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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250113T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250422T140000
DTSTAMP:20250606T190956Z
CREATED:20241114T201652Z
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UID:20213-1736776800-1745330400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:NACA’s Business Development eCourse 101: Build a Successful Consumer Law Practice
DESCRIPTION:Your success as a small law firm is just as dependent on your skills as a litigator as it is on your ability to successfully manage your small business. It’s time to change your mindset from being an attorney to an entrepreneur. \nLearn how to build the business systems to set your practice up for sustainable success. This brand new eCourse helps you organize your priorities\, establishing goals and creating an achievable action plan. \nThe eCourse includes: \n\nNine webinars given by experts in the field\n Instructional materials\, including videos\, handouts and readings\n\nPlease note that this course is available at no cost to former and current federal attorneys. Email trainining@consumeradvocates.org to learn more. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• How to align your finances to achieve your firm goals\n• How to define your target audience for marketing efforts\n• How to create a sales system\n• How to create an intake system\n• How to optimize your office workflows and integrate AI solutions \n\nCourse Topics:  \nThe Cases: Selecting Winners  \nLearn how to identify the types of cases you want to accept and determine which cases to decline. \nInstructor: Christina Roseman \nMarketing 101: Who Are Your Clients? \nDetermine who you want your client(s) to be and create a communications and marketing plan to reach these clients that conveys how you could assist them. \nInstructor: Russell Dombrow \nSales: Turning Interest into Intake \nLearn how to develop a pitch system that will turn prospectives into clients. \nInstructor: Michael Cardoza \nOptimizing Your Intake System \nLearn how to optimize your intake system once you have your ideal client and a case you want to take. \nInstructors: Christine Anderson Ferraris and Melissa Huelsman \nWorkflow Optimization 101 \nLearn how to create systems to serve your clients with top-notch representation without burning out yourself and your team. \nInstructor: Dave Maxfield \nUsing AI to Increase Optimization \nLearn how to identify specific areas where AI can add value (e.g.\, document review\, legal research\, client communication. \nInstructors: Sarah Ritchie and Subhan Tariq \nUsing Financial Metrics to Drive Your Goals  \nDiscuss what finances you need to make your vision a reality. \nInstructors: Suzanne Iazetta and Matthew Vocci \n\nCourse Instructors \nMichael F. “Mike” Cardoza is a California Consumer Financial Protection Attorney who helps people regain control of their financial lives by getting the upper hand on creditors\, debt collectors and credit reporting agencies. Trained as a trial attorney in the U.S. Marine Corps\, Mike Cardoza has tried countless cases in federal and state courtrooms. Mike founded The Cardoza Law Corporation in order to share the truth about consumer credit and finance with clients and to be their “partner in prosperity.” \nFor over eighteen years\, founder Christine A. Ferraris has worked relentlessly in the legal arena to help those hurt by fraud. As a business owner herself for most of those eighteen years\, she understands the challenges small-business owners face. \nMelissa A. Huelsman is the principal of Law Offices of Melissa A. Huelsman\, P.S. Her practice involves plaintiffs’ civil litigation in the areas of predatory lending and mortgage loan servicing\, foreclosure defense\, fraud\, and foreclosure rescue scams. Ms. Huelsman is a founder and vice chair of the board of directors\, Northwest Consumer Law Center\, a nonprofit dedicated to the representation of consumers on financial issues and she sits on the board of CENTS\, financial literacy nonprofit. She was named King County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year in 2006 and was previously recognized by VLS as one of its Volunteers of the Year. She has been interviewed by foreign and domestic journalists regarding predatory lending\, mortgage loan servicing\, foreclosure rescue scams\, and wrongful foreclosures\, including the New York Times\, Wall Street Journal\, Business Week\, and others. Ms. Huelsman received her B.A. in English from California State University at Fullerton in 1993 and her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles in 1997. \nSuzanne Iazzetta is the Directing Attorney for the Consumer Law Unit. Suzanne is also an adjunct law professor at University of California at Irvine\, teaching a course/clinic in Consumer Law.  Suzanne has been practicing since 2005\, and is licensed to practice law in New York\, New Jersey\, North Carolina\, and California.  She previously clerked for Judge Katharine S. Hayden of the United States District Court\, District of New Jersey\, and practiced civil litigation and bankruptcy at Lowenstein Sandler PC in New Jersey for many years. While at Lowenstein Sandler\, Suzanne was granted a fellowship to work at Legal Services of New Jersey at the Newark\, NJ office\, which re-sparked her interest in working in Public Interest. While at LSNJ\, Suzanne worked in the housing unit\, assisting low-income clients obtain section 8 vouchers and defending voucher holders against HUD’s attempts to terminate the vouchers. Some of the areas of law that Suzanne has worked on in her career are consumer law\, bankruptcy (business and personal)\, housing/eviction matters\, foreclosure defense\, FDCPA\, FCRA\, TCPA\, and UDAAP claims\, and debt collection defense. Suzanne also was a staff attorney for a chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in New Jersey\, and has had her own solo practice since 2012. \nDave Maxfield runs a boutique consumer protection practice in Columbia\, South Carolina. He has represented thousands of individual consumers in cases against banks\, credit reporting agencies\, and insurance companies\, obtaining a verdict of over $480\,000 in a furnisher credit reporting case exclusive of fees\, numerous six-figure settlements\, and in 2019 concluded a vehicle churning class action with total settlement value exceeding $21 million. A self-described “Systems Geek\,” Dave became obsessed years ago with how law firms might use Lean methods and technologies pioneered by the manufacturing world to run more profitable practices. In 2018\, with co-author Larry Port\, Dave wrote the ABA top-selling book\, The Lean Law Firm\, a manual for translating lean and agile methods into a simple\, month-by-month template that law firms can use to become more profitable. Besides co-hosing The Lean Law Firm podcast\, Dave consults with other law firms to help them transform their practices through Lean methods.  As an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law\, Dave teaches both Consumer Protection Law and “The Lean Law Firm Lab” classes. \nSarah Ritchie serves as the Paralegal and Office Manager of John Steinkamp & Associates\, bringing over a decade of experience\, particularly in lawsuits under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). As the firm’s national footprint has expanded\, Sarah has taken on a liaison role\, coordinating with law firms and clients across the country\, bridging complex legal communication with a tech savvy approach. An innovator in legal technology\, she recently spoke at the Consumer Rights and Litigation Conference on the ethics of AI tools in litigation. Sarah combines her extensive legal expertise with cutting-edge technological solutions\, helping her team navigate the evolving landscape of legal practice. \nChristina Gill Roseman\, Esq. is the founding attorney of Roseman Law Firm\, PLLC\, where she represents consumers in the areas of dealer fraud\, lemon law and breach of warranty.  Ms. Roseman has successfully tried numerous cases against vehicle manufacturers and dealerships\, including a verdict in 2019 against Winnebago\, a 2021 verdict against Mercedes and a 2020 verdict against Kia.  She is the Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association Civil Litigation Section Court Rules Committee and is a member of the invitation-only Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.  Ms. Roseman was the 2010-2012 Co-President of the Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania and the Co-Chair of the CLE Committee for the WBA from 2012 to 2017.  Ms. Roseman is the West Virginia state NACA Co-chair. \nSubhan Tariq regularly handles complex commercial litigation\, with particular experience in consumer finance litigation in individual and class action cases in the areas of federal and state consumer protection laws. Mr. Tariq has successfully helped thousands of consumers exercise their consumer rights against large institutional banks\, debt collectors\, and consumer reporting agencies. Subhan also consults with other lawyers and law firms on blockchain automation\, working towards a streamlined efficient network of client files\, document automation\, and cost-effective workflows. \nMatt Vocci is a partner at Santoni\, Vocci & Ortega\, LLC. The majority of his work relates in some way to housing. He represents tenants against landlords and property managers on a variety of cases\, such as consumer protection and consumer debt collection issues\, habitability\, Fair Housing Act violations\, illegal evictions\, and personal injuries. Matt has served as class counsel on several class actions\, including a recent case that resolved favorably for tenants against a large\, out-of-state property management company. He is a member of the MSBA’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee Council and the ACLU of Maryland Committee on Litigation and Legal Priorities. Matt deeply believes in Santoni\, Vocci & Ortega’s mission to provide high-quality legal representation to low-income Marylanders. He graduated cum laude from Temple University\, Beasley School of Law in 2006. \n\nNACA would also like to thank the following members of the eCourse Development team: Ron Burdge\, Michael Cardoza\, Ian Chowdury\, Russell Dombrow\, Christine Anderson Ferraris\, Melissa Huelsman\, Suzanne Iazetta\, Sarah Ritchie and Joseph Sternberg.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/ecourses/nacas-business-development-ecourse-101-build-a-successful-consumer-law-practice/
CATEGORIES:eCourses,Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250205T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250205T153000
DTSTAMP:20250206T151538Z
CREATED:20250116T141306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250206T151538Z
UID:21438-1738764000-1738769400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Bankruptcy may be the Best Choice for Student Loan Relief Post Election
