Engelman Berger attorneys Scott B. Cohen and Michael P. Rolland will present a virtual continuing legal education program entitled “Better Judgment, Better Outcomes: Eliminating Cognitive Bias in Legal Decision-Making” to the Beverly Hills Bar Association on Oct. 8, 2026, at 4PM Pacific Time. This presentation builds off their article in Arizona Attorney magazine examining how cognitive bias can influence, often without conscious awareness, the practice of law.
The article, “The Fog of Lawyering: Cognitive Bias in the Practice of Law,” was co-authored by Cohen and Rolland and published earlier this year. It explored the ways unconscious patterns of thinking can affect how attorneys assess facts, develop case strategies, counsel clients and make critical decisions. The article generated significant interest within the legal community, leading to the invitation to Cohen and Rolland to bring the discussion to members and guests of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. The program qualifies for one hour of CLE credit in California and is eligible for reciprocity credit in multiple other states.
During the one-hour program, Cohen and Rolland will examine six forms of cognitive bias with direct implications for legal practice: confirmation bias, narrative fallacy, binary thinking, attribution bias, loss aversion and experience bias. Drawing on documented cases, including the Exonerated Five, they will explore how these biases can influence everything from evidence evaluation and case theory development to mediation and attorney-client advising. In addition, Cohen and Rolland will share practical strategies designed to reduce bias-driven errors, including structured deliberation, premortems and falsification frameworks.
Since 1994, Cohen has been a member of the State Bar of California. He is a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona, the Maricopa County Bar Association, and the State Bar of New Mexico. Cohen is a Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy Law. His practice covers the lifecycle of commercial relationships and disputes, including bankruptcy and commercial litigation, creditors’ rights and workouts, and transactional matters. Rolland is a commercial litigator who focuses on real estate disputes, breach of contract, ownership disputes, loan workouts, Chapter 11 bankruptcies, receiverships, water rights litigation and appeals.
The Beverly Hills Bar Association provides continuing legal education and professional development opportunities to attorneys throughout Southern California and beyond.
Engelman Berger is a Phoenix-based law firm representing businesses, lenders, borrowers, landlords, tenants, developers, investors and other clients in commercial disputes, bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, workouts, real estate, lending, and related transactional matters. The firm provides focused, practical representation in state and federal courts, bankruptcy proceedings, arbitrations, mediations, and settlement negotiations.