Speakers’ Corner
Mid-Year Seminar
Regular Seminar Work Sessions
Sessions are 60-90 minutes. Generally, three speakers divide 90 minutes between them (roughly 20-25 minutes each); the remaining time is reserved for Q & A. Generally two speakers divide 60 minutes between them and leave approximately 10 minutes for questions. For the appropriate topic we may reduce or increase the number of speakers, which will adjust the amount of time for each. In some cases the panel will speak around a common topic, in others, the panel may speak on completely different topics although our goal is to have a common topic for each panel. Power point presentations are welcomed, but speakers are cautioned that they should use that tool as an aid, not as their paper or as their speech (papers are generally required for CLE purposes). Similarly, speakers are cautioned that our audience rebels at overly commercialized presentations. The best presentations provide practical insights into important and emerging areas of the law.
Section 1983 Track Presentations
For the last several years, IMLA has offered a Section 1983 track of presentations at the Seminar. These presentations are typically from attorneys who regularly litigate in this area of the law and provide practical insight to our attendees on this important topic on issues ranging from police use of force to First Amendment retaliatory arrest to best practices for motions and trials. The length of time, question and answer period, as well as the materials requirements follow the same format as the Regular Seminar Working Sessions. The Program Planning Committee will begin reviewing proposals for presentations at our Mid-Year Seminar shortly.
IMLA Speaker Highlights and Responsibilities
- Exposure to one of the largest exclusive gatherings of local government lawyers in the United States and Canada.
- IMLA requires all speakers to provide a written paper by the deadlines we establish to ensure that the papers can be scanned and included on our website and provided in electronic format to the Conference attendees.
- In consideration of the speaker’s volunteer efforts to ensure the success of this program, IMLA offers a special discounted Speaker’s Registration Rate.
- IMLA cannot reimburse presenters for seminar-related expenses, including travel, hotel, registration, and photocopying.
- Because speaking at an IMLA Seminar offers substantial exposure to speakers who are interested in using the opportunity as a marketing vehicle, IMLA expects that there will be more people interested in speaking than we can accommodate. Accordingly, selections will be made first from those firms interested in sponsoring the event. For information about becoming a sponsor please contact Amanda Kellar or look on our website at www.imla.org under “Events”
- To submit your proposal, please fill out the form on this page. We will contact you regarding your proposal as soon as practicable, however, please understand that there is an approval process that may take some time.
Annual Conference
Regular Conference Work Sessions
Sessions are 90 minutes. Generally, three speakers divide 90 minutes between them (roughly 20-25 minutes each); the remaining time is reserved for Q & A. For the appropriate topic we may reduce or increase the number of speakers which will adjust the amount of time for each. In some cases the panel will speak around a common topic, in others, the panel may speak on completely different topics although our goal is to have a common topic for each panel. Power point presentations are welcomed, but speakers are cautioned that they should use that tool as an aid, not as their paper or as their speech (papers are generally required for CLE purposes). Similarly, speakers are cautioned that our audience rebels at overly commercialized presentations. The best presentations provide practical insights into important and emerging areas of the law.
In Depth with the Experts Panel Discussions
One-hour sessions, during which experts share experiences, answer questions and lead discussions on a topic of local government interest. These sessions provide members an opportunity to network with colleagues and discuss practical solutions to pressing issues. They provide speakers an opportunity to have a less formal and more collegial discussion of important issues with a smaller audience and engage in a one on one question and answer session in most cases. Because some topics generate more interest than others, the size of an audience will vary based on that interest and it is the speaker’s role to help facilitate that interest by choosing an interesting and current topic. IMLA will do its best to help generate interest for each presentation. These in depth presentations sometimes repeat for a second hour, though not always. The Program Planning Committee will begin reviewing proposals for presentations at our Annual Conference
shortly.
IMLA Speaker Highlights and Responsibilities
- Exposure to the largest exclusive gathering of local government lawyers in the United States and Canada.
- IMLA requires all speakers to provide a written paper by the deadlines we establish to ensure that the papers can be scanned and included on our website and provided in electronic format to the Conference attendees.
- In consideration of the speaker’s volunteer efforts to ensure the success of this program, IMLA offers a special discounted Speaker’s Registration Rate.
- IMLA cannot reimburse presenters for Conference-related expenses, including travel, hotel, registration, and photocopying.
- Because speaking at an IMLA Conference offers substantial exposure to speakers who are interested in using the opportunity as a marketing vehicle, IMLA expects that there will be more people interested in speaking than we can accommodate. Accordingly, selections will be made first from those firms interested in sponsoring the event. For information about becoming a sponsor please contact Amanda Kellar or look on our website at www.imla.org under “Events”
- To submit your proposal, please fill out the form on this page. We will contact you regarding your proposal as soon as practicable, however, please understand that there is an approval process that may take some time.