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Get ready for a power-packed 8-part webcast series that brings together leading practitioners to share insights, strategies, and real-world guidance on today’s most pressing legal and real estate issues. From mastering commercial purchase and sale transactions and making sense of complex land descriptions, to tackling cognitive traps in depositions and steering clear of common ethics pitfalls, this series has something for everyone. You’ll also gain practical tools for helping clients exit burdensome timeshares, learn the essentials of conservation easements, and explore how to negotiate and draft landowner-friendly clean energy leases. We’ll wrap up with a candid conversation on mental health and substance use in the profession. Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your skills, earn CLE credits, and walk away with knowledge you can use right away.
Attendees of the 2025 Real Estate Institute can attend 5 of these webcasts for free!
Times listed are Central Time.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Commercial Purchase and Sale Basics – An Overview of the Commercial Transaction
What is a Commercial Transaction? Who are the Key Players? What is the Process and Timeline Like? What are the Key Documents? What Types of Properties Fall Under the Commercial Umbrella? And Much More!
– Marvin A. Liszt; Bernick Lifson, P.A.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Understanding Legal Descriptions – Government Surveys, Plats, Other Land Description Methods and Beyond
Legal descriptions are the foundation of any real estate transaction, yet their formats and interpretation can vary widely. This session will provide a clear overview of common land description methods including government surveys, platted subdivisions, and metes and bounds while also addressing practical tips for reading, drafting, and resolving issues involving complex or outdated descriptions.
– Matthew A. Anderson; Stewart Title Guaranty Company
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Elimination of Bias – The Hidden Psychology of Depositions Recognizing and Managing Cognitive Traps
Cognitive biases can subtly influence how attorneys ask questions, interpret responses, and evaluate witnesses. This session explores how these biases affect both the examiner and the deponent, and how to recognize when biases are working for or against you. Learn practical strategies for managing bias to improve your questioning techniques, sharpen your observations, and enhance the effectiveness of your depositions.
– Amran Farah; Greene Espel PLLP
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Tips for Avoiding Common Ethics Violations
Lawyers from the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility review the most often violated ethics rules and offer guidance for creating practices and procedures that will help you remain compliant.
– Caitlin Guilford; Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility
– Amanda Siefman; Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Helping Clients Get Out of Timeshares
Timeshares can become a financial and legal burden for clients who no longer want or afford them. This session will explore practical and ethical approaches to guiding clients through timeshare exits, including contract review, negotiation with resort companies, potential litigation, and avoiding common scams. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the legal tools available, the pitfalls to watch for, and how to protect clients’ interests while facilitating a clean and enforceable exit.
– William G. Cottrell; Halpern Cottrell Green PA
Thursday, January 15, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Overview of Conservation Easements
This session will discuss the rights, responsibilities, controlling laws, and potential tax benefits of conservation easements. Additionally, learn about the various agencies and organizations in Minnesota that hold conservation easements.
– Samuel V. Case; Minnesota Land Trust
– Amy M. Schwarz; General Counsel, Minnesota Land Trust
– Aaron P. White; Minnesota Land Trust
Thursday, January 15, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Leasing Land for Solar and Energy Storage Projects – Negotiating and Drafting Clean Energy Leases When Representing the Landowner
This presentation will take you through the major aspects of leasing and related real estate agreements for clean energy projects, particularly for solar and energy storage (battery) projects. Hear about the different types of clean energy projects along with the regulatory framework to ensure compliance with any of your real estate deals. Plus, learn about the key provisions you need to keep in mind in solar and battery storage contracts.
– Jeremy N. Kalin; Avisen Legal, PA
Friday, January 16, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Mental Health and Substance Use in the Legal Profession
Legal professionals are exposed to experiences that can lead to higher stress and greater consequences than those in many other careers. There is a clearly recognized continuum where unresolved chronic stress becomes a predictor for substance use problems and mental illness, particularly depression and anxiety. By understanding this continuum, the impact of our exposure to trauma, and the facts about addiction and mental illness, lawyers can reduce their risk and, hopefully, get help earlier where there is a mental health, substance use, or related problem. By knowing these risks, we can support each other. This program will present signs, symptoms, risk factors, and recovery regarding these challenges, along with well-being tools. The presenter will also provide information on Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and other resources.
– Jon M. Tynjala; Executive Director, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
– Jessica L. Willes; Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
$365
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
This package provides 8.0 total CLE credits. Credits should be reported individually for each webcast attended, not the package as a whole.
Minnesota CLE has applied to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for the standard, ethics, elimination of bias, and mental health/substance use CLE credits as listed below. Application has been made to the Minnesota State Bar Association for any "specialist" credits and to the Supreme Court ADR Program for any continuing education in ADR credits.
Click titles for credit status and individual event codes.
Commercial Purchase and Sale Basics – An Overview of the Commercial Transaction
1.0 standard CLE credit
1.0 advanced real estate specialist credit
Understanding Legal Descriptions – Government Surveys, Plats, Other Land Description Methods and Beyond
1.0 standard CLE credit
1.0 advanced real estate specialist credit
Elimination of Bias – The Hidden Psychology of Depositions Recognizing and Managing Cognitive Traps
1.0 elimination of bias credit
1.0 civil trial specialist credit
Tips for Avoiding Common Ethics Violations
1.0 ethics credit
Helping Clients Get Out of Timeshares
1.0 standard CLE credit
1.0 advanced real estate specialist credit
Overview of Conservation Easements
1.0 standard CLE credit
1.0 advanced real estate specialist credit
Leasing Land for Solar and Energy Storage Projects – Negotiating and Drafting Clean Energy Leases When Representing the Landowner
1.0 standard CLE credit
1.0 advanced real estate specialist credit
Mental Health and Substance Use in the Legal Profession
1.0 mental health/substance use credit
