fox and Rivner. His primary goal for Lawyers for Israel is to “afford as many Atlanta lawyers as possible another outlet to express their Jewish identification and their commitment to Israel by supporting JNF’s mission of preserving the land of Israel.”
Lubel added that he also hopes the Lawyers for Israel program will serve as a model for involvement to Jewish lawyers in other communities in the Southeast and across the country.
An important component of Lawyers for Israel is its membership-opportunity to associate with a national legal network. Senior lawyers contributing more than $1,000 to JNF annually (junior lawyers qualify by giving $360 annually) receive a package of prestigious professional and personal benefits – all of which underscore the members’ common connection to Israel.
Currently, 35 of Atlanta’s top attorneys are Lawyers for Israel members.
Editor’s note: The next “You be the Judge” breakfast will take place Mon., Oct. 15 at McKenna Long & Aldridge. To RSVP or for more information, contact JNF’s Noah Pawliger at (404) 236-8990 ext. 852 or npawliger@jnf.org.
By Jill Lerner
For The Atlanta Jewish Times
What: “You be the Judge” breakfast series, offering CLE credits for Atlanta lawyers
When: Next event is Mon., Oct. 15
Where: Law offices of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Contact: Noah Pawliger, (404) 236-8990 ext 852 or npawliger@jnf.org
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