IMLA

Affordable Housing Webinar
2025-07-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
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

Homelessness Working Group Call
2025-07-03 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-07 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-04 14:00 - 15:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email cstorer@imla.org.

Federal Funding Call
2025-07-03 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-17 15:00 - 16:00

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

World Cup Working Group Call
2025-07-09 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-13 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-10 14:00 - 15:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email amorris@imla.org.

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

Grant Terminations and DEI Webinar
2025-07-15 13:00 - 14:00
Navigating the New Legal Landscape in President Trump’s Second Term: DEI, Federal Funding, and Litigation Related to Contract and Grant Termination
The second Trump administration has ushered in sweeping changes to federal policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), fundamentally altering the compliance landscape for municipalities, public agencies, and their partners. Through a series of executive orders, the administration has mandated the termination of DEI-related programs, contracts, and grants, and has introduced new certification requirements tying federal funding to strict compliance with anti-discrimination laws as interpreted by the current administration. These actions have triggered a wave of litigation, with courts across the country grappling with constitutional, statutory, and administrative challenges to the mass termination of federal funding and the imposition of new contract conditions.
This webinar will provide municipal lawyers with an overview of:

The key executive orders driving the rollback of DEI initiatives, including the termination of “equity-related” grants and contracts, and the new requirements for DEI certifications in federal agreements.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative and the increased use of the False Claims Act to investigate and potentially penalize entities alleged to be in violation of the administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws.
Recent federal grant and contract terminations and the resulting legal challenges to the validity of these executive actions under the Administrative Procedure Act, including an overview of key cases.
The jurisdictional complexities of challenging federal grant and contract terminations, including the interplay between district courts and the Court of Federal Claims, and the implications for seeking injunctive or monetary relief.
Practical impacts for municipalities, including the risk of funding loss, program disruption, and increased litigation exposure, as well as strategies for compliance, risk mitigation, and advocacy.

Attendees will gain timely insights into the current and emerging legal risks associated with DEI programming and federal funding, as well as contract and grant termination litigation and related best practices for those navigating this rapidly changing environment. The session will be especially valuable for municipal attorneys advising on federal grants, contracts, civil rights compliance, and public policy.
Speaker: Dominique Casimir & Sara Gerber

Artificial Intelligence Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-07-17 13:00 - 14:00
Ethical Legal Research with Generative AI

Sponsored by LexisNexis.
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This CLE presentation is for legal professionals who want a better understanding of the intersection between generative AI and legal ethics. Beginning with a foundational overview of AI and its generative capabilities, participants will explore the ethical implications as outlined by the American Bar Association (ABA) model rules. Key topics include maintaining competency (Rule 1.1), ensuring confidentiality (Rule 1.6), and effective supervision (Rule 5.1) in the context of AI use.
The course will also address potential sanctions for unethical AI practices and provide insights into the application of AI in legal research tools, emphasizing ethical principles and considerations. Participants will engage in discussions on specific ethical issues such as AI hallucinations, supervisory concerns, and confidentiality challenges.
The course concludes with a review of ethical AI use policies within law firms and an open discussion to consolidate learning and address participant queries. This course is designed to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to ethically integrate AI into their practice.
After completing this course, you will:

Have a better understanding of Extractive and Generative AI
Be familiar with legal use cases for AI
Know how the ABA model rules are being applied to AI
Be able to draft an ethical law firm AI use policy
Be prepared to protect client data and work quality while taking advantage of AI

Speaker: Lisa Richardson

Small/Rural Communities Working Group Call
2025-07-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-15 14:00 - 15:00

2025 Section 1983 Program
2025-07-24 08:00 - 2025-07-25 17:00
Section 1983 Program
July 24-25, 2025
Virtual

LGLC Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2024-2025 - This is not an IMLA Webinar
2025-07-28 13:00 - 14:00
Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2024-2025

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:

Public safety. These include regulations pertaining to “ghost guns” and law enforcement’s use of force and the “moment of threat” doctrine
The environment. These include the Clean Water Act and NPDES permit requirements as well as requirements under NEPA.
Employment law. These include majority group discrimination, FLSA claims, and claims relating to post-employment retiree benefits.
Nationwide or universal injunctions (which has direct implications for current litigation regarding grant funding and grant conditions)

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.
Speaker: Luke McCloud & Amanda Karras

Code Enforcement Working Group Call
2025-07-28 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-25 15:00 - 16:00

Municipal Finance Webinar
2025-08-05 13:00 - 14:00
Fundamentals of Municipal Finance and Borrowing
Municipal attorneys are often asked, “Can we do this?”, when “this” relates to getting, spending, and borrowing money by their municipal clients. This session will consider the essential legal issues attendant to that question. We will discuss basic constitutional issues like public purpose, corporate purpose, and lending of the public credit; the theoretical distinction between taxes and fees; the legal ramifications of that distinction; and other limitations on the ways that municipalities can get and spend money. We will also briefly consider the role and types of municipal borrowing. Because the laws vary widely from state to state, the session will focus on issue spotting and general questions that the municipal attorney should consider when asked financial questions.
Speaker: Eric Shytle

Homelessness Webinar
2025-08-12 13:00 - 14:00
Strategies for Addressing Homelessness 2025
This CLE presentation explores how the City of Houston has used a combination of local ordinances, strategic partnerships, and federal frameworks to address homelessness. Since 2012, Houston has housed over 30,000 individuals, aided by targeted city ordinances regulating encampments, expanding access to emergency shelter, and facilitating supportive housing initiatives. The presentation also examines how the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act has shaped local responses, particularly in ensuring access to education and housing stability for homeless youth and families. Attendees will gain insight into how legal frameworks and policy tools have been effectively deployed to reduce unsheltered homelessness in the region.
Speaker: Lucy Anderson & Michael Nichols

Regular Rates for the Annual Conference End
2025-08-15
2025 IMLA 90th Annual Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana: Wednesday, Friday, October 17 – Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Click here to learn more about the conference.

