eCourses

2025 Federal Employment Law and Policy Updates

Session 01: Federal Employment Law Update - Analyze recent U.S. Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit decisions, federal legislative developments, and administrative actions. Session 02: Wage and Hour Update - An overview of annual developments in the field of wage-and-hour law, including case law updates, regulatory changes, and more. Session 03: NLRB Update - A detailed review of the numerous changes that affect unionized and non-unionized workers and employers that have occurred in the last 12 months under the National Labor Relations Act. Session 04: Developments in Disability Discrimination Law - A comprehensive review of significant regulatory and court developments under the Americans with Disabilities Act and insights into emerging disability issues.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

2025 State Employment Law Update

Examine employment-related developments under Texas state law, including a discussion of significant new Texas cases. Also, explore important trends developing in other states, and what they might mean for Texas.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Employment Law Doctrine

Take a closer look at some common employment case issues, including when a reason is not legitimate and using other instances of discrimination.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Employment Law Public Sector Update 2025

Hear the latest on matters affecting government employees, including developments in the First Amendment, due process, privacy, political patronage, and state law protections in the public workplace.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Retaliation Red Flags and Tips to Reduce Risk

Why should I win, and how am I going to prove that?

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

The First Amendment in the Workplace: Not Just for Public Employees Anymore

A discussion of emerging uses of the First Amendment and statutes to assert free speech and other First Amendment rights for both employees and employers in the private sector.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Workforce Challenges and Solutions (2025): Executive Compensation, TRAPs, Employee Handbooks, and more

Session 01: A Lawyers Guide to Executive Compensation - What you need to know to get the best possible deal for your client, or at least how to prevent unwelcome surprises. Session 02: What Not to Say - You can’t be too careful in today’s world of emails, texts, social media posts, recording devices, and shifting alliances. Recent cases provide cautionary tales, food for thought, and a bit of schadenfreude. Session 03: TRAPs and Other Lesser-Known Siblings of the Noncompete - Insights into the world of non-compete alternatives (NDAs, TRAPs, Garden Leave, employee-retention plans, and more!). Session 04: Employee Handbook Tips and Trends for 2025 and Beyond - Employment law continuously evolves, so employers and counsel must routinely review and revise their handbooks to account for changes in the legal, political, and societal landscape. Address developments that should be considered when drafting or revising employee handbooks for the modern workplace.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Workplace Accommodations: In-Depth Review and Recent Developments

A deep dive on state and federal caselaw requiring workplace accommodations for disability, religion, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. The speakers address hot-button issues related to requests to work from home and recent developments expanding employees' rights to reasonable accommodations.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

At the Intersection of the First Amendment and Land Use Law

How to regulate solicitation in the form of an unattended donation bin. Zoning classifications versus distance buffers, and traps for the unwary regulator.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

First Friday Ethics: July 2024

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Let’s Chat About ChatGPT: Ethical Considerations in the Use of Generative AI (Replay) Since the introduction of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, lawyers around the country have been getting into ethical hot water over their misuse of generative AI. Courts have responded with mandatory AI disclosures and certifications by attorneys. What are your ethical obligations in using AI, and how can you stay within the lines? Come find out in this informative and entertaining presentation! Hon. John G. Browning, Of Counsel, The Cole Law Firm, McKinney, Texas and Distinguished Jurist in Residence, Faulkner University School of Law - Plano, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Attorney Wellness: Speaking Up, Reaching Out (Replay) Mental health issues are taboo discussions at the workplace, yet when attorneys consider suicide, it's often a result of work-related stress. Explore real-world tips and information on how to spot a mental health crisis in someone you work with, and what to do once you are aware of a problem. Stephanie Townsend Allala, Townsend Allala, Coulter & Kludt PLLC - El Paso, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) How to Avoid Malpractice in a Post-Pandemic Legal World (Replay) Law practice has been forever changed by the Covid-19 pandemic with the widespread adoption of remote work. While “work from home” has been eagerly embraced by many lawyers, it has caused an increase in age-old ethical problems for lawyers. This course is designed to help practitioners avoid conflicts and unintended clients, safeguard client confidentiality, maintain competence, and form better communication habits with their clients, other attorneys and staff. Robert L. Tobey, Johnston Tobey Baruch, P.C. - Dallas, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

