IMLA

Cybersecurity Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2024-11-14 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Cybersecurity Essentials for City Attorneys: Protecting Your Municipality in the Digital Age
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Join us for an in-depth look at the cybersecurity landscape facing municipalities today. This webinar will break down complex concepts into actionable insights, covering everything from the basics of the “CIA Triad” to real-life case studies of cyber incidents in cities. Participants will gain a clear understanding of their role in mitigating cyber risks, including legal and ethical considerations, and practical steps to enhance their city’s cybersecurity posture.
Speaker: Ravinder Singh Arneja & Bryan Singh Arneja

Evaluating Emotional Distress Webinar
2024-11-19 13:00 - 14:00
Quantifying the Unseen: Scientific Evaluation of Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress
In today’s complex legal landscape, accurately evaluating mental anguish and emotional distress is essential. This talk will delve into scientific methodologies for assessing emotional suffering, focusing on the Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) metric. This approach, grounded in medical and behavioral science research, provides a robust, science-based framework that meets the rigorous Daubert standard for admissible evidence. Key topics include defining mental anguish, overcoming subjective evaluation challenges, and seamlessly integrating quantitative and qualitative data. Through compelling real-world examples and case studies, attendees will see these concepts in action. For lawyers, this approach translates to more precise, objective, and defensible evaluations of mental distress, ensuring fairer outcomes in court. By adopting QALY, legal professionals can argue for just compensation with greater authority and confidence. Join us to enhance your practice, impress judges and juries, and better serve your clients with cutting-edge, scientifically validated tools. If you would like to get post-training resources from the trainer Dr. Geb Tsipursky, go to https://tinyurl.com/daeevent
Speaker: Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

Ethics and AI for Local Government Webinar - Free Live
2024-12-04 13:00 - 14:00
Ethical Considerations for the Use of Gen AI in Municipal Practice
Sponsored by Thomson Reuters.
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Join us for a virtual CLE course exploring the ethical considerations of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the practice of law. In this course, we will delve into the evolving role of AI in the legal landscape and explore practical applications for implementing AI responsibly. In addition, this engaging session will cover the following key areas:

Foundational understanding of Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI
Inherent risk within the use of generative AI
Understanding appropriate times to deploy AI, as well as situations where ethically, AI requires supervision or may not be the ideal tool
Considerations of the use of generative AI regarding the ABA Model Rules
Thomson Reuters’ approach to artificial intelligence in the legal landscape

Speaker: Christie Weidemann, Esq.

Trial Procedure Webinar
2024-12-05 13:00 - 14:00
An Overview of Voir Dire in a Criminal Trial: Tips To Overcome Some of The Challenges a Prosecutor Faces
Prosecutors typically handle a large jury trial docket, with very little time to prepare for voir dire prior to trial. However, voir dire is one of the most important parts of a criminal trial. This presentation will focus on a general overview of the process of voir dire in a criminal trial. It may touch upon some processes that are specific to a particular state, but much of the overview and tips can apply across all jurisdictions.
Speaker: Robyn Katz

Ethics in Local Government Webinar
2024-12-06 13:00 - 14:00
When City Hall is a House Divided: Ethical Challenges
Municipal Lawyers typically represent local government organizations but sometimes have individual public officials as clients. Internal Investigations, Lawsuits, Grievances, Complaints, Code Enforcement, and Politics can create factions in city leadership and raise ethical tension for attorneys. The presentation will cover ABA Rules 1.2: Scope of Representation, 1.4: Communications, 1.6: Confidentiality, 1.7: Duty to Current Clients (Conflicts of Interest), 1.9: Duty to Former Clients, 1.10: Imputation of Conflicts of Interest, and 1.13: Organization as Client.
Speaker: Alan Bojorquez

Affordable Housing Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2024-12-10 13:00 - 14:00
Creating Affordable Housing: Madison’s Experience
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Creating affordable housing is a major challenge for municipalities everywhere. In addition to the politics, financing affordable housing deals requires combinations of lending programs and creative solutions to fill financing gaps. This presentation will discuss the problems in creating and financing affordable housing for families and students, and methods the City of Madison, Wisconsin has been using to solve these issues including tax incremental financing, the creation of an affordable housing fund, and permitting density in exchange for affordability.
Speaker: Kevin Ramakrishna

RLUIPA Webinar
2024-12-12 13:00 - 14:00
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act
The presentation will focus on the nuts and bolts of RLUIPA, including its prohibition on substantial burden, unequal treatment, discrimination, unreasonably limiting or totally excluding religious exercise, the definition of religious exercise, the types of regulations covered by RLUIPA, and other topics. Mr. Sacks will discuss real cases examples and his experiences with RLUIPA cases. Participants will be invited to ask questions at the end.
Speaker: Noah Sacks

Ordinance Drafting Webinar
2024-12-17 13:00 - 14:00
Ordinance Drafting for Local Government Attorneys
City attorneys draft many kinds of important documents for their client – from contracts, policies and procedures, resolutions, to ordinances. This session will review the most common, basic elements of municipal ordinances. We’ll take a look at best practices for ordinance titles, legislative findings, statutorily required provisions, common boilerplate provisions, and clear and concise legislative drafting. This session will also review some of the key sources of model ordinances and useful resources for tips on legislative drafting.
Speaker: Kyle Shephard

PFAS Webinar - Free Live For IMLA Members
2024-12-20 13:00 - 14:00
New PFAS Regulations and What’s Ahead
Sponsored by Stag Liuzza.
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This webinar offers a deep dive into the current regulatory framework governing PFAS, focusing on the impact of new EPA regulations for municipal water systems. Learn about the latest EPA mandates and what new regulatory issues may be ahead for public wastewater and other contaminated municipal properties.
Speaker: Michael G. Stag & Ashley M. Liuzza

Police Liability Webinar
2025-01-07 13:00 - 14:00
Tackling Section 1983 Monell Claims in Police Litigation
The presentation on defending Monell claims in Section 1983 police litigation will delve into the intricacies of establishing a solid defense to Monell claims faced by a municipality. It will cover the legal standards and strategies for countering claims based on alleged policy or custom violations, using case examples from police shootings, reversed convictions, and deaths in custody. Additionally, it will provide guidance on leveraging client documents and expert testimony to demonstrate sound policies and practices, emphasizing the importance of a robust defense framework.
Speaker: Avi Kamionski & Shneur Nathan

Employment Webinar
2025-01-14 13:00 - 14:00
Keeping Pace with Employment Law
New employment laws and regulations as well as recent court decisions include everything from the Pregnancy Fairness Act and the EEOC’s regulations, the Supreme Court’s recent expansion of what constitutes an adverse employment action, and using AI in the workplace. If ensuring compliance with these developments is not enough, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is preparing to implement a slew of worker-friendly priorities if a new administration does not get in the way. Address the significant labor and employment law developments that are, and will be, affecting your operations and the landscape of employment law.
Speaker: Jonathan Mook & Roberta “Robin” Cross

Wellness Webinar
2025-01-21 13:00 - 14:00
The Attorney’s Guide to Stress Mastery: Evidence-Based Strategies for Resilience
Legal professionals operate in high-stress environments, where stress management and resilience are crucial for success. This workshop offers evidence-based strategies such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and self-care, validated to reduce stress and enhance well-being. Gain valuable tools to find more productivity, more income, and most importantly more peace.
Participants will gain insights into the impact of chronic stress on legal professionals, emphasizing the significance of resilience. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, attendees will learn to integrate stress-reducing habits into their daily routines, supported by scientific research and real-life case studies.
Speaker: Brooke Walker

Public Comment Webinar
2025-01-22 13:00 - 14:30
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 [during a public meeting] 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.
Speaker: Randall “Randy” Van Vleck, Todd Sheeran & Neal Falgoust

Technology Webinar
2025-01-28 13:00 - 14:00
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Public Safety Trainers, Educators, and Instructional Designers
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here and is not something futuristic. AI will not take away your job, but someone who knows how to use AI will take it!
As a public safety trainer, educator, supervisor, instructional designer, or expert witness, learn how to integrate cutting-edge technology into your education and training programs!
Here are some key topics discussed in this timely webinar:

Understanding AI Basics and Applications: Gain insights into what AI is, its current applications in various fields, and why it’s becoming increasingly relevant in educational contexts.
Applying AI to Public Safety Training: Explore specific ways AI can be leveraged to enhance public safety training and instructional design, potentially improving efficiency and effectiveness.
Incorporating AI Tools into Training Programs: Learn practical methods to integrate AI tools into existing training programs to achieve better learning outcomes. This could include using AI for content creation, lesson planning, quizzes, scripting, voice generation, and more.
Developing Effective AI “Prompts”: Understand how to create prompts or cues that effectively guide AI systems to produce desired outputs, enhancing the usability of AI tools in training.
Demonstrating AI Tools: Get hands-on demonstrations of select AI tools for content creation and learner data analysis. This can include creating lesson outlines, generating lesson plans, analyzing quiz results, and utilizing AI for scripting and voice generation tasks.
Discussing Ethical Issues and Agency AI Policy: Address the ethical considerations of using AI in public safety training, focusing on privacy, security, and fairness. Understand the importance of developing clear agency policies regarding AI usage to mitigate potential risks.
Summarizing AI Copyright and Legal Limitations: Learn about the legal aspects of AI usage in educational contexts, including copyright issues related to AI-generated content. Understand your rights and limitations when using AI tools for content creation.
Participants can expect to gain practical knowledge on how to integrate cutting-edge AI technology into their educational and training programs, potentially revolutionizing how they develop, deliver, and update their curriculum. This session promises to be a valuable, non-technical opportunity for anyone looking to stay ahead in educational technology and innovation within the realm of public safety training.

Stay ahead of the AI technology curve! Equip yourself with the knowledge to leverage AI in your field while discovering innovative ways to improve training effectiveness and efficiency.
Speaker: John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D.

Professionalism & Ethics Webinar
2025-01-30 13:00 - 14:00
Managing the Minefield: Practical Approaches to Difficult Lawyers and Clients
This program will tackle the complex ethical challenges posed by bullying and uncivil behavior in the legal profession—not only from colleagues but also from clients. In addition to addressing how bullying and harassment among lawyers can undermine ethical practice, harm workplace culture, waste the client’s time and resources, and compromise mental health, the program will explore situations where clients pressure their attorneys to act aggressively or unprofessionally. We will discuss the relevant Texas disciplinary rules and look at some real-world examples to learn how to identify and respond to both peer and client-driven bullying and unprofessional expectations, equipping you with strategies to maintain your ethical obligations. This program emphasizes the importance of being prepared to manage difficult behaviors without compromising your professional integrity.
Learning Objectives:

Know the key ethics Rules and other resources that govern ethical and professional conduct in the practice of law
Identify bad behavior by other lawyers in any situation and develop strategies for dealing with it
Recognize that communication is the key to managing clients
Have a plan to take action when you encounter “bad behavior” whether from lawyers or clients

Main Texas Disciplinary Rules Covered:

Competent and Diligent Representation: Rule 1.01
Communication: Rule 1.03
Meritorious Claims and Contentions: Rule 3.01
Minimizing the Burdens and Delays of Litigation: Rule 3.02
Candor Toward the Tribunal: Rule 3.03 (and it’s 15 Comments)
Fairness in Adjudicatory Proceedings: Rule 3.04
Rule 4.01: Truthfulness in Statements to Others
Rule 4.04: Respect for Rights of Third Persons

Speaker: Jeanne M. Huey

Immigration Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-02-18 13:00 - 14:00
Federal Immigration and Local Governments
This webinar will cover immigration laws and recent legal actions affecting local government. The presentation will analyze recent lawsuits filed by the federal government against state and local governments, which will include a discussion of a) express preemption under 8 USC 1373; b) allegations of discrimination against the federal government; and c) conflict preemption regarding federal immigration enforcement. The presentation will also discuss the withholding of funds and new grant conditions, which will include a review of what happened in the litigation concerning the Byrne Jag litigation during the first Trump administration. Additional topics may be added given the rapidly changing legal landscape.
Speakers: Rick Su & Amanda Karras

Environmental Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-03-04 13:00 - 14:00
Products Liability Law and Emerging Water Contaminants: Legal Strategies to Recover Regulatory Compliance Costs
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This webinar will first provide a brief update on state and federal standards for contaminants in drinking water, wastewater, and biosolids, as well as the challenges and costs that recent and anticipated regulatory developments present for municipalities. Contaminants addressed may include PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, 1,2,3-TCP, perchlorate, and others pending legislation at the time of the webinar. Then, we will discuss how municipalities affected by contamination have used products liability principles to pursue legal action against the manufacturers responsible for pollution, referencing several case studies from successful litigation. Ken Sansone will explain the full legal process used in these cases, from initial detection of contaminants to the receipt of compensation. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of how local governments can reduce the financial impact of compliance with new water quality regulations by shifting the costs to manufacturers.
Speaker: Ken Sansone

