Includes continental breakfast.

Examine significant administrative law cases issued during the last year.

Laurie Ratliff, Laurie Ratliff LLC - Austin, TX

A focus on the bills enacted by the 86th Texas Legislature that impact administrative law practitioners.

Sara J. Ferris, Office of Public Utility Counsel - Austin, TX

Survey recent decisions addressing ultra vires claims.

Scott K. Field, Butler Snow LLP - Austin, TX
Mark L. Walters, U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division - Washington, DC

Examine the procedure and standards for determining pleas to the jurisdiction from multiple perspectives, and explore related procedural issues.

Shelby L. O'Brien, Enoch Kever PLLC - Austin, TX
Esteban San Miguel Soto, Office of the Attorney General - Austin, TX
Hon. Stephen Yelenosky, Senior District Judge - Austin, TX

Hear an overview of the Sunset process, recently passed legislation, and a preview of upcoming reviews.

Steven M. Ogle, Sunset Advisory Commission - Austin, TX

Included in registration.

Explore next and best practices for occupational licensing and regulation.

Molly Fudell, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation - Austin, TX
Della M. Lindquist, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation - Austin, TX

Rulemaking lies at the heart of the administrative process, but in a rapidly changing landscape it is easy to lose sight of the fundamentals. Make sure your foundations are strong, and review the basics from procedural requirements to opportunities for substantive challenge.

Carrie Collier-Brown, Locke Lord LLP - Austin, TX
John A. Riley, Holland & Knight LLP - Austin, TX

Hear a brief overview of the best practices and practical tips to use at the State Office of Administrative Hearings from the perspectives of two Administrative Law Judges.

Hon. Meaghan M. Bailey, State Office of Administrative Hearings - Austin, TX
Hon. Kerrie J. Qualtrough, State Office of Administrative Hearings - Austin, TX

You spent a lot of time, money, and effort earning your law license and building your professional reputation. Now spend 30 minutes learning how to keep both.

Scott Rothenberg, Law Offices of Scott Rothenberg - Houston, TX

Explore the use of social media by companies, employees, and attorneys in employment disputes, including the legal and ethical boundaries being recognized by some and ignored by others, as well as the nuts and bolts of admitting social media data into evidence.

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

Engage in an unscripted round-robin discussion, with time for questions from the audience. Please submit your questions in advance to ConferenceQA@utcle.org or on-site at the conference registration desk.

Moderator:
Hon. Holly Vandrovec, State Office of Administrative Hearings - Austin, TX
Panelists:
Hon. Jeff Boyd, The Supreme Court of Texas - Austin, TX
Hon. Jeffrey L. Rose, Third Court of Appeals - Austin, TX
Hon. Amy Clark-Meachum, 201st Judicial District Civil Court - Austin, TX

Join us for drinks and hors d'oeuvres with program faculty and attendees.

Includes continental breakfast.

Not board certified? Would you like to be? Come to this information session in which a lawyer board certified in administrative law for 30 years explains the process, the pitfalls, and the importance of becoming board certified in this important area of Texas law.

Linda B. Secord, Office of the Attorney General - Austin, TX

Examine significant administrative law cases issued during the last year.

Laurie Ratliff, Laurie Ratliff LLC - Austin, TX

Observe a roundtable discussion on navigating professional licensing complications related to criminal law matters.

Joseph T. Marcee, Law Office of Joseph T. Marcee - Georgetown, TX
Matthew L. Rienstra, Dalrymple, Shellhorse, Ellis & Diamond, LLP - Austin, TX
Timothy E. Weitz, McDonald, Mackay, Porter & Weitz, LLP - Austin, TX

Review the TCPA’s application to administrative law cases and ramifications of the 2019 TCPA amendments.

Hon. Bob Pemberton, Third Court of Appeals (Ret.) - Austin, TX
Amanda G. Taylor, Butler Snow LLP - Austin, TX

Learn techniques for improving your legal writing in the short, medium, and long run.

Kamela Bridges, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

Survey the APA rulemaking process, with particular attention on how the process works at the Public Utility Commission.

Speaker TBD (Invited)

Included in registration.

A veteran workplace investigator shares critical tips for ensuring that every complaint investigation is thorough, in good faith, and reliable in the midst of the #MeToo movement, instant social media postings, and polarizing employee relations issues.

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

Address the latest developments in open government, including changes from the 2019 legislative session, opportunities and challenges that arise from recent technological advances, along with best practices every open government practitioner should know.

Amanda Crawford, Texas Department of Information Resources - Austin, TX
Justin D. Gordon, Office of the Attorney General - Austin, TX
Kimberly G. Kelley, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX

Judicial deference to administrative agency interpretations has recently been the subject to much discussion and debate – including at the highest levels. Explore the changing perspective on judicial deference, and where those changes may take us. 

Hon. Craig R. Bennett, State Office of Administrative Hearings - Austin, TX

Explore the unique role (and ethical responsibilities) of the “legislative lawyer” in guiding businesses in solving their high-stakes problems at the State Capitol and state agencies.

Royce Poinsett, Poinsett PLLC - Austin, TX