Artwork Details

2017

Essential Employment Law: A Practical Course in the Basics

Austin Sep 8, 2017 Thompson Conference Center
Conference Concluded

Live Webcast Sep 8, 2017
Conference Concluded

Buy

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Overview

Essential Employment Law is a one-day HR program led by employment law experts Vianei Lopez Braun and Connie Cornell, 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 discrimination 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.

INSTRUCTORS

Vianei Lopez Braun has been representing employers for more than 25 years, providing practical advice on employment law compliance and avoiding litigation. Vianei’s diverse experience includes representing large publicly traded companies, governmental entities, small to mid-sized businesses, as well as individual professionals and executives.

Connie L. Cornell, PHR is a founding partner of Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP, an Austin labor and employment law firm. She is Board Certified in Labor and Employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is also certified as a Professional in Human Resources by the national Society for Human Resource Management.

Event Schedule

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

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning
7:45 am
Austin Only

Registration Opens

Includes continental breakfast.
8:20 am

Welcoming Remarks
8:30 am

0.75 hr

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

Hear an overview of the employment relationship and how tort law has been adapted in the workplace. Discuss how to answer the client or the supervisor who thinks employment law begins and ends with "employment-at-will." What about terminating an employee for theft? Is there ever an obligation to give a reference on a former employee? How can a handshake get a manager sued for assault? What is intentional infliction of emotional distress? Can employee violence really be prevented? Is negligent retention really a cause of action?

Vianei Lopez Braun, Decker Jones, P.C. - Fort Worth, TX
9:15 am

1.00 hr

Discrimination and Harassment

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?

Vianei Lopez Braun, Decker Jones, P.C. - Fort Worth, TX
10:15 am

Break
10:30 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?

Vianei Lopez Braun, Decker Jones, P.C. - Fort Worth, TX
11:00 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?

Vianei Lopez Braun, Decker Jones, P.C. - Fort Worth, TX
12:00 pm
Austin Only

Pick Up Lunch (in Austin)

Included in registration.
Friday Afternoon
LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
12:20 pm

0.75 hr

Q and A with the Instructors

Experts answer real-world questions. Submit your questions, comments, and/or experiences in advance to ConferenceQA@utcle.org, or come armed with your toughest questions. This session is designed to be interactive—audience participation encouraged!

Vianei Lopez Braun, Decker Jones, P.C. - Fort Worth, TX
Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP - Austin, TX
1:05 pm

Break
1:20 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.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP - Austin, TX
1:50 pm

1.00 hr

Handbooks / Employment Policies

Avoid common mistakes in policy drafting. Adopt provisions that support the company's good faith compliance efforts and help reduce potential liability in audits and litigation. Understand how recent NLRB decisions affect even non-unionized employer policies.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP - Austin, TX
2:50 pm

Break
3:00 pm

0.75 hr

Defensive Documentation from Hiring to Firing

Recognize the vulnerable points in the employment relationship and learn the best practices in documentation to minimize the problems 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.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP - Austin, TX
3:45 pm

1.00 hr

Investigating Sensitive Employment Complaints

The investigation of an employee's complaint may be critical to an employer's only means of avoiding liability. The investigator may be a witness, and the notes may be evidence. Learn how to investigate and document the process.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP - Austin, TX
4:45 pm

0.25 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.

Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP - Austin, TX
5:00 pm

Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Vianei Lopez Braun

Decker Jones, P.C.
Fort Worth, TX

Connie L. Cornell

Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Vianei Lopez Braun—Co-Chair

Decker Jones, P.C.
Fort Worth, TX

Connie L. Cornell—Co-Chair

Cornell Smith Mierl & Brutocao, LLP
Austin, TX

Deborah Salzberg—Director

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

MCLE Credit

Texas – 7.50 hrs
Legal Specialization(s): Civil Appellate Law, Civil Trial Law, 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 Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Monday. 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

California – 7.50 hrs

At the conference, you will need to sign in on the Record of Attendance form at the registration desk. Self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

Oklahoma – 9.00 hrs

At the conference, you will need to sign in on the Record of Attendance form at the registration desk. You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.

Other Credit

Human Resources PHR/SPHR/GPHR – 7.50 hrs

This activity has been approved for recertification credit hours toward California, GPHR, HRBP, HRMP, PHR and SPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute. A HRCI Certificate with the activity ID number will be included as part of the course materials provided at the conference.

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

Human Resources SHRM-CPSM / SHRM-SCPSM – 7.50 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.

TX Accounting CPE – 9.00 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences 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.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

Contact Laura Tolin, ltolin@law.utexas.edu, if you have additional questions.

MCLE Credit

Texas – 7.50 hrs
Legal Specialization(s): Civil Appellate Law, Civil Trial Law, Labor and Employment Law

UT Law CLE will report credit to the State Bar of Texas on your behalf. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit.

California – 7.50 hrs

Self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. Print and keep the Certificate of Completion for your records. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit.

Oklahoma – 9.00 hrs

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. 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 Oklahoma MCLE credit, Oklahoma credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. 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.

Other States – 7.50 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 your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records.

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 – 7.50 hrs

This activity has been approved for recertification credit hours toward GPHR, HRBP, HRMP, PHR and SPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute. A HRCI Certificate with the activity ID number will be emailed to you upon completion of the course. Contact Laura Tolin with any questions.

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

Human Resources SHRM-CPSM / SHRM-SCPSM – 7.50 hrs

The University of Texas School of Law is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. A certificate of attendance with the course ID number will be emailed to you upon completion of the webcast. Please contact Laura Tolin with any questions.

TX Accounting CPE – 9.00 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 Laura Tolin, ltolin@law.utexas.edu, if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Austin – Sep 8, 2017 – Thompson Conference Center

Conference Concluded

Live Webcast – Sep 8, 2017

Conference Concluded

Buy

Austin

Last day for Individual early registration: Aug 30, 2017

Add $50 for registrations received after this time

Last day for Group (5 registrants minimum) early registration: Aug 30, 2017

Add $50 for registrations received after this time

Last day for Group (10 registrants minimum) early registration: Aug 30, 2017

Add $50 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Sep 1, 2017

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Sep 5, 2017

Live Webcast

Last day for Individual early registration: Aug 30, 2017

Add $0 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Sep 1, 2017

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Sep 4, 2017

Venue

Thompson Conference Center

2405 Robert Dedman Drive
Austin, TX
512.471.3121
Map

Parking Information

Complimentary self-parking available in Lot 40, at the corner of Red River Street and Dean Keeton Street, and UT Garages.
(subject to availability)

2017

Essential Employment Law: A Practical Course in the Basics

Austin Sep 8, 2017 Thompson Conference Center Conference Concluded

Live Webcast Sep 8, 2017 Conference Concluded

Buy

Related products: eConference Materials

Overview

Event Schedule

Friday Morning

Friday Afternoon

Conference Faculty

Vianei Lopez Braun

Connie L. Cornell

Planning Committee

Vianei Lopez Braun—Co-Chair

Connie L. Cornell—Co-Chair

Deborah Salzberg—Director

Credit Info

MCLE Credit

Other Credit

MCLE Credit

Other Credit

Key Dates

Austin

Live Webcast

Venue

Thompson Conference Center

Parking Information

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Austin Sep 8, 2017 Thompson Conference Center
Conference Concluded

Live Webcast Sep 8, 2017
Conference Concluded