DESCRIPTION:Have you been wondering how the new ED guidelines for discharging federal student loan debt in bankruptcy may help in your practice?  This webinar will explore potential relief for student loan debt in the next administration. \nPlease note that there will be a 30-minute online conversation following the webinar for those who want to stay on and chat about students loans and bankruptcy. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nWhat is the new Attestation Process in bankruptcy?\nWhat do you need to do in advance of filing?\nWhat can you expect after the election?\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nChristie Arkovich has been an AV rated Florida licensed attorney for more than 25 years since graduation from Stetson College of Law in 1992 with honors. In addition to Law Review\, Ms. Arkovich gained practical experience by an internship with the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office and a clerkship with the Florida Bar. Thereafter\, she worked in commercial litigation for three years for private law firms until starting her own consumer practice in 1995. Whenever possible\, Ms. Arkovich takes the opportunity to share her knowledge about student loans gained from prior work as trial counsel for Sallie Mae\, ECMC and other student loan servicers or guarantors\, and from her practice now on the consumer side of things. She recently served on the Student Loan Committee for the new Student Loan Management Program in the Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost. \nIf you have registered for the webinar\, you can access it here.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/bankruptcy-may-be-the-best-choice-for-student-loan-relief-post-election/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250207T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250207T170000
DTSTAMP:20250226T155906Z
CREATED:20250210T162744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250226T155906Z
UID:22030-1738915200-1738947600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Introduction to Consumer Law Package
DESCRIPTION:Webinars\n– Spotting FCRA Violations by Reviewing Your Client’s Credit Reports\n– Developing an Auto Practice Part: Issue Spotting Auto Claims\n– Debt Defense\n– Fair Debt Collections Practices Act 101\n– Loss Mitigation 101\n– RESPA 101: Drafting Effective Requests for Information and Notices of Error\n– Introduction to Student Loan Cases\n– To be or not to be Practical: Strategies and Best Practices in Negotiating and Litigating Your Fees\n– How to Prepare your Case for Arbitration\n– Discovery Planning and Alternatives to Formal Discovery \n\nWhy These Videos Are Helpful\nThis professional development package includes a series of 101 webinars that introduce consumers attorneys to the FDCPA\, FCRA\, RESPA and other consumer statutes. This is a great resource to learn how to spot consumer law violations. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n\nWhat are the common causes of credit report inaccuracies\nHow to find viable auto fraud cases\nWhat are common FDCPA violations\nHow to litigate debt defense cases\nHow to draft Requests for Information and Notices of Error for RESPA cases\nWhat the options are for home retention and other foreclosure prevention alternatives\nWhat the key differences are between Federal and Private loans
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/webinar-bundles/introduction-to-consumer-law-package/
CATEGORIES:Curated Webinar Bundles,Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250213T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250213T150000
DTSTAMP:20250214T135504Z
CREATED:20250124T153748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250214T135504Z
UID:21604-1739455200-1739458800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Consumer Protection Issues in Real Estate After the National Association of Realtors Settlement
DESCRIPTION:Real estate brokers have enjoyed decades of freedom from regulation and accountability\, resulting in commission levels about twice that of comparable nations. The NAR settlement exposed the underlying anti-competitive practices\, but the industry is adapting its model to maintain inflated commissions. This webinar will discuss opportunities available to consumer protection attorneys– whether representing individual consumers or bringing class cases– to make a difference for home buyers and sellers. \n\nWhat You Will Learn:\n• What the NAR lawsuit was all about and the terms of the settlement.\n• How realtors are doing work arounds and potential causes of action\n• How to represent consumers who are working with realtors \n\nSpeakers \nDoug Miller is Executive Director of Consumer Advocates in American Real Estate (CAARE) and the foremost advocate for American consumers engaged in real estate transactions. He is originating attorney in Moehrl v. NAR\, et. al.\, the original case in the NAR lawsuit. Doug also is an attorney (Real Property Law Specialist certified by Minnesota State Bar Association) and a real estate broker. \nPrentiss Cox is a Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School. He previously was an Assistant Attorney General\, and currently is a Special Assistant Attorney General\, in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. He has litigated numerous well-known cases involving mortgage lending and real estate. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost. \nClick here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/consumer-protection-issues-in-real-estate-after-the-national-association-of-realtors-settlement/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250225T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250225T153000
DTSTAMP:20250226T131910Z
CREATED:20250206T203900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250226T131910Z
UID:21962-1740492000-1740497400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Preparing for Trial and Drafting the Pretrial Documents- What You Need to Know and Do
DESCRIPTION:You have defeated the motion for summary judgment and the case is set for trial. \nNow what do you do? \nTwo experienced NACA trial attorneys will let you know the ins and outs of the myriad documents and motions you have to prepare\, and overcoming pretrial obstacles\, so your trial will be successful. This webinar will help you understand how to be ready for trial in federal court. Don’t miss this opportunity to prepare yourself for victory! \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to prepare your witness list\, deposition designations\, and exhibit list\nHow to prepare objections to the defense witness list and exhibit list\nHow to draft a trial brief\, and joint statement of the case\nWhat motions in limine you should file and how to be prepared for defense motions\nWhat stipulations to seek\nHow to draft a pretrial order\nHow to prepare jury instructions and be ready for voir dire\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nDavid Chami is the managing partner and cofounder of Consumer Justice Law firm. CJL is a nationwide law firm\, specializing in the FCRA and Employment law. David has multiple multimillion dollar jury verdicts and a wealth of experience to share. \nRobert S. Sola is the founding member of Robert S. Sola\, P.C.\, a consumer law firm based in Portland\, OR. He has been handling FCRA cases since 1996. He represents consumers across the country and has litigated FCRA cases in twenty-five states as co-counsel with many NACA members. Mr. Sola has obtained large jury verdicts against all three major credit reporting agencies. In 2002\, he was lead counsel in Thomas v. Trans Union\, where the jury awarded the consumer $5.3 million. In 2007\, he was co-counsel in Williams v. Equifax\, which resulted in a judgment of $3.4 million. Mr. Sola was named Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2003 by NACA. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost. \nClick here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/preparing-for-trial-and-drafting-the-pretrial-documents-what-you-need-to-know-and-do/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250305T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250305T160000
DTSTAMP:20250306T133606Z
CREATED:20250227T150814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250306T133606Z
UID:22355-1741183200-1741190400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Mastering RFIs and NOEs: Essential RESPA Tools for Protecting Homeowners in Times of Job Loss
DESCRIPTION:As more federal workers lose their jobs\, the number of loan modifications and foreclosures is expected to increase during this challenging period of job transition. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) has established itself as the most effective tool that any consumer practitioner can use when dealing with mortgage servicers.  Requests for Information (RFIs) and Notices of Error (NOEs) are a necessary information tool\, a vital discovery tool\, and a sword to attack a mortgage servicer when errors are made.  Most importantly for your clients\, RFIs and NOEs serve as a shield that protects their interests.  Now more than ever\, consumer attorneys need to know how to prepare proper RFIs and NOEs and how to use the information gathered.  This webinar is geared to beginner attorneys who want to improve their RFIs and NOEs. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nGeneral tips on how to handle judicial foreclosures\nGeneral tips on how to handle non-judicial foreclosures\nHow to draft Requests for Information and Notices of Errors\nHow to use Notices of Error as a litigation tool\nHow to use Requests for Information as a discovery tool\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nBrian Flick is the managing partner of Dann Law’s Cincinnati Office.  He is a tireless advocate for consumers in Ohio\, Kentucky and across the United States.  He has litigated RESPA cases in federal and appellate courts across the country including Alabama\, Arkansas\, California\, Colorado\, Florida\, Georgia\, Illinois\, Indiana\, Kansas\, Kentucky\, Michigan\, Missouri\, Nevada\, New Jersey\, New York\, Ohio\, Oregon\, Pennsylvania\, Tennessee\, and Texas.  He is a Board Member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and is the Ohio Chair of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. \nSteve Sharpe is a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) focusing on foreclosures and mortgage lending. He leads NCLC’s federal mortgage servicing policy work and frequently presents on mortgage servicing and other housing issues. Steve is a co-author of NCLC’s Mortgage Servicing and Loan Modifications\, Home Foreclosures\, Too Damn High: How Junk Fees Add to Skyrocketing Rents\, and the report How GSE Note Sales Undermine Homeownership\, which examines the impact of bulk sales of hundreds of thousands of home loans to investors. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/mastering-rfis-and-noes-essential-respa-tools-for-protecting-homeowners-in-times-of-job-loss/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250319T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250319T150000
DTSTAMP:20250320T131639Z
CREATED:20250220T140407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250320T131639Z
UID:22230-1742392800-1742396400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Beginner’s Guide to Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices Statutes in Auto Cases
DESCRIPTION:Almost every state has an Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices Statutes (UDAP) consumer protection statute modeled after the one developed by the Federal Trade Commissions. These statutes are generally uniform across the country but with important differences unique to each state. Bringing a UDAP claim is an excellent starting point for consumer cases. Drawing from decades of experience in bringing UDAP claims\, John Gayle and Blaine Elliot will explore how to address common challenges associated with bringing UDAP claims in an auto case. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n• How to bring UDAP claims for auto cases\n• What entities are covered\n• What actions violate these statutes\n• What damages and fees are recoverable \n\nSpeakers \nBlaine received his J.D. from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 1996 and is licensed to practice in the state and federal courts of Missouri and Kansas. He describes his practice a small town\, general practice\, a place where those in a small town can find a variety of the legal services they need\, but his passion is consumer law\, with his focus primarily on autofraud. He took his first autofraud case in 1996 and has been a NACA member since 2004. \nJohn Cole Gayle\, Jr. is a nationally known expert on Consumer Law. His practice primarily involves Lemon Law\, fraudulently induced contracts\, debt settlement\, and the FCRA. He is author of the 1988\, 1990\, 1998\, and 2022 legislative amendments of the Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act (Virginia’s lemon law)\, and he has been involved in amendments to the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. He has authored articles on Virginia’s Lemon Law for various periodicals\, wrote the chapter on Consumer Statutory Remedies in the Virginia Product Liability Treatise (to be published). He was chair of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Legislative Subcommittee on Consumer Law and is the past Virginia State Chair of NACA. He received his B.A. from Hampden-Sydney College\, cum laude\, and his J.D. from the T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 1979\, where he was on the National Moot Court team. He is past vestryman of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, was instrumental in initiating and developing St. Stephens’ Prison Ministry to the Richmond City Jail\, and he has facilitated adult Christian education classes. In 2021 John was inducted into the Virginia Lawyer’s Hall of Fame sponsored by Lawyers Weekly of Virginia. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/beginners-guide-to-unfair-and-deceptive-acts-and-practices-statutes-in-auto-cases/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250327T150000
DTSTAMP:20250328T144844Z
CREATED:20250304T145324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250328T144844Z
UID:22402-1743084000-1743087600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Basics of Evaluating FDCPA Claims
DESCRIPTION:Total consumer debt is at an all-time high. American households hold $18.036 trillion of debt\, averaging $105\,056 per family. With a jobless rate of four percent\, a good percentage of that debt is being pursued in collections. While some debt collectors comply with the state and federal debt collection laws\, many do not. This session will provide a general overview of the process involved in evaluating Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) claims and how to maximize the client’s recovery. \nIf you have limited knowledge of the FDCPA and want to engage in this practice area\, this webinar is for you. It is also a great primer for those who represent consumers so they can quickly evaluate violations of the FDCPA. \n\nWhat You Will Learn: \n\n\n\nHow to evaluate clients\nHow to evaluate defendants\nHow to evaluate FDCPA claims\nHow to spot non-FDCPA claims\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nCliff Carlson is a sole practitioner representing consumers in Georgia\, Ohio\, Texas\, and Alabama. His practice focuses primarily on consumer debt. He received his Juris Doctorate from the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in 2012. Cliff also received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Mercer University in 2005. He generally limits his practice to consumer rights issues\, such as Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act Violations. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/basics-of-evaluating-fdcpa-claims/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T150000
DTSTAMP:20250418T121527Z
CREATED:20250408T183028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250418T121527Z
UID:22965-1744898400-1744902000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Student Loans in the Eye of the Storm: What Attorneys Need to Know Now
DESCRIPTION:Not a day passes with this new administration where we don’t wonder what is going on with student loans. Combine that with the National SAVE lawsuit in the 8th circuit\, and you have what appears to be a perfect storm. What payment plans are valid? Is forgiveness still on the table? And what about this DOJ attestation process to discharge federal student loans? So many questions that we as attorneys have\, never mind our clients\, the borrowers. Worse\, you might be both the attorney AND the borrower. \nGet the most up-to-date answers from our panel of student loan gurus. We’ll separate fact from fiction and dispel the myriads of internet myths out there put forth by You-tube “experts”. Learn where to focus for what really matters and what is really going on. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n• What are valid payment plans and forgiveness options\n• What to expect from the fallout from the SAVE lawsuit\n• What are bankruptcy discharge methods (DOJ attestation).\n• What to expect from the move from FSA to SBA.\n• What borrowers will need help with. \n\nSpeakers \nJosh Cohen began his legal career in 2008 by founding his own firm focused on consumer protection and quickly developed a niche in student loan law. Within nine months\, he filed his first class action against the student loan industry. His practice helps borrowers navigate default\, repayment plans\, collection defense\, affirmative claims\, and bankruptcy discharge—successfully discharging over $3M in student loans to date. Josh also trains attorneys through his long-running Student Loan Law Workshop and developed Student Loan Toolbox\, a software tool to help attorneys counsel clients on student loan issues. \nJay S. Fleischman is a consumer protection attorney licensed in New York and California. Since 1995\, his practice has focused on student loan law\, consumer bankruptcy\, and debt collection defense. A seasoned educator and advocate\, Jay has built a substantial digital presence by making complex legal issues accessible. His plain-language content has garnered over 3.2 million views and attracted over 225\,000 followers across TikTok\, Instagram\, LinkedIn\, and YouTube. He also regularly publishes content at MoneyWiseLaw.com\, where he helps consumers better understand their financial rights and options. \nAdam S. Minsky is licensed in Massachusetts\, New York\, and Vermont and is one of the nation’s leading authorities in student loan law. He remains one of the only attorneys in the country with a practice devoted entirely to helping student loan borrowers and their families. Attorney Minsky provides counsel\, legal assistance\, and direct advocacy for borrowers on a variety of student loan-related matters. He has published three handbooks including The Student Loan Handbook for Law Students and Attorneys\, published by the American Bar Association. Attorney Minsky has also been contributing author to the National Consumer Law Center’s manual\, Student Loan Law. He is a senior contributor at Forbes.com\, where he writes about the latest developments in the student loan space. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/student-loans-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-what-attorneys-need-to-know-now/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250423T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250423T153000
DTSTAMP:20250425T191604Z
CREATED:20250312T144433Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250425T191604Z
UID:22615-1745416800-1745422200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Identifying Furnisher Claims
DESCRIPTION:Furnishers of information to the credit bureaus play a key role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of credit reporting.  Furnishers also have important responsibilities in investigating consumers’ disputes of inaccurate credit report information.  Identifying claims against furnishers under the Fair Credit Reporting Act\, however\, is not as straightforward as identifying claims against the credit bureaus themselves. This claim-spotting webinar will provide a general overview of consumer claims against furnishers under FCRA.  If you have limited knowledge of FCRA and want to start taking on cases in this practice area\, this webinar is for you. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nWho is a furnisher under Fair Credit Reporting Act\nWhen does a consumer have viable claims against a furnisher\nWhat factors make claims against furnishers valuable.\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nSuzanne Begnoche represents plaintiffs in matters involving identity theft\, security breaches\, unfair credit reporting\, and unfair debt collection.  Now in private practice\, she was previously a staff attorney handling consumer matters at Legal Aid of North Carolina.   She is a graduate of Duke University and the University of North Carolina School of Law. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost. \nClick here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/identifying-furnisher-claims/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250513T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250513T153000
DTSTAMP:20250415T165527Z
CREATED:20250415T165527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250415T165527Z
UID:23114-1747144800-1747150200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Defending Against HELOC Foreclosures
DESCRIPTION:If you’re a consumer attorney looking to expand your toolkit and better serve clients facing foreclosure\, this webinar is essential. As zombie HELOCs resurface and put vulnerable homeowners at risk\, understanding how these financial products differ from traditional mortgages—and how to spot legal issues and defenses—is critical. \nThis session will equip you with foundational knowledge of HELOC structures\, highlight key red flags in foreclosure cases\, and offer practical strategies for both defense and affirmative litigation. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of emerging threats in mortgage servicing and protect your clients with confidence. \nThis one-hour webinar will be followed by a thirty-minute conversation and extended Q and A led by Andrea Bopp Stark\, Senior Attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\nWhat a HELOC is\, and the types of terms and payment schedules commonly seen\nWhat to look for if a potential client comes to you facing foreclosure based on HELOC\nHow to determine which tactics to use in defending these cases and bringing affirmative claims under state and federal law\n\n\nSpeakers \nIra Metrick is a lifetime New Jersey resident with a solo practice located in Freehold\, NJ.  His practice focuses on Foreclosure Defense\, Loan Modifications\, resulting litigation from violations of TIL)\, RESPA\, The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (NJCFA) and FDCPA.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Indiana University School of Business in 1990 and JD from the Indiana University School of Law in 1993. He began practicing in 1995 with a concentration on Residential Real Estate.  After the Real Estate crash around 2008\, he began volunteering with New Jersey Legal Services and began studying Consumer Protection.  He is a Graduate of seven Max Gardner Bankruptcy Boot Camps and Consumer Defense Boot Camps; a Graduate of four Pete Barry’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) Bootcamps; and a participant in several NACA and NCLC webinars and workshops concerning consumer defense issues. \nDamon Ritenhouse is a partner at EV Has\, LLC\, based in Chicago\, Illinois. Since 2012\, his practice has focused on defending homeowners in state court foreclosure cases and bringing consumer claims against banks\, loan servicers and debt collectors using the FDCPA\, RESPA and state consumer fraud statutes. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost. \nClick here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/defending-against-heloc-foreclosures/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250528T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250528T150000
