Live webinar with chat
includes 60 day replay
9:00 am – 10:30 am (Pacific)
10:00 am – 11:30 am (Mountain)
11:00 am – 12:30 pm (Central)
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Eastern)
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (Atlantic)
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm (Newfoundland)
*This program features real-time video of the presenter with synchronized presentation slides, and a chat feature that allows for live Q & A. SK attendees please verify whether you align with Central (MB) or Mountain (AB) time based on season and location.
Live webinars allow you to view faculty, see their presentation slides, and ask questions by chat. You will need a current web browser (Chrome (Chrome works best), Safari, Firefox), a wired (better than wireless) connection to the Internet of at least 2 Mbps. You can test your internet speed/bandwidth here. If you miss the live program, you can access the archive, at your convenience, for 60 days.
Why do so many lawyers become successful novelists?
Lawyers work with story every day: shaping narrative, analyzing motive and conflict, uncovering revealing details, and persuading through language. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that many lawyers are drawn to storytelling in another form.
In this exclusive engagement, lawyer and New York Times bestselling novelist William Bernhardt explores the unique relationship between legal thinking and the writer’s craft. Through discussion, examples, and reflections from his own career, Bernhardt offers a behind-the-scenes look at storytelling itself—from character and dialogue to suspense, structure, pacing, and the realities of writing and publishing fiction today.
Part conversation and part storytelling masterclass, this rare presentation offers a refreshing departure from traditional continuing legal education programming.
Whether you have considered writing yourself, are curious about the publishing world, or simply want to explore the connection between law, creativity, and imagination, this one-of-a-kind presentation promises an engaging, thoughtful, and entertaining break in your day.
Step away from precedents and practice pressures—and into the world of storytelling.
Enrolment is limited. Early registration is encouraged.
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Welcome and Introduction
The Lawyer’s Instinct for Narrative
Inside the Novelist’s Creative Process
What Makes Readers Keep Turning Pages
Publishing, Craft & Finding Your Voice
Closing Reflections and Audience Questions
William Bernhardt spent ten years as a litigator and partner at one of Oklahoma’s most prominent law firms. While practicing law, he received awards from Legal Services of Eastern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Bar Association. Barrister Magazine named him one of the top twenty young lawyers in America. After his Ben Kincaid courtroom drama books consistently hit the New York Times bestseller list, he left the practice of law to write and teach writing full-time. He is the author of over sixty books, including the Daniel Pike legal thriller series (#1 best-selling novel The Last Chance Lawyer), the historical novels Challengers of the Dust and The Florentine Poet, three books of poetry, and the Red Sneaker books on fiction writing. His most recent book is The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice and an American Icon (non-fiction). He has sold more than ten million books worldwide. He is also the president of Bernhardt Books, which publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. His accolades include the Southern Writers Guild Gold Medal Award, the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award, and multiple Oklahoma Book Awards. His career has profoundly shaped literature and inspired writers nationwide.