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2025

Essential Employment Law: A Practical Course in the Basics

Live Webcast (Replay) Aug 22, 2025 $395 Individual $360 Group rate per person (5 registrants minimum) $325 Group rate per person (10 registrants minimum)
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Overview

Essential Employment Law is a one-day replay of the HR program led by employment law experts and is designed to provide overviews and updates on issues related to Texas employment law (originally presented in August 2024). Content is extensive and exhaustive with topics ranging from employment-at-will to disparate treatment 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.

  • Register now

Event Schedule

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

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Aug. 22, 2025
    Presiding Officer:
    Nicole S. LeFave, Littler Mendelson, P.C. - Austin, TX
  • 8:20 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:25 am
    0.75 hr
    Texas is an "At Will" State... So Why Worry?
    Understand the parameters of the Texas At-Will Employment doctrine, and gain practical tips on how to navigate its many exceptions.

    Jamila Marie Brinson, Jackson Walker LLP - Houston, TX

  • 9:10 am
    5-Minute Break

  • 9:15 am
    1.00 hr
    Disparate Treatment and Disparate Impact
    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?

    Ryan O. Estes, Kaplan Law Firm, PLLC - Austin, TX
    Sarah Glaser, Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 10:15 am
    5-Minute Break

  • 10:20 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?

    Leanne K. Thoreson, Bradley - Dallas, TX

  • 10:50 am
    5-Minute Break

  • 10:55 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?

    Kimberly Miers, Littler Mendelson P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 11:55 am
    Break for Lunch—Presentations Resume at 1:00 p.m.

  • Friday Afternoon, Aug. 22, 2025
    Presiding Officer:
    Jennifer M. Trulock, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP - Dallas, TX
  • 1:00 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.

    Vanessa Ann Gonzalez, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP - Austin, TX

  • 1:30 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 1:35 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, claims, and litigation. Understand how recent NLRB decisions affect policies even in non-unionized workplaces, and what government agencies such as TWC, EEOC, and DOL look for in matters involving employer policies.

    William T. (Tommy) Simmons, Texas Workforce Commission - Austin, TX

  • 2:35 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 2:40 pm
    0.75 hr
    Effective and Defensive Documentation from Hiring to Firing
    Learn the best practices in documentation to effectively performance coach problem employees, while minimizing risks 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. Recognize the value and critical role of proper documentation in employment disputes. 

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

  • 3:25 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 3:30 pm
    1.00 hr
    Navigating Sensitive Employment Complaints​
    The investigation of an employee's complaint may be an employer's only path to avoiding liability. The investigator will likely be a witness, and the notes may be evidence. Learn when to outsource and when/how to investigate and document the process.

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

  • 4:30 pm
    5-Minute Break

  • 4:35 pm
    0.50 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.

    Brian A. Aslin, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 5:05 pm
    Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Brian A. Aslin

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Austin, TX

Jamila Marie Brinson

Jackson Walker LLP
Houston, TX

DeDe Church

DeDe Church & Associates, LLC
Austin, TX

Ryan O. Estes

Kaplan Law Firm, PLLC
Austin, TX

Sarah Glaser

Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Austin, TX

Vanessa Ann Gonzalez

Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Austin, TX

Steven L. Mierl

Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP
Austin, TX

Kimberly Miers

Littler Mendelson P.C.
Austin, TX

William T. (Tommy) Simmons

Texas Workforce Commission
Austin, TX

Leanne K. Thoreson

Bradley
Dallas, TX

Credit Info

  • Live Webcast (Replay)
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 7.00 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.
Toggle view California – 7.00 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.
Toggle view Oklahoma – 8.50 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.
Toggle view Pennsylvania – 7.00 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.
Toggle view Other States – 7.00 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
Toggle view Human Resources PHR/SPHR/GPHR – Expected – 7.00 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

Toggle view Human Resources SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP – Expected – 7.00 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. 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.

 
 
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 8.20 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

Live Webcast (Replay) – Aug 22, 2025
Register now
  • Live Webcast (Replay)
Individual
Group (5 registrants minimum)
Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for cancellation (full refund): Aug 15, 2025

$100 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Aug 18, 2025

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