DTSTAMP:20250529T130047Z
CREATED:20250514T142829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250529T130047Z
UID:23412-1748440800-1748444400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Storms\, Claims\, and Coverage: Exploring the Complexities of Bringing Homeowner Insurance Claims
DESCRIPTION:With the dawn of the era of climate change\, the increase of extreme weather events nationwide has led to a corresponding spike in the number of homeowners and commercial insurance claims resulting from these storm events and subsequently litigation arising from disputes over those claims. This creates a highly specialized area of the law which incorporates principles of contract and insurance law. Moreover\, the laws in this area vary from state to state.\nInsurance policies are contracts drafted by for profit companies whose business model is very simple. They make money by charging and collecting premiums and lose money by paying claims. Those policies are designed to pay as little as possible on each claim and present as many hurdles as possible for the policyholder to clear prior to getting paid. Understanding insurance policies and how to read them is the first and foremost roadblock to navigating in this process. \nThis webinar will be an introductory webinar in handling homeowner insurance claims. This webinar is geared to those considering adding this practice area to their consumer law firm. \nWhat You Will Learn \n• How to read and understand the coverage of a basic homeowners’ insurance policy\n• How to handle issues plaguing the insurance claims law battlefield\n• What are the potential pitfalls in advising clients who come to you with an insurance claim issue. \nSpeakers \nAaron Harmaty is a Staff Attorney at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services. Previously\, Aaron worked on the defense side representing insurance companies. Aaron received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame. \nThroughout his 30 years of legal practice\, Scott E. Kandell has committed to helping people in his native South Florida both within the legal field and his community. Scott is one of the founding partners of Kandell\, Kandell & Petrie. He graduated from Tulane University with a bachelor of arts in 1993 and the University of Miami School of Law in 1995\, and then began his professional career with Brumer\, Cohen\, Logan\, Kandell & Kaufman. As the firm’s managing partner\, Scott has directed its evolution from a small and successful personal injury law practice into a prominent property insurance coverage firm. He has directed multimillion-dollar tort claims to a successful resolution and guided catastrophic commercial property losses to favorable outcomes with damages in excess of $25 million. Scott focuses on insurance law\, insurance coverage disputes\, first party insurance claims and denials\, commercial property insurance claims\, hurricane and windstorm claims\, water loss and statutory bad faith claims. \nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost. \nClick here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/storms-claims-and-coverage-exploring-the-complexities-of-bringing-homeowner-insurance-claims/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250604T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250604T153000
DTSTAMP:20250605T125917Z
CREATED:20250520T134751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250605T125917Z
UID:23454-1749045600-1749051000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Spotting FCRA Violations in Post-Discharge Bankruptcy
DESCRIPTION:One of the primary purposes of bankruptcy is to give an honest individual debtor who finds themselves in financial hardship a “fresh start.” Often\, however\, consumers who have dutifully completed the bankruptcy process and received a discharge nevertheless find themselves still handcuffed to their old debts\, due to the credit bureaus reporting inaccurate information about pre-petition debts. Such inaccurate reporting makes it appear as though the consumer is still legally liable for the debt(s)\, preventing those consumers from receiving the full benefit of the “fresh start” they are entitled to. \nThis claim-spotting webinar will provide a general overview of post-bankruptcy FCRA claims. If you have limited knowledge of bankruptcies and want to expand your FCRA practice to include post-bankruptcy cases\, this webinar is for you. Following the webinar there will be an extended question and answer session and discussion. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\nHow to identify bankruptcy related inaccuracies on a consumer report\nWhat are the most common types of cases involving post-bankruptcy consumers\nWhat common problems arise in litigating post-bankruptcy FCRA claims\, and how to overcome them\n\n\nSpeaker \nLandon Maxwell represents plaintiffs in matters involving unfair credit reporting\, unfair debt collection\, unfair telemarketing\, and bankruptcy law violations. He is an attorney handling consumer matters at Consumer Justice Law Firm. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/spotting-fcra-violations-in-post-discharge-bankruptcy/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250611T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250611T150000
DTSTAMP:20250613T191242Z
CREATED:20250520T125107Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250613T191242Z
UID:23450-1749650400-1749654000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Ask the Auto Fraud Experts: Daniel Blinn and Nicholas Mattison
DESCRIPTION:Do you have an auto practice\, or are you considering adding auto to your practice areas? Want to get help with spotting\, valuing or litigating your auto cases? Interested in getting feedback from two of the most experienced auto fraud attorneys in the consumer law community? Daniel Blinn and Nicholas Mattison will be available for an online question and answer session on all topics related to combating auto fraud. \nNACA is continuing its webinar series entitled Ask the Expert. This series will include an hour-long online question and answer session with leading attorneys in the field. We welcome questions in advance. Please note there will be no written materials associated with this webinar\, so there will be no CLEs awarded for attendance. Please send questions to training@consumeradvocates.org. \n\nSpeakers\nDan Blinn is the Managing Attorney of Consumer Law Group\, located in Rocky Hill\, CT. His practice is focused on representing consumers in claims involving auto dealer fraud\, auto warranties\, and auto financing. He handles both individual and class action matters. Dan is the current chair of the CT Bar Association’s Consumer Law Section\, and he was previously a member of the Board of Directors and the Treasurer of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. \nNick Mattison is a consumer protection attorney at the law firm of Feferman\, Warren & Mattison\, located in Albuquerque\, New Mexico. His firm represents people harmed by car dealers\, credit reporting agencies\, banks (including unauthorized bank and credit card charges)\, solar companies\, predatory lenders\, debt collectors\, and all manners of unscrupulous businesses. His practice includes both individual and class action cases. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. If you are a non-member who purchased this webinar or a higher-level member\, you will be able to access the webinar recording at no additional cost. Click here to access the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/ask-the-auto-fraud-experts-daniel-blinn-and-nicholas-mattison/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250625T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250625T150000
DTSTAMP:20250626T133519Z
CREATED:20250611T141050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T133519Z
UID:23682-1750860000-1750863600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:FCBA 101: Enforcing Consumer Credit Card Billing Protections and Maximizing Client Recoveries
DESCRIPTION:As account takeovers and credit card fraud proliferate\, consumer billing protections provided by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) remain as important as ever. This webinar is designed to help attorneys navigate the FCBA’s critical protections for consumers\, particularly the unauthorized use and billing dispute provisions that apply to open-end credit accounts. Whether you’re new to credit billing cases or looking to sharpen your litigation approach\, this session will provide valuable tools to help you advocate more effectively in an era of increasing financial exploitation. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow the unauthorized use and billing dispute provisions apply to open-end credit accounts\nHow to litigate claims under these statutes\,\nHow to maximize the recovery you obtain for your client.\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nDrew Sarrett has practiced consumer law since 2011. He also represents individuals in civil rights\, employment\, and discrimination matters. He has tried cases in multiple courts and argued successful appeals before the Supreme Court of Virginia. He serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program and on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Poverty Law Center. He currently focuses on individual and class consumer protection cases\, with a primary focus on FCRA and auto defect matters. \n\nPlease note live webinars are free to NACA members. Non-members will need to pay to access the recording. If you are a non-member who paid for the webinar or a higher level or firm member\, you will have access to the recording at no additional charge. \nClick here to watch the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/fcba-101-enforcing-consumer-credit-card-billing-protections-and-maximizing-client-recoveries/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T153000
DTSTAMP:20250702T125241Z
CREATED:20250529T192127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T125241Z
UID:23591-1751378400-1751383800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:You Won Your Case\, Now What: Collecting Consumer Judgements 2025
