Welcome to Smokeball's Virtual Summit, a free, one-day CLE event meant to sharpen your legal skills and leave you feeling empowered about the profession. From Constitutional Law questions to writing strategies, this Summit will tackle many issues that attorneys grapple with in their daily practices, especially in 2026.
If you've wondered about how attorneys are using generative AI in their practices, the ethical issues that arose during the Karen Read trial, how to level-up your legal writing, or whether the Constitution still matters, this CLE Summit is for you. So kick back, grab some caffeine, and snag four hours of free CLE credit (including one hour of Ethics!) from amazing presenters.
Sessions:
[CLE] "Does the Constitution Still Matter?" A breakdown of recent constitutional controversies and their practical significance
[Ethics CLE] "The Karen Read Acquittals: Ethics, Police Credibility and the Brady List" An overview of ethical issues surrounding the Karen Read trial
Giveaway & Smokeball Live Demo Lunch Break!
[CLE] "From Prep to Impeachment: How Litigators Use AI to Prep Smarter, Depose Better, and Review Faster" Techniques to level up your deposition prep and process using AI
[CLE] "When Lawyers Write, What Can Go Wrong" Strategies for improving your legal writing and simplifying the collaborative editing process
This virtual webinar summit is eligible for 4.0 hours of CLE credit in multiple jurisdictions.*
In which U.S. states is this Virtual Summt CLE credit eligible?
This Virtual Summit is eligible for 4.0 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states, and 50 minutes of CLE credit in 50-minute states. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. CLE credit has been applied for in the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY. For states not listed above, you may still apply for reciprocity CLE credit if applicable.
Who is eligible to receive CLE credit?
To be eligible for CLE credit for any CLE webinar in this Virtual Summit, you must attend the entire LIVE duration of this webinar and participate in the polls. Note, partial CLE credit for this course is not available.
You cannot watch the program in a group if you wish to earn CLE credit. If you do choose to watch the event in a group, ensure that you are also logged in on your own personal device, under your log-in credentials, as we will need proof of your attendance (though it is highly recommended that you view the event from your own personal device).
How do I receive CLE credit?
If you have met the participation requirements, you will receive a personalized CLE affidavit from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org for the program at which you attended at least one session to completion. Please check your spam or junk folders as these emails often end up there. Please note you will fill out one affidavit for the full event. Once you complete the affidavit, you will be able to download your certificate(s) of attendance and they will be emailed to you as well from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org. You must fill out your CLE attendance affidavit and have your certificate in-hand within 3 weeks after the program ends to be eligible to receive CLE credit from this webinar.
In which U.S. states is this Virtual Summt CLE credit eligible?
This Virtual Summit is eligible for 4.0 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states, and 50 minutes of CLE credit in 50-minute states. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. CLE credit has been applied for in the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY. For states not listed above, you may still apply for reciprocity CLE credit if applicable.
Who is eligible to receive CLE credit?
To be eligible for CLE credit for any CLE webinar in this Virtual Summit, you must attend the entire LIVE duration of this webinar and participate in the polls. Note, partial CLE credit for this course is not available.
You cannot watch the program in a group if you wish to earn CLE credit. If you do choose to watch the event in a group, ensure that you are also logged in on your own personal device, under your log-in credentials, as we will need proof of your attendance (though it is highly recommended that you view the event from your own personal device).
How do I receive CLE credit?
If you have met the participation requirements, you will receive a personalized CLE affidavit from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org for the program at which you attended at least one session to completion. Please check your spam or junk folders as these emails often end up there. Please note you will fill out one affidavit for the full event. Once you complete the affidavit, you will be able to download your certificate(s) of attendance and they will be emailed to you as well from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org. You must fill out your CLE attendance affidavit and have your certificate in-hand within 3 weeks after the program ends to be eligible to receive CLE credit from this webinar.
Michael Gerhardt joined the Carolina Law faculty in 2005 and serves as the Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence. His teaching and research focuses on constitutional conflicts between presidents and Congress. Gerhardt is the author of nine books, including "Lincoln's Mentors" (Harper Collins, 2021), and leading treatises on impeachment, appointments, presidential power, Supreme Court precedent, and separation of powers. He has written more than a hundred law review articles and dozens of op eds in the nation's leading news publications, including SCOTUSblog, The New York Times, and Washington Post.
Philip Bogdanoff is a nationally recognized continuing legal education speaker. He has done numerous presentations for national organizations including the National District Attorneys Association and State prosecutor organizations including the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association and Minnesota Association of County Attorneys. He has also done presentations for over 70 bar associations, law firms and various other organizations in the United States and Canada. Previously, he served as assistant prosecutor in the Summit County, Ohio Prosecutor’s Office for more than 25 years. He did trial work but primarily worked in the Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals and Ohio Supreme Court where he argued thirty cases before the Ohio Supreme Court including six death penalty cases - before retiring as a senior assistant prosecutor. He currently works as a special prosecutor across Ohio.
Karl is a seasoned litigation attorney with over 17 years of experience in the courtroom, representing clients in personal injury, business, and employment litigation. He is a skilled advocate and a tenacious fighter who handles cases with precision and an eye towards trial from day one. His adversaries describe him as "skilled" and "whip smart." But Karl's expertise doesn't stop there - he's also the founder of Skribe.ai, a software platform for capturing and analyzing legal testimony that's changing the game for attorneys and their clients.
Prior to launching his own law firm in 2015, Karl worked as a litigation partner at one of Texas' largest law firms, Winstead PC, where he was mentored by some of the state's top litigators, including former appellate judges and veteran trial lawyers. Karl received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston and his undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University. In his free time, Karl loves spending time with his wife, Adrienne, and daughters, Annabelle and Millie, in Dripping Springs, Texas, and takes great pride in cheering them on in volleyball, basketball, and their many other pursuits!
Rick Horowitz is the founder and Wordsmith in Chief of Prime Prose, LLC, offering writing, editing, and messaging services to institutions and organizations across the country. A graduate of Brandeis University and N.Y.U. School of Law, Horowitz worked for a Washington law firm, specializing in communications law, and as a legislative assistant to a member of the congressional leadership. He went on to become a nationally syndicated columnist, winning two National Headliner Awards; and a commentator for Milwaukee Public Television, where he received eight Regional Emmy Award nominations and two actual statuettes.
His current project? Trying to get lawyers to write more like human beings, at least some of the time.