eCourses

A discussion of recent electioneering litigation, including a review of various legal issues that school district officials must navigate when speaking with their communities about school funding, budget shortfalls, and other matters of public concern.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

School district employees are presenting increased cases of anxiety, depression and stress-related conditions. Hear a school district general counsel and teacher association attorney present their perspective on how to navigate the intersection of mental health in the context of reasonable accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Identify the ethical issues raised under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. In further exploring the practical use cases for AI products, platforms, and machine learning technology within an underdeveloped security regime, this presentation will alert practitioners to common pitfalls relating to clients communications, confidentiality, and fees within the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI usage.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

If a school loses a special education due process hearing, the parent’s attorney’s fees can potentially cost a school more than $100,000 in federal court. Look at parent’s entitlement to attorney’s fees, methods to reduce the fee amount, and the availability of attorney’s fees to schools that prevail.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Examine the call for cellphone bans in schools, challenges faced and the impact on the school environment.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Hear an update on Commissioner of Education decisions from the past year.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Address the legal requirements for safety and security personnel, ways that school districts can achieve compliance through school marshal or guardian plans, through contracting with outside law enforcement agencies, or by creating their own police departments. Discuss the different legal and practical considerations for each strategy, including entity and individual liabilities for those involved.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Cyber threat actors are increasingly targeting school districts. Review mandatory data breach notification laws as well as common cyber insurance policy provisions that require due diligence and prompt action by school officials.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

The school nurse in the state of Texas has autonomy and responsibilities that stem from a myriad of laws, regulations and policies that arise outside of the education law setting, but that necessarily must overlap and interact with education laws and policies. Explore information of which the school law attorney should be aware when advising client school districts regarding their expectations regarding what the school nurse can, should and must do as well as where the lines are drawn between oversight and overstepping.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

The Texas Lawyer's Creed reminds us of our oath to "disagree without being disagreeable." But today's polarizing culture ensures we will have to interact with coworkers, leaders, and volunteers who can make it very hard to remain civil. In this enlightening and entertaining session, we'll discuss how to navigate difficult conversations respectfully, manage our own impulses toward being difficult, and actively model civility to ensure that we are in compliance with our legal and professional duties toward all.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Focus on the district’s obligations to their students and teachers when a special needs student causes harm to a teacher. Through a series of scenarios, explore both what is required and best practices to keep districts in compliance while also respecting the needs and safety concerns of teachers.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Discuss the current legal and practice landscape relating to bullying and harassment, and share updates and resources regarding the most effective ways to identify, prevent, and intervene in these harms in schools. Through an interactive case study, explore ways to build safe and welcoming school climates where bullying and harassment are addressed proactively and where every student and adult feels they belong.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Review the current bills being considered by the 89th Legislature and speculate about whether they will become law.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

An overview and analysis of the rules, case law and ethics opinions regarding conflicts of interest rules including simultaneous representation of potentially adverse clients, positional conflicts, conflicts involving the lawyer’s personal interest, imputed disqualification, conflicts involving insurance, conflicts regarding former or prospective clients, and conflicts arising from pre-retention contacts.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

No two Voting Rights Act lawsuits are alike. Each case requires unique analysis of the community subject to the suit. A few landmark cases in 2023 and 2024 added to this complexity. Cover the basics of Section 2 claims under the Voting Rights Act, and explain changes in the law as a result of Petteway and other recent decisions.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Dive into the challenges faced when employees become the subject of viral attention—whether caused by the district, an employee, or external actors. Explore when, who, and how to take action, and what legal implications have been established as a result of such events.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

With the guidance provided by the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and existing ethics opinions, this presentation focuses on ethical considerations lawyers often face when handling cases that make the news and will offer practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls that arise when your case makes the spotlight. Consider lessons learned from stories and examples of lawyers who themselves made headlines and faced legal trouble for ethical lapses in the scope of client representation.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

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) My Mind Has A Mind of Its Own: Why Even Good Lawyers Are Lured Into Unethical Behavior by the Way Their Brains Work (Replay) Modern behavioral psychology research has revealed that our brains lead us into behaviors that are inconsistent with logic, our own self-interest, and ethical principles. This presentation explains how scientifically identifiable justifications, rationalizations, and heuristics can present challenges in legal ethics. Kevin Dubose, Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP - Houston, TX (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Fixing Federal Tax Return Mistakes (Replay) Mistakes happen in tax. Fixing those mistakes usually gets harder as time goes by. This presentation surveys a range of potential options: rescission, tax elections including Section 9100 relief, amended returns, method changes, attribute redeterminations, and more. The presentation also highlights ethical obligations that arise when considering how to best address prior mistakes. Tom Greenaway, KPMG LLP - Boston, MA (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Ted Lasso and Lawyer Ethics (Replay) What can a fictional soccer coach, goldfish, and biscuits teach us about attorney ethics? Lace up your cleats and find out. Christie L. Hobbs, Northwest ISD - Fort Worth, TX (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Social Media, Ethics, and TMI: Why you won't be ROFL (Replay) Priscilla de Mata, Ysleta Isd - El Paso, TX  

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

THIS MONTH: The Science of Readable Legal Writing • Techniques for Negotiating With Difficult Counterparties  • Election Year Issues: Political Engagement by Nonprofit Organizations • Bank Failures and Banking Distress • ​Safety and Texas Schools: Their Future Depends on What We Do Today • ​Dealing With the Problem of Opposing Counsel

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

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) Ted Lasso and Lawyer Ethics (Replay) What can a fictional soccer coach, goldfish, and biscuits teach us about attorney ethics? Lace up your cleats and find out.   Christie L. Hobbs, Northwest ISD - Fort Worth, TX (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Ten Rules for Ethical and Effective Negotiating (Replay) Most real estate deals are like water, and if things are handled correctly they will generally find their own level. This presentation provides ten (10) principles for handling negotiations correctly, which by necessity means ethically, and which will result in more effective negotiation. Richard A. Crow, Greenberg Traurig, LLP - Houston, TX (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Wellness in the Practice of Law: What Every Lawyer Should Know (Replay) A look at statistics on lawyer wellness and explore evidence-based tips on how to manage stress and anxiety to avoid losing enthusiasm for the practice of law. Michelle Fontenot, Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program - Austin, TX (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Social Media, Ethics, and TMI: Why you won't be ROFL (Replay) Refresher on maintaining client confidences and other rules of professional conduct in a world influenced by social media.  Priscilla de Mata, Ysleta ISD - El Paso, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides