About the Conference
Is civil justice good for the United States? Scholars
from leading law schools and research institutes will discuss aspects
of this important question at a conference sponsored by the Center on
Lawyers, Civil Justice, and the Media at the University of Texas School
of Law. The topics will range from the impact of securities lawsuits
on the integrity of financial markets to the manner in which Texas trial
lawyers recruit personal injury clients, but the common focus will be
on empirical studies of law in action. Want to know how juries and judges
actually handle punitive damages? Whether court-annexed alternative
dispute resolution really saves money? Whether malpractice lawsuits
have been proven to enhance the quality of health care? Speakers will
summarize the existing state of knowledge on these and other controversial
subjects, with an eye to separating fact from myth.
The Center on Lawyers, Civil Justice, and the Media is
pleased that the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism is
co-sponsoring this conference. The Center also is especially grateful
for financial support received from the Texas Bar Foundation, the Roscoe
Pound Institute, Fred Misko, Jr., P.C. of Dallas, Texas, Bendinger,
Crockett, Peterson & Casey, P.C. of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the
Texas Medical Liability Trust . The Center's ability to make public
discussions of lawyers and civil justice more factual and less ideological
than they have been in the past is enhanced by broad sponsorship for
its activities.
Anyone interested in policy issues relating to the legal
profession or the civil justice system will benefit by attending this
conference. Lawyers, academics, lobbyists, legislators, judges, and
regulators are likely to find many panels of great interest. Others,
including accountants, health care providers, and liability insurers,
may find particular panels especially helpful and are welcome to attend
only those. Registration is free. All lawyers who attend will be eligible
to receive continuing legal education credit from the State Bar of Texas:
11 participatory hours and 3 hours of ethics.