DESCRIPTION:Sometimes consumer advocates win a case\, but the defendant doesn’t pay. As a community\, we need to do a better job of collecting our clients’ judgments. Not every judgment is collectible\, but after this webinar\, you will be able to identify which ones to pursue. This webinar is an introduction to the basic tools and strategies that you can use when pursuing payment after obtaining a judgment. \nThis webinar will be followed by an online discussion. \nWhat You Will Learn  \n\nHow to navigate the basic legal procedures and options for collecting judgments\, including formal and informal methods\nHow to decide what strategies to use when pursuing payment\n\nPresenter  \nGregory S. Reichenbach is a trial attorney representing primarily poor and working-class Ohio consumers. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Toledo\, College of Law\, in 2004. He focuses on litigation of individual and class claims focusing on repossessions\, used car fraud\, and unfair debt collection. He has written articles for the public and presents CLE trainings for Ohio attorneys on topics including litigating consumer claims and defending collection suits.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/you-won-your-case-now-what-collecting-consumer-judgements-2025/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250710T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250710T140000
DTSTAMP:20250702T192701Z
CREATED:20250623T184402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T192701Z
UID:23819-1752152400-1752156000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Meet the Experts: Ashlie Tarpley
DESCRIPTION:NACA is hosting a “Meet the Experts” session with current and former CFPB attorneys and staff to help them connect with NACA member and projects. If you are interested in meeting a potential expert to help you with your case\, please join the session. \nThe first session will be featuring Ashlie Tarpley. \nAbout the Expert \nAshlie Tarpley is an attorney who specializes in financial services law. Over the course of a decade\, she has litigated financial services matters\, advised large financial institutions on compliance\, and served as a Senior Counsel in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Supervision Policy. \nIn 2025\, Ashlie founded Tarpley Templates and Legal Research or TTLR. TTLR offers law firms reliable legal research and guidance to support litigation strategies and other business needs. Ashlie will also serve as a consulting attorney on financial services matters and provide insight into the historical background of consumer financial laws and the current regulatory landscape. \nThrough TTLR\, Ashlie hopes to use her expertise to create a fairer financial marketplace and help organizations confidently serve their clients. \n**Please note that this event is free to all members of community. Non-members must be verified to register for the discussion.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/meet-the-experts-ashlie-tarpley/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250716T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250716T143000
DTSTAMP:20250717T130846Z
CREATED:20250627T152748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250717T130846Z
UID:23885-1752670800-1752676200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:FCRA 101: Documents for Inaccuracy\, ID Theft and Mixed File Cases
DESCRIPTION:Are you new to the FCRA? Do you want to know how to set up your practice so that you can be ready to file your first FCRA claim? \nThis introductory presentation covers how to identify and gather key documents for building Fair Credit Reporting Act cases under §§1681e(b)\, 1681i\, and 1681s-2(b). It will focus on obtaining records to help clients uncover the source(s) of inaccuracies\, highlight useful dispute-supporting documents\, and address common pitfalls and early red flags in potential cases. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• What is the difference between a “consumer report” (AKA “credit report”) and a file disclosure (and why it matters)\n• What are the different types of consumer reports\n• How to obtain copies of consumer reports and file disclosures\n• What methods to avoid when obtaining “credit report” information\n• What documents to use for due diligence (and as support in dispute letters)\n• What are common “Red flags” that are almost always present in the early stages of screening a case \n\nSpeaker\nEmily Connor Kennedy is a dedicated attorney at Consumer Litigation Associates\, P.C. and a long-time member of NACA. Emily focuses on consumer protection laws and has experience in a variety of areas including the Fair Credit Reporting Act\, mortgage protections such as RESPA and Regulation X\, the Truth in Lending Act\, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act\, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\, and state consumer protection statutes. Additionally\, Emily has extensive expertise in consumer bankruptcy law. Throughout her career\, Emily has shared her knowledge and expertise with audiences across the nation through presentations on consumer law and bankruptcy law matters. Emily loves the Virginia Poverty Law Center and is currently serving as the Immediate Past President of the VPLC Board of Directors. Emily lives in Richmond\, Virginia with her wonderful spouse and her obscenely high-maintenance dog. If you ask\, Emily will be happy to show you pictures and videos of her pet tarantulas. \n\nPlease note that all live NACA webinars are free to members. Higher level members and firm members can also access the recordings at no additional cost. Nonmembers who pay for the webinar are also able to access the recording at no additional cost.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/fcra-101-documents-for-inaccuracy-id-theft-and-mixed-file-cases/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250729T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250729T150000
DTSTAMP:20250730T122737Z
CREATED:20250710T192614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250730T122737Z
UID:23962-1753797600-1753801200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Intake That Works: What Auto Fraud Attorneys Wish They Knew Sooner
DESCRIPTION:Whether you’re new to auto fraud litigation or a seasoned practitioner looking to refine your client screening process\, this CLE offers valuable insights straight from the trenches. Intake is often the most critical phase in an auto fraud case—done right\, it can save countless hours and thousands in costs. Done wrong\, it can leave you entangled in unworkable cases with little hope of recovery. \nThis session is designed to be practical\, candid\, and interactive. Learn from real-world experience and leave with tools you can immediately implement in your practice to improve efficiency\, outcomes\, and client satisfaction. \n\nWhat You’ll Learn: \n\n\n\nHow experienced consumer attorneys structure their auto fraud intakes\nWhat red flags to watch for early in the process\nHow to spot strong legal claims (even when clients don’t know what went wrong)\nHow to use practical checklists and intake questions that actually work\nWhat are common pitfalls: what hasn’t worked and why\nHow to balance empathy with strategy when evaluating potential clients\nHow to sign good cases and avoid the ones that will drain your time and resources\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers  \nMinal Gahlot is a private consumer protection attorney based in Oklahoma City with over a decade of experience advocating for individuals harmed by unfair and deceptive business practices. As the founder of Oklahoma Consumer Law Firm\, she represents clients in a wide range of matters\, including auto dealer fraud\, lemon law violations\, solar panel scams\, wrongful repossession\, credit reporting inaccuracies\, abusive debt collection\, and identity theft.  Minal has achieved successful outcomes for her clients through jury trials\, bench verdicts\, arbitration awards\, and negotiated settlements. She currently serves as the Oklahoma State Chair for the National Association of Consumer Advocates and has been repeatedly recognized by 405 Magazine as a Top Attorney in Consumer Law.  A frequent speaker at both national and regional conferences\, Minal is a passionate advocate for consumer rights and access to justice\, dedicating time to volunteer and pro bono efforts across Oklahoma. \nPrior to starting her own law firm\, Sophia Romero worked as an of counsel attorney at Maier Gutierrez & Associates\, focusing on representing individuals in consumer rights matters and personal injury litigation as well as businesses in inter-business litigation matters. Sophia has also worked with organizations like the ACLU of Nevada\, where she served as its senior staff attorney\, litigating numerous constitutional rights issues\,  Prior to joining the ACLU\, and since her 2011 admission to the bar\, Sophia has litigated all types of consumer rights issues\, including automobile fraud\, illegal repossession\, and FDCPA cases\, both individually and on a class-action basis. Sophia has appeared on Good Morning America\, been quoted in the New York Times\, on MSNBC\, and NBC Nightly News speaking on consumer issues. Sophia is also on the faculty of the Practicing Law Institute\, where she helps teach: Representing the Pro Bono Client: Consumer Law Basics. Sophia is licensed to practice law in both Nevada and New Mexico. Sophia received a J.D. from Gonzaga in 2011 and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University in 2007. When not fighting hard for her clients\, Sophia enjoys reading and spending time with her family. \n\nPlease note that all live NACA webinars are free to members. Higher level members and firm members can also access the recordings at no additional cost. Nonmembers who pay for the webinar are also able to access the recording at no additional cost.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/intake-that-works-what-auto-fraud-attorneys-wish-they-knew-sooner/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250731T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250731T150000
DTSTAMP:20250804T161858Z
CREATED:20250718T172905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250804T161858Z
UID:24013-1753970400-1753974000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:EFTA Intake Strategies: What Great Consumer Lawyers Always Ask