Constitutional Law/Home Rule Webinar
2025-03-06 13:00 - 14:00
Constitutional Framework of the United States and the Role of Local Government Attorneys
This course will provide an overview of the governing structure in the United States (think Civics 101) and discuss how the dynamics of federalism and home rule authority impact the role of the local government attorney in the US.
Speaker: Katie Hodgdon

Religion Webinar
2025-03-11 13:00 - 14:00
Practical Implications of the Supreme Court’s Recent Free Exercise and Establishment Decisions
This webinar will address the practical implications of recent Supreme Court decisions about the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses. Led by a practicing First Amendment lawyer and a First Amendment specialist at UVA Law School, it will cover religious exemptions from civil rights law, prayer in public schools, school funding decisions, and ways in which rhetoric about religious freedom can affect case outcomes. Both of the speakers have substantial expertise working with (and representing) local governments, and will aim to provide useful guidance to lawyers seeking to navigate the Supreme Court’s rapid transformation of the First Amendment
Speaker: Joshua Matz & Rich Schragger

Procurement & Contracting Webinar
2025-03-20 13:00 - 14:00
Advanced Contracting for Municipal Attorneys
This program will focus on the complexities of advanced public contract with value or qualification based procurement processes and alternative project delivery models becoming more common to sustainable govern programs, construction and climate response. Learn how to move from traditional, price based selection to advanced, performance based contracting that lends itself to both sustainable facilities and practices. Learn the traps for the unwary in P3 contracting and know how to protect your municipality while ensuring a deal that’s financeable.
Speaker: Steven “Tip” Torres

LGLC Impacts of Federal Immigration Policy on Local Governments - This is not an IMLA Webinar
2025-05-19 13:00 - 14:00
Impacts of Federal Immigration Policy on Local Governments (Part 2)

This is NOT an IMLA webinar and CLE will not be offered.
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join us for a second informational (not for CLE) webinar regarding the executive orders issued this year and federal policies in the area of immigration and how they may impact local governments and local government officials. Presenters will provide a high-level overview of the laws at issue and their impact on local government operations and duties.
The LGLC is a coalition of national local government organizations formed in 2023 by the National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC) and International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) to provide education to local governments regarding the Supreme Court and its impact on local governments and local officials and to advocate for local government positions at the Supreme Court in appropriate cases. Visit the Local Government Legal Center to learn more.

Grant Compliance Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-05-20 13:00 - 14:00
From Confusion to Compliance: Grant Guidance in a Modern World
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
The world of Grants can be a very rewarding yet complex place. From NOFO’S, terms and conditions, special terms and conditions, federal regulations, grant-specific guidelines and local laws and ordinances, grant guidance needs to be done with a keen eye towards compliance, and a watchful eye on federal, state, and local structural changes. Grant guidance and compliance is not a one-size-fits-all practice. Through this MCLE, you will learn the dos and don’ts of grant compliance and actual pitfalls that may subject your clients to potentially having to pay back three times the grant amount under the false claims act.
Speaker: Barak Vaughn

Animal Services Ordinance Webinar
2025-05-27 13:00 - 14:00
Modernizing Animal Care: Updating Ordinances to Empower Communities and Save Lives
As animal care and control agencies evolve into Pet Resource Centers, the role of ordinances in shaping community success has never been more critical. Outdated laws—some still referencing “dog catchers”—fail to address the modern approach to animal welfare. Data-driven decision-making now plays a key role in improving service delivery and enabling objective ordinance analysis.
Are there provisions in your local laws that are ineffective or unenforced? Join this webinar to learn how updating policies can empower staff, engage the community, save animal lives, and reduce financial strain on municipalities.
Speaker: Elise “Ledy” VanKavage & Scott Trebatoski

False Claims Webinar
2025-06-03 13:00 - 14:00
Navigating the False Claims Act: Compliance and Litigation
On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (the EO). In that EO, the head of every agency was directed to include a term requiring any party to a contract or grant with the federal government certify that it does not “operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws” and the grantee must agree that its “compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decision” for the purposes of the False Claims Act. This webinar will explore legal issues surrounding the False Claims Act.
Key topics include:

Overview of the Executive Order (EO) and its implications
The False Claims Act (FCA) and its role in enforcement actions
Authority interpreting materiality requirements in similar contexts
The Baltimore case and its latest developments
Legal challenges to implementation and potential defenses
Historical support for similar programs in federal legislation, regulations, and court decisions

