About the Seminar

7.0 CLE Credits, including 2 Ethics Credits pending

Lawyers and judges are the face and symbolic heart of justice. When lawyers and judges listen well, they foster civility and promote justice. Effective listening builds the public’s confidence in the system, promotes efficiency by reducing costs and ensuring greater compliance with court orders, and increases the likelihood of just and fair results. Research has shown that a critical factor in our justice system is for litigants to feel heard. When we listen with consciousness, creativity, and a sense of community, we foster civility. Effective listening requires more than simply hearing spoken words. It requires us to approach the communication with openness, respect, and curiosity; to observe non-verbal communication; to “read between the lines” of written communication; and to consider the context of the situation and the speaker.

In this day-long interactive seminar, participants will examine the value of listening, identify challenges to listening, discuss strategies for effective listening, explore ways in which listeners demonstrate that they have heard, and cultivate their own listening skills.

 
“So powerful and well done, I’m amazed at the structure and dialogue created around an overwhelming topic.”
— Previous "Civility Skills" CLE seminar attendee
 

Seminar Schedule

Please note this schedule is subject to change.

Friday, July 29

8:30 - 8:45: Listening promotes civility, fosters justice, and upholds our ethical obligations
9:45 - 10:15: Listen to the silence
10:15 - 10:30: Break
10:30 - 11:00: Challenges to effective listening
11:00 - 12:15: Listen strategies through the civility lens
12:15 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 1:15: Listen to the mix
1:15 - 1:45: Listening to hear, see, and feel
1:45 - 2:45: Listening beyond bias
2:45 - 3:00: Listen to the hidden choir
3:00 - 3:15: Break
3:15 - 4:00: Listening to help
4:00 - 4:45: Listening in action
4:45 - 5:00: Conclusion/evaluation

Seminar Presenters

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Tim Jaasko-Fisher, J.D., M.A., Senior Director of Programming and Curriculum, Civility Center for the Law; and Past Co-Director, Court Improvement Training Academy, University of Washington School of Law
  • Paula Lustbader, J.D., President, Civility Center for the Law; Professor of Law Emerita and Past Director of the Academic Resource Center at Seattle University School of Law
  • Craig Sims, J.D., Trial Attorney, Bergman Draper Ladenburg
  • Justice Mary I. Yu, M.A., J.D., Washington State Supreme Court

View more information about the seminar presenters »

 
“Thank you very much for an amazing CLE! Paula [Lustbader], Craig [Sims], and Justice González are wonderful inspiring speakers.”
— Previous "Civility Skills" CLE seminar attendee
 
 

Registration is open

Early-bird Registration Fees*:

  • General Registration $195
  • Employed by a Non-Profit or Govt. Entity $175
  • Seattle University Law School Alumni $165
  • Scholarship Recipient (see below): $25
  • Seattle University School of Law Students, Staff, and Faculty: Free

*Early-bird fees are available through July 22, 2016, thereafter add $40 to the registration fee.

 

Attendee reviews

What previous attendees had to say of the August 2015 "Civility Skills: The Art of Addressing Bias" CLE in Seattle:

“I plan to have more conversations about civility and implicit bias with my co-workers, in an effort to grow the conversation.”
“Really great and pertinent information. It can allow me to be a better attorney and person.”
 

Need-based scholarship information

As part of our mission, the Civility Center is pleased to offer a limited number of need-based fee-reduction scholarships for all CLE/CJE seminars. For this seminar, we offer partial cost scholarships. Scholarship applications for this seminar must be submitted by Tuesday, July 19, 2016.