DESCRIPTION:Whether it’s a drained account\, a Zelle scam\, or a “sorry\, too late to get the money back” brush-off from the bank\, Electronic Fund Transfers Act (EFTA) violations are exploding—and consumer lawyers need to be ready at intake. This webinar will teach you how to identify EFTA violations at the first client contact\, separate the viable claims from the noise\, and position the case for maximum recovery under both the statute and Reg E. \nYou’ll learn how to ask the right questions\, decode confusing transaction histories\, and spot red flags that banks use to deny liability. We’ll also cover how to preserve critical timing evidence\, properly document the claim from the start\, and avoid the traps that cause good EFTA cases to go sideways. If you’re a consumer advocate looking to add EFTA cases to your toolkit—or sharpen your existing process—this session is built for you. \n\nWhat You Will Learn: \n\n\n\nHow to spot winning EFTA claims during the first client call—even when the facts seem messy\nWhat key documents\, timelines\, and intake questions to use that preserve Reg E protections\nHow to identify bank blame-shifting tactics early and build your record to shut them down\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nPete Barry is a nationally recognized consumer rights attorney and the founder of The Barry Law Office\, Ltd.\, based in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He has dedicated his career to representing consumers in cases involving illegal debt collection practices\, with a particular focus on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA). Admitted to practice before numerous federal courts and the United States Supreme Court\, Pete was named NACA’s Consumer Lawyer of the Year and has been selected multiple times as a Super Lawyer® by Minnesota Law & Politics. His work has been featured in the New York Times\, Wall Street Journal\, and on NBC\, CBS\, ABC\, and MSNBC for his advocacy in high-profile consumer protection cases. In addition to his litigation practice\, Pete is the creator of the FDCPA Boot Camp®\, which has trained over a thousand attorneys in all 50 states. He also served as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law\, where he taught Consumer Rights Law. Pete’s contributions include mentoring new lawyers\, acting as an ethics investigator\, serving as a supervising attorney for disciplined attorneys\, and volunteering with the U.S. District Court’s Pro Se Project. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife and daughters and continues to fight daily for the rights of consumers across the country. \n\nPlease note that all live NACA webinars are free to members. Higher level members and firm members can also access the recordings at no additional cost. Nonmembers who pay for the webinar are also able to access the recording at no additional cost.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/efta-intake-strategies-what-great-consumer-lawyers-always-ask/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250820T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250820T160000
DTSTAMP:20250822T141943Z
CREATED:20250801T160303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250822T141943Z
UID:24087-1755698400-1755705600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Medical Debt Defense— Defenses and Aggressive Counterclaims You Can Use in your State (2025)
DESCRIPTION:Medical debt is the wild west of debt collection. Every debt collector wants in on it and consumer attorneys often find themselves without the tools to fight back.  This seminar will give you those tools so that you can both vigorously defend medical debt collection as well as go on the offensive. \nThis webinar will appeal to both private practitioners and legal service attorneys who need defenses against medical claims and want to explore counterclaims that can range from single counterclaims to possible class actions. \nPlease note this session will include a one-hour webinar and a one-hour online conversation. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\nWhat the central aspects of medical debt collection are\, including an explanation of the “Chargemaster\,” your rights to access the hospital’s pricing schedule\, and items you should be demanding in the discovery process.\nWhich affirmative defenses will give you a fighting chance\, open up discovery even where a counterclaim isn’t available\, and increase your standing with regards to settlement.\nHow to use FDCPA and UDAAP statutes to challenge the fairness of the hospital’s billing practice and the debt collector’s actions.\nWhat discovery items you should request and how they will help you defend and prosecute cases.\nHow to follow the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services and their ever-evolving rules for hospital billing.\n\n\nSpeakers \nKeith Hagan practices consumer law as a partner at Hofer Hagan LLP\, in Indianapolis\, Indiana. He has been on the front line of defending medical debt cases since 2018. \nBerneta L. Haynes is a senior attorney who focuses on consumer energy policy and medical debt. At NCLC\, she recently authored Protecting Older Adults from Surprise Medical Bills and The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families. She is also a contributing author to the medical debt chapter of NCLC’s Collection Actions practice manual and NCLC’s Surviving Debt consumer guide. \n\nPlease note that this webinar is free to members and non-members. Click here to watch the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/medical-debt-defense-defenses-and-aggressive-counterclaims-you-can-use-in-your-state-2025/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250826T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250826T190000
DTSTAMP:20250812T183928Z
CREATED:20250811T150748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T183928Z
UID:24168-1756227600-1756234800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Consumer Law Meet-Up
DESCRIPTION:Join colleagues for a fun get-together and light refreshments at Bailey Glasser’s offices in Washington DC. All NACA members\, attorneys advocating on behalf of consumers\, legal aid attorneys and law students studying consumer law are encouraged to attend!
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/upcoming/consumer-law-meet-up/
LOCATION:Bailey Glasser LLP\, 1055 Thomas Jefferson St NW\, Ste 540\, Washington\, DC\, 20007
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250827T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250827T150000
DTSTAMP:20250828T124912Z
CREATED:20250812T132250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250828T124912Z
UID:24181-1756303200-1756306800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Ask the FDCPA Experts: Stacy Bardo and Angie Robertson
DESCRIPTION:Do you have an FDCPA practice\, or are you considering adding FDCPA to your practice areas? Want to get help with spotting\, valuing or litigating your FDCPA cases? Interested in getting feedback from one of the most experienced FDCPA attorneys in the consumer law community? Stacy Bardo and Angie Robertson will be available for an online question and answer session on all topics related to determining viable FDCPA claims or defenses. \nNACA is continuing its webinar series entitled Ask the Expert. This series will include an hour-long online question and answer session with leading attorneys in the field. We welcome questions in advance. Please note there will be no written materials associated with this webinar\, so there will be no CLEs awarded for attendance. Please send questions to training@consumeradvocates.org. \n\nSpeakers \nStacy Bardo has dedicated her law practice for the last 20+ years to the protection of everyday people. Based in Chicago\, Stacy files suits for consumers who have been the victims of unlawful business practices\, consumer fraud\, wrongful repossessions\, automobile fraud\, identity theft\, and false credit reporting. She has been appointed class counsel in numerous national and statewide class actions certified in IL\, NY\, CA\, MI\, MN\, and WA. Stacy is a past co-chair of NACA’s Board of Directors and currently serves on the NCLC/NACA Conference Steering Committee. Stacy is a graduate of Northwestern University and Loyola University Chicago School of Law. \nAngie Robertson is a Partner at Philipps & Philipps\, Ltd. Since joining Philipps & Philipps\, Ltd.\, in 2012\, she has represented over 1\,000 consumers in federal district and appellate courts\, securing significant victories in Fair Debt Collection Practices Act cases. With extensive experience in class action litigation\, complex discovery\, and appellate briefing\, Angie is dedicated to navigating complex consumer protection statutes to holding financial entities — like debt collectors\, credit reporting agencies\, and banks — accountable. In addition to her litigation work\, she currently serves as the Board Co-Chair of the National Association of Consumer Advocates\, actively shaping policy and legal strategies that support consumer advocates and consumer rights nationwide. Angie is a 2010 graduate of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. Since there will be no CLEs awarded. All who register for the webinar will have access to the recording. \nYou can access the live webinar here.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/ask-the-fdcpa-experts-stacy-bardo-and-angie-robertson/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T153000
DTSTAMP:20250903T130900Z
CREATED:20250815T171401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T130900Z
UID:24229-1756821600-1756827000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:How to Issue Spot and Litigate FCRA Cases Involving Inaccurate Tenant Screening Background Check Reports
DESCRIPTION:As the criminal justice system comes under scrutiny\, our national reckoning should include reining in the outsize influence that police and courts wield in the lives of millions of people outside the formal legal system. Records created by police and prosecutors are routinely accessed in tenant screening background checks — and regularly used to discriminate against millions of Americans seeking both jobs and apartments. But employment and tenant screening background check reports don’t necessarily provide an accurate portrayal of a person’s past. Employment and tenant screening CRAs routinely mismatch people\, omit crucial information about a case\, provide misleading information\, and misclassify offenses when preparing consumer reports in the form of employment and tenant screening background checks. \nMeanwhile\, an increasing number of American consumers cannot afford to purchase a home and\, therefore\, must rent. Landlords are leveraging technology and data to make more informed decisions\, leading to more comprehensive tenant screening processes\, including comprehensive background checks. This includes checking credit history\, criminal and civil records\, and rental history. Trying to apply for and obtain affordable housing is tough enough\, the last thing prospective tenants need is inaccurate criminal or civil record information showing up in their tenant screening background check reports. \nIf you are investigating and/or litigating FCRA cases against some or all of the main players in the tenant screening world (such as\, TURSS\, RentGrow\, First Advantage\, AppFolio\, and On-Site/RealPage) you need to understand how to effectively issue spot and conduct discovery to increase your settlement leverage\, prevail on your claims at summary judgement\, and ultimately win at trial. \n\nWhat You Will Learn: \n• How to properly issue-spot when handling tenant screening leads and what facts must be present to have an FCRA claim worth pursuing\n• How to ensure that your client’s case/claims are ripe before filing/pursuing litigation\n• How to identify the critical documents you need in discovery to prove and win your case\n• How to gain leverage through discovery to increase the overall value of your case \n\nSpeaker \nHans Lodge is a zealous advocate and is dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers in and out of court. Mr. Lodge assists consumers who have been denied jobs or housing due to inaccurate criminal and civil record history reporting in their employment screening and tenant screening background check reports. Mr. Lodge also assists consumers who have been denied credit due to inaccurate information reporting in their credit reports and have suffered harm due to unlawful debt collection behavior. Mr. Lodge primarily focuses his practice on claims brought under the FCRA on behalf of consumers against CRAs\, which include Equifax\, Experian\, and Trans Union and various employment and tenant screening CRAs. Prior to joining Berger Montague PC\, Mr. Lodge combined his passions for fighting for the little guy and oral advocacy by representing consumers in individual and class action litigation where he held businesses\, banks\, background check companies\, credit bureaus\, and debt collectors accountable for illegal practices.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/how-to-issue-spot-and-litigate-fcra-cases-involving-inaccurate-tenant-screening-background-check-reports/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T150000
