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...

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,...

Exploring Local Government Legal Operations as a Management Discipline This webinar explores the emerging concept of Local Government Legal Operations as a Management Discipline. Attendees will examine why leadership of a modern local government legal office requires more than legal expertise and consider common challenges of many local government legal office leaders, including the lack of formal preparation for organizational leadership and the reality that urgent demands often overshadow the long-term responsibilities that strengthen an organization over time. Drawing on...

Key Issues in Local Historic Preservation Law Professor Bronin will familiarize attendees with local powers to designate and regulate historic properties and put those local powers in a state and national context.  She will also provide a tour of the National Preservation Atlas (www.preservationatlas.org), the country’s first-ever public resource to integrate historic properties designated the local, state, and federal levels, and the legal protections that apply to them. Speaker: Sara Bronin

Legal Ethics and the Municipal Attorney In this program, Texas Center for Legal Ethics Executive Director Brad Johnson will discuss several Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, with a focus on municipal attorneys. The discussion will include conflict-of-interest rules (Model Rule 1.7), representation of an organization (Model Rule 1.13), and more. Speaker: Brad Johnson

Disorder in The Court: The Crossroads of Incivility and Wellness in the Legal Profession Abrasive or burned out? Overworked or uncivil? Zealous advocate or bully? The legal profession is currently navigating a critical crossroads where the traditional, often adversarial culture of lawyering meets an urgent need for practitioner well-being. Based on recent reports, it is widely believed that civility in the legal profession is under severe strain, with many arguing it is in critical condition. While not entirely dead, the...