Los Angeles Paralegal Association upcoming events

Extrajudicial Killings: Understanding and Responding Through Law (MCLE) (May 19, 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Extrajudicial Killings:
Understanding and Responding Through Law

Extrajudicial killings are a crime that is often under-discussed among practitioners and scholars, even though it has become a crime that is being repeatedly perpetrated in various contexts around the world. This session will discuss the contours of extrajudicial killing within the US legal system and how attorneys can find avenues to assist with litigating cases. The session will also explore the ongoing situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran and how extrajudicial killing can mutate and take new forms through different processes. Extrajudicial killings constitute an arbitrary deprivation of life and can be carried out by a multitude of actors targeting political opponents, activists, or marginalized groups.

Attendees will learn:

Existing US law statutes and international treaties currently shaping the practice of criminal law involving extrajudicial killing
Status of extrajudicial killing and its discrete elements under international law
The substantive and procedural component of extrajudicial killings
Current practices that seek to prevent its use

Presented by:
Professor William J. Aceves

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Professor Aceves graduated from the University of Southern California with a JD and MA in international relations. After practicing law for two years, Aceves returned to academia to earn an MA in government at Harvard University and an LLM in international law at the UCLA School of Law. He also served as the Ford Foundation Fellow in International Law at the UCLA School of Law. In 1998, he joined the faculty at California Western, and was promoted to professor of law in 2001. He served as the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs from 2007-2014.

Aceves frequently works with Amnesty International, the Center for Justice & Accountability, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union on projects involving the domestic application of international law. He has also represented several human rights and civil liberties organizations as amicus curiae counsel in cases before the federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Aceves is the author of The Anatomy of Torture and coauthor of The Law of Consular Access. He co-edited Lessons and Legacies of the War on Terror. He is also the principal author of the influential Amnesty International USA Safe Haven report. He has published numerous articles on human rights and international law. Aceves served as co-chair for the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law, and the 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025 International Law Weekend Conferences of the American Branch of the International Law Association.

Aceves is a member of the American Law Institute. He has served on the National Boards of Amnesty International USA and the International Law Students Association. He currently serves as the AIUSA Ombudsperson. He also serves on the Boards of the Center for Justice & Accountability and the American Civil Liberties Union. Aceves is a Vice President and a member of the Executive Committee of the American Branch of the International Law Association. Aceves has appeared before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Migrants, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Aceves is admitted to the State Bar of California, the U.S. District Courts for the Central and Southern District of California, the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the First Circuit, Second Circuit, Fifth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, D.C. Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Curtains Up on Copyright: Navigating Legal Issues Arising in Live Stage Productions On and Off Broadway (MCLE) (May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Curtains Up on Copyright: Navigating Legal Issues Arising in Live Stage Productions
On and Off Broadway

Join Doug Nevin, Partner and Head of Theater and Live Events at Klaris Law in New York, and one of Broadway's top lawyers, as we explore some of the unique legal issues that arise in live theatre and Broadway productions.Between scripts, musical scores, stage direction, choreography, costumes, set design, and more, stage plays and musicals present a host of copyright issues that Broadway producers and their attorneys must navigate. Among other things, attendees will learn how the various rights of theatrical stakeholders intersect and interact, the key types of agreements and important terms to consider, and what legal risks to watch out for.

This session will also touch on how producers assemble and manage the many creative rights that make up a theatrical production, including the challenges of coordinating multiple contributors and protected works within a single live performance. Participants will gain practical insight into how theatrical projects are structured from a legal perspective and how attorneys help productions move from concept to stage while minimizing risk.

Presented by:
Doug Nevins
Partner I Klaris

Wednesday, May 27, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Doug Nevin is a partner and the head of theater/live events at Klaris. He is a leading practitioner and thought leader in theater and live arts, known for his passionate advocacy of his clients and projects and for the creative prowess and deep industry knowledge he brings to his clients’ work.

His clients list includes many of today’s most prominent producers and producing organizations, internationally renowned creative artists, as well as some of the industry’s most-valued service providers. His production counsel credits include EVERY BRILLIANT THING, SCHMIGADOON, OEDIPUS, PRINCE F*GGOT, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, BURNOUT PARADISE, YOU GOT OLDER, KENREX, THE UNKNOWN, TRU, GYPSY, STEREOPHONIC, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, ROMEO + JULIET, ALL IN, ALL OUT, PURPOSE, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN, SWEPT AWAY, APPROPRIATE, PATRIOTS, AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, LEMPICKA, GUTENBERG!, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, PARADE, Alex Edelman’s JUST FOR US, THE SIGN IN SYDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW, GREY HOUSE, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, LIFE OF PI, THE PIANO LESSON, POTUS, IS THIS A ROOM/DANA H., PASS OVER, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, SLAVE PLAY, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, HOLD ON TO ME
DARLING, TEETH, DANNY & THE DEEP BLUE SEA, ONE WOMAN SHOW, and the pie shop SWEENEY TODD. His client list also includes award-winning composers, lyricists, playwrights, performers, authors, directors, choreographers, designers, casting directors, music staff, and some of the world’s preeminent cultural institutions.