DTSTAMP:20250911T125813Z
CREATED:20250822T155405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T125813Z
UID:24308-1757512800-1757516400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Creative State Tools in Forced Arbitration Policymaking
DESCRIPTION:Forced arbitration clauses\, ubiquitous in consumer contracts\, can only be eliminated outright via federal law. Advocacy campaigns to restrict the practice are ongoing and have been successful so far in banning the practice for narrow legal claims and specific populations. While the Federal Arbitration Act looms\, state policies have been enacted to tackle injustices borne out of the restrictive contract terms. For example\, the chronic nonpayment of arbitration fees by corporate defendants has long delayed and denied justice for consumers seeking accountability. State law has sought to change that.\nThis webinar will cover recent efforts to chip away at forced arbitration\, and how to replicate these creative strategies at the state level to fight back against this often harsh and unjust process. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n• What California’s state law (and its high court’s preemption analysis) could mean for other states’ policymaking on arbitration.\n• How a lawsuit against AAA could spur a positive change in the forced arbitration system\, or encourage better practices.\n• What factors and tactics to consider when seeking arbitration-related policy changes in your state \n\nSpeakers\nDavid Chami is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner for Consumer Justice Law Firm with approximately 30 lawyers licensed to practice in 35 states. David’s firm primarily handles cases under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other adjacent consumer protection statutes. David has been involved in thousands of consumer protection lawsuits and nearly a thousand cases that have been filed in Arbitration over the past 10 years. David’s firm recently filed an anti-trust lawsuit against AAA arguing that its business model has created barriers to entry for competitors and has resulted in a forum which prevents the administration of justice rather than simply making it more efficient. \nHannah Kieschnick is a senior staff attorney on the Access to Justice Project at Public Justice\, a national public interest advocacy organization that specializes in precedent-setting\, socially significant civil litigation. Hannah litigates high-impact appeals across the country involving access to justice\, including forced arbitration. She also regularly speaks at national conferences on topics such as arbitration and class certification. Along with co-counsel\, Public Justice filed an amicus brief in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court\, a recent case in the California Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of a state law addressing company’s failures to pay arbitration fees. \nChristine Chen Zinner is the Federal Research and Advocacy Director at the Alliance for Justice\, working to build a rights-expansive federal judiciary that is both demographically and professionally diverse. She began her consumer advocacy journey as the 2006 Esther Peterson Fellow at Consumer Reports and since then\, has continued working on proposals to protect consumer rights\, increase corporate accountability and end forced arbitration. While at the American Association for Justice\, Christine was part of the team that helped pass the Speak Out Act\, a federal law that prohibits the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements stemming from instances of sexual assault and harassment. Christine has also led several consumer financial justice initiatives to help build an equitable financial system that serves everyday people and not just billionaires and the powerful few. She has appeared as a consumer policy expert on NPR’s Morning Edition\, and has been quoted in a number of media outlets\, including the NY Times\, USA Today\, the Washington Post\, the Los Angeles Times\, MSNBC\, Bloomberg\, the Guardian\, and the American Banker. \nChristine Hines is senior policy director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates. \n\nPlease note that this event is free to NACA members and non-members. All will have access to the recording after the webinar has aired.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/creative-state-tools-in-forced-arbitration-policymaking/
LOCATION:NACA’s Learning Platform
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250917T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250917T150000
DTSTAMP:20250918T121858Z
CREATED:20250822T150100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T121858Z
UID:24302-1758117600-1758121200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:How To Help Shape Your State’s Laws
DESCRIPTION:When it comes to making and defending strong consumer protections\, much of the attention has moved from the federal government to state legislatures. For busy attorneys who want to become substantially or partially active in their respective state’s lawmaking\, this presentation will provide an overview of how to get started\, who to engage with\, what to expect from the process\, who and what to watch out for\, and how to evaluate your progress. Hear from consumer attorneys and advocates who have conquered the legislative process in their red and blue (and in larger and smaller) states. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• What factors to consider before starting the quest to lobby your state legislature\n• What are states’ legislative processes like\n• What critical action items to do before and after a bill is introduced\, including identifying key players\n• What are critical steps to take to successfully oppose a harmful bill. \n\nSpeakers\nLynn Drysdale is Division Chief of the Consumer Advocacy & Litigation Unit at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid\, where she has worked since 1988. Over her career\, she has represented consumers in individual and class actions related to consumer protection\, including cases involving residential mortgage lending\, servicing\, and foreclosure. She regularly engages in legislative advocacy on these and other subjects\, testifying annually before the Florida legislature as well as twice before Congress. Ms. Drysdale is also a prodigious legal educator\, regularly serving as a trainer for organizations including the National Consumer Law Center and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. She also taught a course on consumer law at the University of Florida College of Law for over ten years. She was Chair of the Mortgage and Small Business Lending Markets subcommittee of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau until fired by President Trump in his first term. She received her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law. \nRosemary Shahan is the president and founder of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS). CARS is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading pro-consumer advocacy groups. CARS has spearheaded enactment of many landmark measures to improve protections for new and used car buyers and enhance auto safety\, in California and nationally. CARS is also on the forefront in working to preserve access to justice. Rosemary has been repeatedly invited to testify before Congress\, and is widely quoted by major news organizations. She has received numerous awards\, including from the Consumer Federation of America\, National Consumer Law Center\, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. Recent legislative victories: Leading successful efforts in multiple states to defeat car dealer “license to kill” legislation that would have allowed car dealers to get away with selling hazardous unrepaired recalled cars that maim or kill people. On the brink of passage: Leading efforts in California to support enactment of the nation’s most sweeping overhaul of car buying practices\, including a first-in-the-nation 3-day cooling off period for used car buyers. \nYoung Walgenkim is an attorney in Salem\, Oregon specializing in auto fraud\, and he is a member of NACA’s board. His passion for consumer rights began at a young age as he witnessed his immigrant parents fall victim to financial exploitation by unscrupulous businesses. Since opening his firm after law school\, Young has devoted his practice to righting wrongs perpetuated by car dealers on all fronts. In 2019\, Young’s advocacy steered a bill through the Oregon legislature that provides attorney fee awards for consumers in vehicle title violation claims. In 2021\, he navigated legislation that requires Oregon courts to reward attorneys who promote access to justice in fee hearings. This year\, Young was instrumental in passing an amendment to significantly improve Oregon’s Yo-Yo statute. \n\nPlease note that this event is free to NACA members and non-members. All will have access to the recording after the webinar has aired. Click here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/how-to-help-shape-your-states-laws/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T150000
DTSTAMP:20250919T125544Z
CREATED:20250908T142236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T125544Z
UID:24981-1758204000-1758207600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Truth\, Trust\, and Taboos: Ethical Consumer Advocacy for Immigrant Clients
