2026

Essential Employment Law: A Practical Course in the Basics

Live Webcast Aug 21, 2026 $345 Individual | $395 after Aug 7 $310 Group rate per person (5 registrants minimum) | $355 after Aug 7 $275 Group rate per person (10 registrants minimum) | $315 after Aug 7

Overview

Essential Employment Law is a one-day live webinar HR program led by employment law experts and is designed to provide overviews and updates on issues related to Texas employment law. Content is extensive and exhaustive with topics ranging from employment-at-will to disparate treatment issues, wage and hour violations, retaliation, FMLA, changes in employment law impacting compliance efforts, and more.

This practical course provides detailed written materials and is ideal for HR professionals and beginning employment lawyers.

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning, Aug. 21, 2026
8:20 am

Welcoming Remarks
8:25 am

0.75 hr

Texas is an "At Will" State... So Why Worry?

Understand the parameters of the Texas At-Will Employment doctrine, and gain practical tips on how to navigate its many exceptions.

Jamila Marie Brinson, Jackson Walker LLP - Houston, TX

Jamila Marie Brinson, Jackson Walker LLP - Houston, TX
9:10 am

5-Minute Break
9:15 am

1.00 hr

Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact

Understand the difference between disparate treatment and disparate impact, and why it matters. Why do you need to know about the "shifting burden of proof?" How can you prevent liability for harassment even after it occurs?

Amaris Isabel Diaz, Holt Major Lackey, PLLC - Austin, TX
Sarah Glaser, Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. - Austin, TX

Amaris Isabel Diaz, Holt Major Lackey, PLLC - Austin, TX
Sarah Glaser, Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. - Austin, TX
10:15 am

5-Minute Break
10:20 am

0.50 hr

Retaliation: Winning the Battle, Losing the War

Why is retaliation the most dangerous cause of action, and what can you do about it?

Kindall C. James, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP - Houston, TX

Kindall C. James, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP - Houston, TX
10:50 am

5-Minute Break
10:55 am

1.00 hr

Wage and Hour: An Old Law in a Modern World

Learn the basics of wage and hour law and why violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act have exploded. Topics include: Who is exempt and who is not, and what difference does it make? What is working time? How is overtime calculated? What are the most common mistakes, and how do you avoid them?

Allison C. Williams, Littler Mendelson P.C. - Houston, TX

Allison C. Williams, Littler Mendelson P.C. - Houston, TX
11:55 am

Break for Lunch—Presentations Resume at 1:00 p.m.
Friday Afternoon, Aug. 21, 2026
1:00 pm

0.50 hr

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): The Other Major Entitlement Act

The FMLA was the first federal act that required an employer to provide time off for employees. Learn the basics of the law, which has been amended to cover additional types of leave. When do you send the various notices and certifications? Avoid common mistakes in completing the paperwork and understand how FMLA can overlap with ADA issues.

Vanessa A. Gonzalez, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX

Vanessa A. Gonzalez, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX
1:30 pm

5-Minute Break
1:35 pm

1.00 hr

Handbooks/Employment Policies

Using an annotated sample employee handbook as a framework, this presentation examines best practices for drafting compliant policies, preserving and maximizing available employer defenses, and mitigating litigation risk under federal and Texas employment law. Gain practical insights into policies with make-or-break implications for employer defenses and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Ann Abrams Price, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX

Ann Abrams Price, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX
2:35 pm

5-Minute Break
2:40 pm

0.75 hr

Effective and Defensive Documentation from Hiring to Firing

Learn the best practices in documentation to effectively performance coach problem employees, while minimizing risks and maximize the chances of successfully defending the employer’s actions when challenged. Understand the value and risks posed by offer letters, disciplinary documentation, performance evaluations, and termination paperwork. Recognize the value and critical role of proper documentation in employment disputes.

Steven L. Mierl, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX

Steven L. Mierl, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
3:25 pm

5-Minute Break
3:30 pm

1.00 hr

Navigating Sensitive Employment Complaints

The investigation of an employee's complaint may be an employer's only path to avoiding liability. The investigator will likely be a witness, and the notes may be evidence. Learn when to outsource and when/how to investigate and document the process.

DeDe Church, DeDe Church & Associates, LLC - Austin, TX

DeDe Church, DeDe Church & Associates, LLC - Austin, TX
4:30 pm

5-Minute Break
4:35 pm

0.50 hr

Changes in Employment Law Impacting Compliance Efforts

HR professionals and legal counsel can better advise employers on compliance efforts if up to speed on the latest changes and trends in employment law. Hear a brief update of the most critical court cases, legislation, and federal agency activity at EEOC, DOL, and NLRB.

Brian A. Aslin, Jackson Lewis - Austin, TX

Brian A. Aslin, Jackson Lewis - Austin, TX
5:05 pm

Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Brian A. Aslin

Jackson Lewis
Austin, TX

Jamila Marie Brinson

Jackson Walker LLP
Houston, TX

DeDe Church

DeDe Church & Associates, LLC
Austin, TX

Amaris Isabel Diaz

Holt Major Lackey, PLLC
Austin, TX

Sarah Glaser

Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Austin, TX

Vanessa A. Gonzalez

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Kindall C. James

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Houston, TX

Steven L. Mierl

Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP
Austin, TX

Ann Abrams Price

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Allison C. Williams

Littler Mendelson P.C.
Houston, TX

Planning Committee

Malinda A. Gaul

Gaul and Dumont
San Antonio, TX

Shafeeqa W. Giarratani

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Austin, TX

John V. Jansonius

Jackson Walker LLP
Dallas, TX

Nicole S. LeFave

Littler Mendelson, P.C.
Austin, TX

Audrey E. Mross

Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP
Dallas, TX

Jennifer M. Trulock

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Dallas, TX

Credit Info

Live Webcast

MCLE Credit

Texas – 7.00 hrs
Legal Specialization(s): Labor and Employment Law

You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.

California – 7.00 hrs

To claim California MCLE credit, California credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Oklahoma – 8.50 hrs

To claim Oklahoma MCLE credit, Oklahoma credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #169) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Oklahoma Bar Association for MCLE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the webcast.

Pennsylvania – 7.00 hrs

To claim Pennsylvania MCLE credit, Pennsylvania credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks after credit is claimed and submitted. Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other States – Expected – 7.00 hrs

Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State

If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

To claim Other States MCLE credit, Other States credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records and to provide to other licensing authorities as needed.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other Credit

Human Resources PHR/SPHR/GPHR – 7.00 hrs

This program has been pre-approved for credit toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).

Please claim and certify your credit in "Your Briefcase" at the end of the program and after doing so you will be able to download your certificate of attendance with the HRCI activity ID number. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org

Human Resources SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP – 7.00 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SSHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. Please claim and certify your credit in "Your Briefcase" at the end of the program and after doing so you will be able to download your certificate of attendance with the course ID number. Please contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

TX Accounting CPE – 8.40 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. In compliance with the rules, UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

To claim Texas Accounting CPE credit, the Texas Accounting CPE credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. Self-report your CPE credit directly to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Live Webcast – Aug 21, 2026

Live Webcast

Individual
Last day for $345.00 Regular pricing: Aug 7, 2026
$395.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $310.00 Regular pricing: Aug 7, 2026
$355.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $275.00 Regular pricing: Aug 7, 2026
$315.00 for registrations received after this time

Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Aug 14, 2026
$50 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Aug 17, 2026