Mixing Work With Play: Baseball And CLE

Derek Sanderson Jeter‘s number 2 was retired on Mothers’ Day (aka Derek Jeter Day) at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx—between the Sunday double-header that was triggered by a nasty storm that cancelled the Saturday baseball game.

Jeter’s grand goodbye was delivered with class, humor, lots of gifts—and chilly air.  (The Yankees know how to do a send-off.)  Jeter, as always, responded with humility, grace and modesty.

If you don’t follow baseball, here are some of his stats: Jeter played shortstop for 20 seasons with the Yankees, and only the Yankees. He was named captain in 2003, he played in five World Champion wins, and he retired in 2014. Notes Wikipedia: “He is the Yankees’ all-time career leader in hits (3,465), doubles (544), games played (2,747), stolen bases (358), times on base (4,716), plate appearances (12,602) and at bats (11,195).”

In honor of Jeter (and all other people who inspire us to think broad and bold), here’s a way to weave work with inspiration: Take a colleague to a ball game!

There’s a good chance your guest will like it much more than a routine restaurant (but don’t be surprised if your stadium has terrific lunch or dinner restaurants).

And if you are traveling, you just might be able to time your trip so that you can take colleagues to a game, and still have time to rack up some CLE on the road.

Here are two examples of how it can work.  Yes, it’s New York-centric, but who doesn’t want to travel to New York?  : )

YANKEES & RED SOX

If you like rivalries, nothing is better (usually) than a Yankees-Red Sox encounter. In June and July, you have several options: The Red Sox will be playing at Yankee Stadium on June 6, 7 and 8, all at 7:05 p.m. If you want or need to go to Boston, you can see the two teams at the charming (if hard to see in the cheap seats) Fenway Park. Friday night, July 14, 7:10 p.m.; July 15th, 4:05 p.m.; or a double header Sunday, July 16th, 1:05 p.m. and 8:05 p.m.

CLE:
New York: New York City Bar
• June 5: Live program and webcast, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. “Current Developments in Commercial Division Practice.”
• June 6: “Current Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel,” 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
• June 7, 8, 9: “Advanced Commercial Mediation Training,”  (3 day training).

New York: American Bar Association Annual Meeting
If you plan to be at the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in New York City, (August 8-15) you are in luck. The Red Sox are at Yankee Stadium that Friday, Aug. 11: 7:05 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 12 at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 13: 1:05 (subject to change to night game).

There are several ABA offerings at the Annual Meeting’s  CLE Showcases, including, on August 11th, “Deportion, Due Process, and the New Frontier of U.S. Immigration Policy.” On August 12th: “Trump v. the Press and the First Amendment: Fake News, Government Leak Investigations, Alleged Biased Media Coverage, Trump’s SLAPP libel suits and his Pledge to “Open Up the Libel Laws”—Will the First Amendment Survive.” Also on the August 12th:  “Sexual Violence on College Campuses and Beyond: Balancing Privacy, Constitutional and Civil Rights.”

Boston Bar Association
• July 13: “Hate Crimes: Laws, Features & Trends.” 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• July 13: “9th Symposium on Non-Compete Agreements and Trade Secrets: 190th General Court Bills, Federal Defend Trade Secrets Sact, ‘Preemption’? 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
• July 14: “BBA Venture Capital and Private Equity Conference,” 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

GIANTS & METS

The East Coast can get very hot and humid early into the summer. If you want to almost guarantee cool weather, check out the New York Mets at the San Francisco Giants, at AT&T Park, June 23, 24 and 25 (in order, 7:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., and 1:05 p.m.). The Giants have the most beautiful stadium in all of MLB, with unbelievable views, even when the fog kicks in. The best views are in the cheapest seats!  But be sure to bring your parka or a very warm sweater. Trust me. I grew up in San Francisco.

Bar Association of San Francisco: On June 22, you can sign up for “Best Practices in Settling Employment Claims.” 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., Live. Labor & Employment Law Section.

If you come on the 21st, there four choices: “Elimination of LGBT Bias in the Legal Profession (12 p.m.-1:30); Summer of IP: Summer Associates Present on IP Law (12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.; Introduction to Family Law Training (4-5 p.m.); or “The Rising Tide of Pay Equity Enforcement,” (6 p.m.-7:p.m.)

New York: If you are attending the ABA Annual Meeting, consider going a couple days early if you want to see the Dodgers v. Mets at Citi Field: (Friday 4th: 7:10 p.m.; Saturday 5th: 4:05 p.m.; Sunday, 1:10 p.m.) Or you could catch the Texas Rangers on the 8th (7:10 p.m.) or 9th (12:10 p.m.) (See above for CLE options.)

My best wishes to Derek Jeter. You brought bright lights, kindness, perseverance, determination, humor, inspiration and perhaps most importantly, hope to many, many people. Thank you.

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Monica Bay is a Fellow at CodeX: The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics and a freelance writer for Above The Law and other media. She co-hosts Law Technology Now (Legal Talk Network) and is a member of the California Bar. Monica can frequently be found at Yankee Stadium. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @MonicaBay.