DESCRIPTION:Immigrant consumer clients face unique vulnerabilities that can create complex ethical challenges for their attorneys. Cross-cultural and linguistic barriers\, combined with the shifting and uncertain landscape of U.S. immigration policy\, require consumer attorneys to approach representation with heightened care and awareness. This session will help attorneys strengthen their consumer law practice\, ensuring they can effectively protect and advocate for immigrant clients in today’s legal environment. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to recognize common ethical challenges that arise when representing immigrant consumer clients.\nHow to apply practical strategies to navigate cross-cultural and language barriers in client representation.\nHow to develop approaches to fulfilling ethical duties while advocating for immigrant clients within the current\, evolving immigration policy landscape.\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nMonica Eav Glicken is the CEO/Executive Director and General Counsel of Public Law Center in Santa Ana\, CA.  Monica served as the Directing Attorney of PLC’s Immigration Unit from 2018 to 2022\, where she worked with community-based and advocacy organizations serving Orange County’s immigrant and refugee communities. Prior to joining Public Law Center\, Monica served as a Counseling Attorney and Adjunct Lecturer in UC Irvine School of Law’s Immigration Rights Clinic. As the child of immigrants from Cambodia and the Philippines\, Monica is a long-time advocate for those who must fight to be heard\, working tirelessly to promote greater access to justice and community empowerment. \nSuzanne Iazzetta is the Directing Attorney of Public Law Center’s Consumer Law Unit\, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at UC Irvine School of Law\, teaching a course/clinic in Consumer Rights and Economic Justice.  Some of the areas of law that Suzanne has worked on in her career are all facets of consumer law\, bankruptcy (business and personal)\, housing/eviction matters\, foreclosure defense\, FDCPA\, FCRA\, TCPA\, and UDAAP claims\, and debt collection defense. Suzanne also spent time as a staff attorney for a chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in New Jersey and had her own solo practice for many years before joining Public Law Center. \n\nPlease note that this webinar is open to the whole consumer law community. Non-members will need to be verified to register for the webinar. The webinar and its recording will be free to all. \nThis webinar will be eligible for one ethics credits. NACA webinars are pre-approved for CLEs in California and Pennsylvania. Attendees from other states will need to apply to their state bar for approval. NACA will submit the attendee list from California and Pennsylvania to their respective bars as long as NACA has the attendee bar number noted in the attendee’s NACA profile. \nClick here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/truth-trust-and-taboos-ethical-consumer-advocacy-for-immigrant-clients/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T150000
DTSTAMP:20251001T135917Z
CREATED:20250904T173132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T135917Z
UID:24633-1759240800-1759244400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Marketing Made Simple: Putting NACA’s PSA Videos to Work for You
DESCRIPTION:For many attorneys\, marketing can feel like one more task on an already packed plate. But visibility matters—both for reaching the right clients and for strengthening the impact of consumer protection work overall. \nNACA has developed a series of consumer-friendly animated videos to help you educate\, protect\, and empower your clients and community from fraud – as well as establish you and your firm as experts in this practice area. \nIn this webinar\, you’ll learn simple and effective ways to integrate these videos into your practice. From adding them to your website or social media\, to including them in client communications or presentations\, you’ll leave with concrete steps you can implement immediately. \nBy putting these tools to work\, you not only strengthen your own visibility but also contribute to a broader movement of consumer protection attorneys informing and empowering the public. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\nHow to use NACA’s PSA-style videos to highlight your expertise and increase client engagement.\nHow to implement practical\, time-efficient marketing steps that fit into your existing workflow.\n\n\nHow to leverage these tools to build stronger referral networks and elevate the impact of consumer protection advocacy.\n\n\nSpeakers \n“Madison “Maddi” Borison practices consumer protection law as an attorney with the Borison Firm\, LLC. She represents individuals facing abusive debt collection\, credit reporting errors\, predatory lending\, and wrongful repossessions. Maddi’s path into consumer law was shaped by time in both private practice and the courts\, including a judicial clerkship for a Maryland Circuit Court judge. Those experiences gave her a practical understanding of how cases move from initial filing to trial\, and how ordinary people can be overwhelmed by a system built for institutional players. At the Borison Firm\, she works within a team known for holding banks\, lenders\, and collectors accountable. Her role focuses on standing with clients in moments of real vulnerability—when the stakes are not abstract but measured in housing\, wages\, and dignity. \nMichael F. “Mike” Cardoza is a California Consumer Financial Protection Attorney who helps Identity Theft victims regain control of their financial lives by getting the upper hand on banks and credit reporting agencies. Trained as a trial attorney in the U.S. Marine Corps\, Mike has tried cases in federal and state courtrooms. \n\nPlease note that this webinar is free to all. Non-members will need to be verified before registering. Click here to join the webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/marketing-made-simple-putting-nacas-psa-videos-to-work-for-you/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T150000
DTSTAMP:20251010T131904Z
CREATED:20250903T172627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251010T131904Z
UID:24560-1760018400-1760022000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:How to Successfully Moderate a Conference Session
DESCRIPTION:Attention all CRLC speakers and session organizers! \nHave you ever sat through a presentation that just felt a little…flat? Or have you been part of a session that flew by because it was so interesting and engaging? The difference often comes down to one thing: the moderator. \nA great moderator does more than just introduce people\, they set the tone\, keep the conversation on track\, balance speaker contributions\, and manage audience engagement with ease. \nWhether you’re organizing a session\, leading a panel\, presenting solo\, or stepping into a session without a designated moderator\, these skills are essential for creating a professional\, polished\, engaging experience. \nThis webinar is for those organizing or participating in a conference session to learn practical techniques for moderating with confidence—so you can keep sessions focused\, engaging\, and impactful. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to prepare for the session ahead of time\nHow to successfully facilitate the session on the day of the conference\nHow to balance audience interactions and presenter remarks\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nRebecca Smolar is the Director of Education at NACA. She is responsible for partnering with NACA members to develop and strengthen NACA’s education and training offerings and to ensure that members are kept abreast of trends in the field. She also collaborates with the National Consumer Law Center to improve the quality of joint NCLC-NACA education programs.  Before joining NACA\, she created continuing education programs for high school teachers and college professors through the State University of New York and Washington-DC area think tanks. She started her career as an Officer of Public Affairs at the Embassy of Israel where she gave hundreds of speeches about Israel and U.S.-Israel relations. Ms. Smolar received a M.A. in International Communications from American University and her B.S. in Psychobiology from SUNY Binghamton. \nAndrea Bopp Stark is a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center Boston office focusing on writing and teaching about fair debt collection practices and mortgage servicing issues. Andrea is also involved in advocating for foreclosure prevention and fair debt collection policies on the state and federal level. Andrea is a contributing author to NCLC’s Fair Debt Collection\, Home Foreclosures\, and Mortgage Servicing and Loan Modifications legal manuals. Previously\, Andrea was a partner at Molleur Law Office in Biddeford\, ME\, and worked as an attorney for Northeast Legal Aid in Lawrence\, Massachusetts where she was one of NCLC’s first recipients of the John G. Brooks fellowship. Andrea holds a B.A. from the University of Vermont and obtained her JD and Masters of Social Work from Boston College. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts & Maine. \n\nPlease note that this event is open to the whole community\, non-members will need to be verified before they will be able to register for the webinar. Email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account. This event will be recorded and available at no charge to all webinar registrants.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/how-to-successfully-moderate-a-conference-session/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251015T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251015T150000
DTSTAMP:20251016T132827Z
CREATED:20251001T144350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251016T132827Z
UID:27133-1760536800-1760540400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:The Business of Debt Defense
DESCRIPTION:Debt collection lawsuits make up the vast majority of filings in most state courts throughout the country. And far too many consumers are overwhelmed by this process\, resulting in overpriced settlements\, inadvertent admissions\, or default judgments against the consumer. Defending a consumer collection case isn’t hard\, but establishing a business focusing on these cases can be. In this webinar\, you’ll hear from two experienced practitioners who use debt defense cases as the springboard for the rest of their practice\, and you’ll learn the tips and tricks that they have found to be the most impactful. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• How to obtain the clients you need to make this practice area thrive\n• What are best practices for obtaining the best results possible for your clients\n• How to make your cases and your practice more efficient \n\nSpeakers \nDan DeLiberty is a consumer rights attorney and founder of The DeLiberty Law Firm and Credit Lawyers.com. Known throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond as “The Credit Lawyer®” his firm has helped thousands of consumers throughout Pennsylvania clear millions of dollars of debt\, without bankruptcy. The firm has defended thousands of collections lawsuits over the past two decades\, involving credit cards\, private student loans\, and repo deficiencies. In addition to debt defense\, Attorney DeLiberty advocates for victims of debt settlement and credit repair scams. Dan has built a reputation as a relentless advocate who levels the playing field for everyday people against billion-dollar financial institutions. \nBrett Freeman is a solo attorney in Lake Ariel\, PA. He received his B.A. from the Pennsylvania State University\, and his J.D. from the Indiana University Mauer School of Law. He concentrates his practice on representing consumers in debt defense cases\, as well as cases brought under the FDCPA\, the FCRA\, and the Pennsylvania UDAP statute. \n\nPlease note live webinars are free to NACA members.  Members will need to pay to watch the recording. Higher Level members and firm members have access to the recordings at no additional costs. Non-members who purchased the webinar will also have access to the recording at no additional cost. \nClick here to watch the live webinar. 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/the-business-of-debt-defense/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
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END:VCALENDAR