La Vista – Members of the Nebraska State Bar Association explored issues related to race, class, religion and gender through audience participation in a dramatic production and a post-show facilitated discussion last Thursday.

The bar association hosted a performance of “The Defamation Experience” following an awards ceremony, wrapping up a day of professional learning sessions at the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting at the La Vista Conference Center. 

Set in a Chicago courtroom in 2012, the play explores a defamation lawsuit where the audience – in this case, a room full of practicing attorneys – were asked to serve and deliberate as jurors.

“Whether we like it or not, we still have major divides in this country,” playwright Todd Logan said in promotional materials. “I wanted to write a play that encourages open, honest conversation that leads to greater understanding and empathy to combat today’s prevailing trends.”

Theatrical influence could also be found in an ethics session last Wednesday afternoon that examined stress, pressure and ethical decisions using vignettes from an engaging original short film.

The session highlighted how most serious legal malpractice claims and disciplinary actions follow clear breaches of ethical obligations, not violations of arcane provisions of professional rules of conduct. ReelTime CLE looked at the intersection of ethical decision-making and sources of stress encountered by lawyers in the day-to-day practice of law. 

For more on ReelTime, visit lexdirectcle.com/channel/reeltime-cle. For more information on “The Defamation Experience,” visit defamationtheplay.com. For more on the Nebraska State Bar Association, visit nebar.com.