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2022

Essential Employment Law: A Practical Course in the Basics

Austin Aug 19, 2022 Thompson Conference Center
Conference Concluded
Live Webcast Aug 19, 2022
Conference Concluded
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Overview

Essential Employment Law is a one-day 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 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.

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Event Schedule

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

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker

  • Friday Morning, Aug. 19, 2022

  • 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 an intentional infliction of emotional distress? Can employee violence really be prevented? Is negligent retention really a cause of action?

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

    Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, 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?

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

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

  • 10:15 am
    15-Minute 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?

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

    Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, 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?

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

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

  • 12:00 pm
    Austin Only
    Pick Up Lunch (in Austin)
    Included in registration

  • Friday Afternoon, Aug. 19, 2022

  • 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!

    Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
    Susan P. Burton, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX

    Connie L. Cornell, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX
    Susan P. Burton, Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP - Austin, TX

  • 1:05 pm
    15-Minute 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 Burton, LLP - Austin, TX

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

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

  • 2:50 pm
    10-Minute 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 Burton, LLP - Austin, TX

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

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

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

  • 5:00 pm
    Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Susan P. Burton

Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP
Austin, TX

Connie L. Cornell

Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Connie L. Cornell—Co-Chair

Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP
Austin, TX

Katrina Grider—Co-Chair

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Houston, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin
  • Live Webcast

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 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 – 7.50 hrs
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.
Oklahoma – 9.00 hrs
You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you 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.
Pennsylvania – 7.50 hrs
UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks after credit is claimed . 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.
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.

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 provided to other licensing authorities as needed.

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

Other Credit

Human Resources PHR/SPHR/GPHR – 6.75 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

HRCI logo



Human Resources SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP – 7.50 hrs

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

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

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 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 – 7.50 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 – 9.00 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 – 7.50 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 – 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 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 – 6.75 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

HRCI logo

Human Resources SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP – 7.50 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.

SHRM logo

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

Key Dates

Austin – Aug 19, 2022 – Thompson Conference Center
Conference Concluded
Live Webcast – Aug 19, 2022
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
  • Live Webcast
Individual
Last day for $345.00 Regular pricing: Aug 11, 2022
$395.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $310.00 Regular pricing: Aug 11, 2022
$360.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $275.00 Regular pricing: Aug 11, 2022
$325.00 for registrations received after this time


Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Aug 12, 2022
$50 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Aug 15, 2022
Individual
Last day for $345.00 Regular pricing: Aug 10, 2022
$395.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $310.00 Regular pricing: Aug 10, 2022
$360.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $275.00 Regular pricing: Aug 10, 2022
$325.00 for registrations received after this time


Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Aug 12, 2022
$50 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Aug 15, 2022

Venue

Thompson Conference Center exterior view

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) 

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