Cross Examination and Negotiation Skills Webinar
2025-08-19 13:00 - 14:00
Go-to Tips for Cross-Examination: Specific Tools You Can Use Today in Any Municipal Litigation
This presentation will offer concrete techniques for crafting and conducting cross-examination of witnesses in any type of municipal litigation. Geared toward arming attorneys new to trial and evidentiary hearings with immediately usable tools, this session will focus on the mechanics of preparing cross-examination outlines and provide specific hip-pocket tips for maintaining witness control.
Speaker: Ellie Neiberger

First Amendment Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-08-21 13:00 - 14:00
This Webinar Is Banned!
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This webinar will explore the legal landscape surrounding two hot-button issues in the ongoing culture wars: book selections in public schools and libraries, and the regulation of drag performances. The presentation will look at trends in state laws and local government actions, providing a comprehensive overview of the legal challenges and considerations faced by government lawyers. While the Supreme Court’s guidance on book banning dates back to 1982, the session will examine more recent lower court decisions with potential to influence current legal interpretations. Additionally, the webinar will analyze the wave of restrictions on drag performances and discuss recent and ongoing lawsuits challenging these regulations.
Speaker: Roger Horner

Legal Writing Webinar
2025-08-26 13:00 - 14:00
Legal Writing 101
Get valuable tips on writing — everything from an email to an appellate brief. Much of daily communication is the written word, and this seminar will teach you everything you need to know to make your communication clear and powerful.
Speaker: Blithe Bock

Land Use Webinar
2025-08-28 13:00 - 14:00
Regulation of Short Term Rentals: Issues and Considerations
Many communities are struggling with issues relating to short-term rentals, especially after the proliferation of vacation rental aggregation websites over the past couple decades. Examples of some of the issues that arise are pressures on workforce housing, regulatory takings, and public nuisances, such as trash and noise. Although the impacts of STRs are often heightened in regions that are desirable for vacation or recreational opportunities, the impacts of STRs can be felt across many different types of communities. This presentation will examine some of those challenges and how some communities and courts have responded.
Speaker: Rob Bovett & Casey Burgess

Construction Law Webinar
2025-09-02 13:00 - 14:00
Anatomy of the Life of a Typical Construction Dispute: Advice for Municipal Counsel to Navigate Each Step of the Process
In this seminar, experienced construction counsel and a construction claim expert will provide an overview of the typical life of a construction claim, with an eye towards helping municipal counsel navigate each step of the process. Presenters will provide practical advice enlivened punctuated by real-life examples. The seminar will address topics such as: 1) Ounce of Prevention: What counsel can do in advance to prevent or control construction disputes: Contract document preparation and careful documentation of issues which arise that may evolve into a dispute. The creator of the narrative often ends up as the victor. 2) What to do upon receipt of a claim, including assembly and review of documents, litigation hold notices, witness interviews, retention of experts. 3) early independent assessment of claims. 4) claim evaluation. 5) claim adjudication: litigation, arbitration, other. 6) dispute resolution tips
Speaker: Christopher Petrini & Roy Cooper

Municipal Defense Strategies Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-09-04 13:00 - 14:00
Shielding the City: Key Considerations Before Filing an Answer
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
Join IMLA for a timely webinar featuring legal leaders from Annapolis and Little Rock. This essential session walks through the strategic groundwork municipal attorneys should lay before answering a lawsuit—from identifying procedural defenses to assessing insurance coverage and coordinating with city leadership. Whether you’re new to public sector litigation or a seasoned municipal law expert, you’ll gain valuable insights to help shield your city from risk and ensure a strong legal response.
Speaker: Mike Lyles & Lynette Perez

Code Enforcement Webinar
2025-09-10 13:00 - 14:00
Administrative Warrants: Getting the Code Officer’s Foot in the Door
This webinar will discuss administrative warrants as a necessity for code enforcement inspections. We will discuss the differences between an administrative warrant as opposed to criminal warrants. Followed by a review of the case law requiring code enforcement officers to obtain one, the process, and scenarios.
Speaker: Savita Rai & Samuel Adams

Municipal Gun Regulation Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-09-16 13:00 - 14:00
Local Governments and Gun Violence Prevention 2025: Pathways for Municipal Regulation and Litigation
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This CLE presentation will explore the evolving landscape of gun violence prevention, focusing on the challenges and opportunities local governments face in enacting firearms ordinances and holding firearms industry members accountable when they jeopardize public safety. The session will focus largely on the Second Amendment and affirmative litigation strategies. It will review the Supreme Court’s text, history, and tradition test set out in NYSRPA v. Bruen and United States v. Rahimi and its impact on gun-safety laws, with a focus on defending local gun laws against Second Amendment challenges. It will also provide an overview of state firearm preemption statutes and their impact on local gun regulation. Finally, the session will discuss lawsuits against irresponsible members of the gun industry to remediate and reduce gun violence in local communities.
Speaker: Janet Carter, Bill Taylor, Dana Mulhauser & Priyanka Sen