Speaker: Scott Crouch

Ethics Webinar
2025-06-05 13:00 - 14:00
Ethics of Good Governance: Europe’s 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance as Applied in the U.S.
American cities can adopt a fresh perspective on evaluating their overall performance by considering Europe’s 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance. As municipal attorneys, understanding these principles can enhance ethical standards and further democracy at the local level. This webinar will explore how these principles align with the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and their application in governance. Key topics include:

Responsiveness: ABA Model Rule 1.4
Efficiency & Effectiveness: ABA Model Rule 1.15
Openness & Transparency: ABA Model Rule 1.6
Rule of Law: ABA Model Rules – Preamble
Ethical Conduct: ABA Model Rule 1.7
Competence & Capacity: ABA Model Rule 1.1
Innovation & Openness to Change: ABA Ethics Ops. 477R & 495

Speaker: Alan Bojorquez

Airport Law Webinar
2025-06-12 13:00 - 14:00
Navigating Changes to Nondiscrimination and Immigration Enforcement Requirements In Revised FAA Grant Agreement Template and Airport Sponsor Grant Assurances
FAA’s recent revisions to the Airport Sponsor Grant Assurances and grant agreement template form have raised questions from recipients of FAA grant funding regarding the legal implications of entering into new FAA grant agreements and potential retroactivity of the new requirements. Some of the recent changes appear to be designed to implement provisions of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, and can be understood by reference to the Act. However, several changes to the requirements regarding immigration laws and nondiscrimination laws are confusingly worded and may conflict with local, state, and federal laws and policies, in particular municipal and state DEI and sanctuary laws and policies.
This program, Presented by Slone Isselhard and Kirsten Crawford of Kaplan Kirsch LLP, will provide an overview of the changes to immigration and DEI laws and policies in the new FAA grant agreement template and Grant Assurances and the legal implications of such changes, particularly in light of the April 24, 2025 letter to DOT grant recipients issued by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. The discussion will include how “illegal DEI” and “cooperation” with ICE may be interpreted, the current state of the law on DEI and sanctuary laws and policies, and how grant recipients have challenged these and similar grant conditions during the Trump administration’s current and preceding term for violation of the U.S. Constitution and Administrative Procedures Act.
Speaker: Kirsten Crawford & Slone Isselhard

Land Use Webinar
2025-06-24 13:00 - 14:00
Land Use Law 101
Join experienced land use and local government law practitioner David Warner in this webinar as he explores property rights, regulation of private property, planning, zoning, subdivisions and other modern legal issues in land use law. For those new to land use law, this is a primer on the up-to-date basics you need to know to spot issues and to determine the appropriate course of action. For the experienced practitioner, this presentation not only serves as a refresher course, but also includes new points of law that have developed in recent years, which impact the basics.
Speaker: David Warner

Affordable Housing Webinar
2025-07-01 13:00 - 14:00
Accessory Dwelling Units: The Key to Unlocking Affordable Housing
This webinar focuses on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) policy in Denton and Texas, with comparative insights from other states to highlight varying regulatory approaches and outcomes. Topics include the benefits and potential drawbacks of promoting ADU development, as well as impacts on neighborhoods, infrastructure, and housing affordability. The session also examines community sentiment, infill development opportunities, and trends in actual ADU construction by homeowners.
This presentation addresses both practical and legal considerations related to ADU implementation.
Speaker: Hilary McMahon

Construction Law Webinar
2025-07-08 13:00 - 14:00
Land Use, Zoning, and Affordable Housing: Current Policy and Practice
The affordability, availability, and accessibility of housing remains a critical issue across the US. New England states have not been spared in this equation. Recent state legislative action indicates an appetite for change which could spur long-needed construction and development. In this session, leading experts will discuss: the successes and challenges of state-level zoning requirements, balancing local and state control and the impact of state control on home rule, and the potential for federal action. Other state-level efforts for the planning and financing needed to activate housing choice will also be discussed.
Speaker: Katie Hodgon, Donna Brewer & Jennifer Raitt

Voting Rights Webinar
2025-07-10 13:00 - 14:00
Proof of Citizenship and Other Election Proposals Impacting Voter Access
This webinar examines key aspects of voting access and election administration in Arizona, focusing on proof of citizenship requirements and proposed changes to early voting procedures. The session will provide an overview of how Arizona enforces citizenship verification for voter registration, contrasted with current federal legislation and legal standards. It will also explore legislative proposals aimed at reducing the early voting period to expedite election result reporting, alongside concerns raised by voter rights advocates about potential disenfranchisement.
Speaker: Christina Werther