First Friday Ethics: May 2024

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Techniques for Negotiating With Difficult Counterparties (Replay) Hear advice on how to negotiate contracts with difficult counterparties, and explore the importance of our own mindset and how to manage our emotions in these situations. Walk through five types of outrageous negotiation positions and effective responses to defuse and reset the tone of the discussions. Laura Frederick, How to Contract - Austin, TX (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) The Grievance Process and Most Common Violations (Replay) The presentation is intended to provide general information regarding the amendments made to the grievance process in 2018, the proper way to respond to a grievance identifying attorney misconduct, and common problems to avoid in practice. Nicole E. Jackson, Rosenblatt Law Firm - San Antonio, TX (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Practical Uses of AI in M&A: Large Language Models to Create New Realities (Replay) What if you could review thousands of contracts, determine the potential risk of anti-assignment clauses, and have a first draft of a memo in under 15 minutes? Over the past year, the legal profession has seen incredible advances in the use of artificial intelligence that are making these possibilities a reality. Large Language Models, such as those fueling ChatGPT, have introduced incredible transformational potential for M&A work. Learn more about what is possible, including ethical considerations, in this new reality. Kenton S. Brice, University of Oklahoma College of Law - Norman, OK (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Work Product and Attorney-Client Privilege after In Re Grand Jury: Where Do We Go From Here? (Replay) The law regarding when privileges and protections apply to tax advice was anything but clear leading up to the Supreme Court oral argument in In re: Grand Jury; the Court’s decision to dismiss the case as “improvidently granted” dashed the hopes of tax professionals hoping for a nationwide standard! Hear a review of the current state of the law post-In re: Grand Jury with an emphasis on the Fifth Circuit and how the law there differs from others around the country. Melissa L. Wiley, Lowenstein Sandler LLP - Washington, DC

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

First Friday Ethics: March 2024

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day!   This month includes: (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) How to Avoid Malpractice in a Post-Pandemic Legal World Law practice has been forever changed by the Covid-19 pandemic with the widespread adoption of remote work. While “work from home” has been eagerly embraced by many lawyers, it has caused an increase in age-old ethical problems for lawyers. This course is designed to help practitioners avoid conflicts and unintended clients, safeguard client confidentiality, maintain competence, and form better communication habits with their clients, other attorneys and staff. Robert L. Tobey, Johnston Tobey Baruch, P.C., Dallas, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Client Selection, Contracts and Handling Complaints (Replay) During a long career, almost no lawyer can completely avoid conflicts and complaints from Clients. The nature of our adversary system provides many opportunities for stress, misunderstandings and disagreements about how the legal system works – or the client’s expectations.  Many times, these matters can be avoided in the intake process. But when a complaint arises, lawyers need to know how to respond and handle those attorney client disagreements in ethical and empathetic ways. This course takes you through the interview process, the execution of clear attorney fee agreements, maintaining clear communications, and ultimately handling an attorney client dispute. Dozens of great tips, sound advice, and reminders of our fiduciary duty under the Disciplinary Rules. Claude E. Ducloux, Attorney at Law, Austin, TX (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) What Texas Lawyers Need to Know About Human Rights Considerations in Connection to Mega Sports Events (Replay) In 2026 the U.S. jointly with Canada and Mexico are hosting the FIFA World Cup. Houston and Dallas are the two Texan cities that will be hosting games. According to FIFA regulations as part of the bidding process, host countries and Host Cities were required to commit, amongst other things, to their obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to develop respective strategies. Now, each city has to engage in the phase of human rights due diligence for the tournament, focusing on enhanced stakeholder engagement and the development of a achievement framework for the Host Cities. This presentation explains the human rights due diligence, the human rights framework applicable and the potential areas for legal work. Ariel E. Dulitzky, The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX

Includes: Video Paper Slides

Reflections on the U.S. Supreme Court

This presentation situates current debates over the Supreme Court—and potential reforms thereto—within a broader historical context.