Doug was honored as a Distinguished Leader at the 2025 New York Legal Awards presented by the New York Law Journal and was recently recognized in Variety’s Legal Impact Report. He is a five-time New York Super Lawyer and an eight-time New York Super Lawyer Rising Star. Doug is a two-time Tony Award nominee, a Lucille Lortel Award winner, and the co-founder of Pride Plays.

Trial Ready: How the Best Paralegals Stay Three Steps Ahead (MCLE) (June 09, 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Trial Ready: How the Best Paralegals Stay Three Steps Ahead

You already know the basics. You've survived the all-nighters, the last-minute exhibit chaos, and the attorney who changes strategy at 9pm the night before trial. This session isn't about starting from scratch, it's about sharpening everything you already do and showing you where technology can quietly do the heavy lifting.

Join Joe Stephens, J.D., for a practical, skills-forward session built specifically for legal support professionals who want to level up their trial prep game. You'll walk away with proven techniques for anticipating attorney needs, organizing critical documents, and transforming complex case materials into compelling, court-ready presentations faster than ever before.

You’ll explore:

Attorney Work Styles: Understanding how your attorney actually thinks and building systems around it
Document & Timeline Mastery: Organizing case materials in ways that hold up under trial pressure
Deposition Support: What seamless deposition prep looks like before, during, and after
AI Workflows: How modern tools are helping paralegals move from reactive support to proactive case architecture
Trial Excellence: Building the command center mentality that keeps everything running smoothly when it matters most

Walk away with strategies you can use immediately and a fresh perspective on what great trial prep actually looks like. Your next case will thank you.

Presented by:
Joe Stephens, JD
Director,
Legal Solutions at Steno

Tuesday, June 9, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Joe Stephens, J.D. is the Director of Legal Solutions at Steno, and is the architect of one of Texas' largest rural public defender offices where he mastered the art of managing complex cases across twelve counties with limited resources. His diverse professional experience ranges from direct client representation to working three legislative sessions under two different Committee Chairmen in the Texas Legislature. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Joe combines his passion for legal technology with practical experience to help teams work more efficiently, and is now teaching the next generation of legal professionals at Texas Tech University School of Law.

LAPA's 50th Annual October Conference (October 17, 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Early Bird Pricing - May 1st to June 13th!
LAPA Member: $125.00

LAPA Student Member: $100.00
Non-Member: $150.00

Regular Registration - June 14 to October 9th

LAPA Member: $145.00 (10/10-10/17 $155)

LAPA Student Member: $125.00 (10/10-10/17 $135)
Non-Member: $175.00 (10/10-10/17 $200)

Not a Member? Join Now and Enjoy Member Rates

Group Rate (students or paralegals): Purchase 5 or more Registrations and get $10 OFF each Registration.
Discounts and/or Group Rates cannot be combined and payments must be made with a single company or school check or credit card.

AGENDA

Continental Breakfast / Exhibitor Meet & Greet

8:30 – 8:45 Good morning and welcome guests!

Charity of Choice: CASA Los Angeles

8:45 – 9:45 General Session (Ethics)

10:00 – 11:00 Morning Break-out Sessions

11:00 -- 11:40 Visit with Exhibitors / Sponsors

11:40 – 1:00 Lunch & Keynote Speaker

1:10 – 2:10 Afternoon Break-out Sessions

2:20 – 3:20 General Session (Ethics)

3:20 Awards

Scholarship, Lifetime Achievement, Maria Teresa Bravo, Volunteer

Closing Remarks

EXHIBITOR: LAPA's 50th Annual October Conference! (October 17, 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Saturday, October 17, 2026

8:00am – 3:30pm

Pacific Palms Resort
1 Industry Hills Parkway
City of Industry, CA 91744

Benefactor Members: $900
$1000 (after September 18, 2026)

Non-Members: $1050
$1150 (after September 18, 2026)

Schools and Non-Profits: $450
$500 (after September 18, 2026)
(Only accredited schools and government recognized
non-profit organizations are eligible for this discounted rate)

Registration includes 6' table and two chairs, conference syllabus listing, pre-conference marketing, and access to hundreds of decision making paralegals!
Additional items that may be purchased: lunch, syllabus advertising, electrical.

Can't attend the conference? You can still get your company in front of hundreds of paralegals! Ask about our BAGSTUFFER opportunity.

Order Electrical Directly from the Pacific Palms

Package Handling Policy