The Limits of Local Power: Navigating Home Rule and Dillon’s Rule This session will explain the core principles of Home Rule and Dillon’s Rule, how they operate in practice, and how courts evaluate whether a municipality has the power to regulate in a given area. In addition to reviewing the doctrinal framework, the session will highlight recent legislative and judicial developments that have tested or reshaped these concepts, offering practical guidance for attorneys navigating an evolving landscape of local authority....

Standing Ground: Housing First Amidst Federal Volatility The evidence for Housing First hasn’t changed, but the federal ground beneath us has. The homeless response system is facing its most significant identity crisis in a decade. As federal priorities pivot toward interim measures and increased preconditions, how do communities protect the permanent housing models that actually work? We will strip away the jargon to examine the real-world impact of the latest Continuum of Care (CoC) program changes, the legal battle to...

Writing with AI CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. This workshop will focus on ways to skillfully (and responsibly) leverage artificial intelligence tools during the legal writing process. We'll cover both risks to avoid as well as helpful strategies to explore. Speaker: Patrick Barry

What’s So Funny About Being A Lawyer? Most of us take laughter for granted. Many lawyers have a “funny story” about a case,  and may enjoy comedians,  especially as relief for a tough day in court. However, it may come as a surprise that using laughter as a well-being tool just like an exercise at the gym can enhance your well-being, physical health, and mental awareness. Join Noreen Braman from the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program in a funny, but...

Short-Term Rentals in the Courts: What Local Governments Can (and Cannot) Do Across the Circuits Short-term rental regulation has rapidly evolved from a local zoning issue into a nationwide litigation battleground, with federal and state courts increasingly defining the constitutional and statutory limits of municipal authority. This program takes a case-driven approach, tracking how courts across multiple circuits are analyzing STR ordinances and what those decisions mean for local governments drafting or enforcing regulations. This session synthesizes emerging doctrine across the...

This is NOT an IMLA webinar and CLE will not be offered. Kitchen Sink Subscribers will need to register for this program, it will not be automatically sent. Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the Supreme Court’s important decisions of the term impacting local governments. The Supreme Court heard several monumental cases this term, including cases related to: Local government tax foreclosure and the amount of equity that is due back...

Public Comment: The Good, The Bad, And The Legal As Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) from the show Parks and Rec humorously stated: “What I hear when I’m being yelled at is people caring loudly at me.” This presentation will explore the benefits of public comment, some of the issues commonly associated with public comment, and what you can do to address those issues. The webinar will provide local government attorneys with practical guidance on managing public comment in a manner...

AI, Evidence, and the Future of Legal Practice This session examines how AI tools are restructuring evidence gathering, record-building, document analysis, and response drafting — and what legal professionals need to build to operate effectively in that environment. Drawing on firsthand experience deploying a coordinated AI workflow across two complex legal matters, the presenter introduces a structured framework organized around four capability areas: AI Literacy, AI Judgment, AI Workflow, and AI Leadership. Attendees leave with a practical diagnostic and a...

From RFP to Invoice Review: How Municipalities Can Strengthen Outside Counsel Oversight Sponsored by Onit. CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. Municipal legal departments rely on outside counsel for high-stakes matters, but many face growing pressure to manage firm performance, control legal spend, enforce billing guidelines, and maintain visibility across active matters. Join Jeffrey Solomon for a CLE discussion on how government legal teams can strengthen outside counsel oversight from...

Local Governments and ICE Detention Facilities: Legal Authority, Constraints, and Litigation CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply. Mark and Amanda will provide a practical overview of the legal tools and limitations available to local governments when faced with proposals for immigration detention facilities. Drawing on real-world experiences from communities that have grappled with these issues, panelists will discuss strategies that local governments have explored, the legal theories underlying those approaches,...