Includes: Video Slides

Affordable Housing: Land Use Regulations and Partnerships with Public Facility Corporations

Session 01: Affordable Housing: Land Use Regulation to Increase and Preserve Affordable Housing  - Recently a small group of cities and several entire states have done the unthinkable: they've bucked a century of US planning practice and have begun to allow smaller, cheaper housing units to be built on single-family lots. Texas cities are contemplating doing something similar, will housing affordability for residents of such neighborhoods be helped or harmed?  Session 02: Partnerships with Public Facility Corporations: A Good Tool for Affordable Housing? - Private partnerships with public facility corporations—and the generous tax breaks they provide—can be a tool for generating affordable housing in Texas. But these partnerships also present numerous pitfalls. This panel explores these pitfalls and how they can be addressed, what local jurisdictions should look out for, and the latest developments at the state capitol to reform this tool.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

When Does an Emergency Police Power Constitute and Unconstitutional Taking of Property?

Over 40 years ago, the Texas Supreme Court articulated the “Doctrine of Necessity” as a defense to takings claims that arise from the government’s response to emergency situations like natural disasters, and for police tactics that destroy or damage property to apprehend suspected criminals. What are the parameters of this defense? When the state acts pursuant to its police power, rather than the power of eminent domain, can those actions constitute a taking? When does a tort rise to a level to be considered a taking? This presentation explores these concepts.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Religious Accommodation: A Conflict of Rights

A Conflict of Rights: this topic explores the meaning of religion under Title VII, the intersection of accommodation claims on the one hand and harassment claims on the other, and the shifting understanding of undue burden with respect to religious beliefs and practices. The session also includes a practical discussion of the competing interests that arise when religion and work meet.

Includes: Video Slides

A Lawyer's Duty in a Democracy Under Attack

Includes: Video Slides

Land Development and How It Impacts Gentrification and Displacement

How land development regulations can contribute to the displacement of households and what policies, programs and investments can be developed to achieve more equitable outcomes for vulnerable communities. 

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Managing School Board Meetings in Today’s Political Climate

Communities with divided political views are experiencing unusually high interest in board meeting public comments and other feedback from citizens near and far. School boards now need strategies to give each person a fair opportunity to speak while also dealing with unruly participants. Meanwhile, many school officials have been targeted by threats or verbal attacks—and when things get personal, we attorneys have to keep calm and remember our ethical obligations, too.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Quality of Care and Choices for People with Disabilities

Session 1: Quality of Care and Choices for People with Disabilities - Persons with disabilities often have social, physical and mental health care needs that affect their quality of life. In this session, a Care Manager and a special needs planning attorney will address where and how to find resources to meet those needs, how to pay for those resources, and ethical and family dynamics concerns involved in obtaining quality care. Session 2: Nothing About Us Without Us - Gain insight into the independent living movement and how the SNT practitioner can integrate the concepts of independent living into planning and administration of SNTs. Learn how the SNT practitioner can and should do more than just maintain eligibility for public benefits, but instead use the trust funds to help the beneficiary build financial stability and independence in their own lives. Focus on inclusion of the beneficiary in how the trust is managed to focus on their objectives – not necessarily what the trustee thinks is best for the beneficiary. Session 3: Financial Projections for Quality of Life Possible When Factoring in Public and Private Resources - Focus on the importance of financial projections within the expected public and private resources available in maintaining the quality of life for a person with a disability. In many cases resources are limited and hard choices must be made especially when it becomes apparent that a special needs trust will not last for the rest of the beneficiary’s life unless the rate of expenditures are limited. How should the funds be invested? Which expenditures should be encouraged, and which discouraged? How does the trustee deal with the beneficiary, family and providers? What tools such as online calculators are available and how to do you use them?

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides