New York at Christmas – Rockefeller Center, the Nutcracker, Rockettes…and a Large Group of Lawyers!

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) Professional Liability Conference in New York City.  The Conference ran concurrently with the Insurance Coverage Symposium, which two of my colleagues were able to attend.  Although this seminar did not “reinvent the genre” of the legal education conference, DRI once again put on a first-rate seminar, with knowledgeable speakers presenting on a wide array of topical issues.  Some of my favorite sessions touched on avoiding and defending elder abuse claims against professionals, and how the drafting of good (or bad) engagement and disengagement letters to clients can impact claims against attorneys and other professionals.  I have been a member of DRI for many years, and its seminars are always highly substantive and informative.

Another great trademark of DRI is the networking programs that they offer throughout the conference.  Between the curriculum and the networking events, DRI keeps you active from morning through evening.  My favorite is the dine-arounds, where you can sign up for dinner reservations at various restaurants in the area with a group of other professionals at the conference.  It is always nice to meet your colleagues from across the country in an informal setting.  This year, it was steak at Del Frisco’s near Rock Center, which I highly recommend, with colleagues from the Northeast, Midwest, and the South.

I look forward to next year’s event and recommend it to anyone who is interested. For those interested in the course materials from this year’s event, I am sure that they can be purchased from DRI at its website, www.dri.org.