MINNEAPOLIS
Thursday, December 10, 2026 - Friday, December 11, 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Check-In: 8:30 AM
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall # 370
3rd Floor, City Center
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Introducing Minnesota CLE’s Inaugural Practice Management Institute!
Topics Include:
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:05 – 10:05 a.m.
The Law Firm as a Business: A Strategic Blueprint for Your Firm
– George Dierberger
10:05 – 10:20 a.m.
BREAK
10:20 – 11:20 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION A
101
Build Your Own Apps for a More Efficient Practice
– Tammy Pettinato Oltz
102
The Business of Law: Focusing on the Financial Issues
– Suzette Allaire, Jess Birken & Jason C. Kohlmeyer
– Leanne R. Fuith (moderator)
103
Market Research and Marketing Principles for Every Sized Law Firm
– George Dierberger
104
AI HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATION: AI Prompt Writing LIVE! How to Ask Better Questions and Get Better Answers
– Paul M. Floyd
11:20 – 11:30 a.m.
BREAK
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
201
How to Keep Your Network and Documents Safe at Little to No Cost When Working Remotely
– John J. Carney
202
Succession Planning for Law Firms: Leadership, Ownership, and the Next Generation
– Joshua A. Hasko, Kimberly A. Lowe, Jacob F. Siegel & Justin P. Weinberg
203
Recruiting and Hiring Law Students in Today’s Marketplace
– Robert Borchardt, Lisa M. Brabbit, Leanne R. Fuith & Rick L. Petry
204
AI HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATION: Build Your Own Apps for a More Efficient Practice LIVE!
– Tammy Pettinato Oltz
12:30 – 1:40 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK (provided)
FUN! FOOD! FOGO!
Join fellow attendees for a complimentary lunch at Fogo de Chão, conveniently located in the same building as the Conference Center. Enjoy more than 40 selections from Fogo’s Market Table, refreshing beverages, and casual conversation with colleagues in a relaxed setting.
1:40 – 2:40 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
301
What Makes Great Outside Counsel? An In-House Perspective
– Debra E. Altschuler, Christopher H. Jison & Christopher L. Koshire
– Jonathan P. Norrie (moderator)
302
Getting Compensation Right: How to Incentivize Both Lawyers and Non-Lawyers
– Paul M. Floyd, Kimberly A. Lowe & Shawn J. Wanta
303
Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers: Building Your Own Skills and Developing Others
– Cody J. Blades, Melanie Green & Joshua A. Hasko
– Roy S. Ginsburg (moderator)
304
AI ROUNDTABLE: AI Marketing – What Are You Trying and What’s Working for Your Firm?
– Gyi Tsakalakis
2:40 – 2:50 p.m.
BREAK
2:50 – 3:50 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D
401
AI Searches Have Taken Over: How to Move Past the SEO Mindset
– Gyi Tsakalakis
402
Retaining Talent: How to Keep Good Lawyers and Staff
– William J. Egan, Gretchen L. Luessenheide & Andrew McNaughtan
– Kathryn M. Lammers (moderator)
403
Trust Accounting: 7 Things Every Law Firm Needs to Get Right
– Karin K. Ciano & Joanna Labastida
404
AI ROUNDTABLE: How Are You Using AI in Your Practice?
– Jess Birken
3:50 – 4:00 p.m.
BREAK
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Using Artificial Intelligence in Practice: Smarter Tools, Common Mistakes and Mitigating Risk
– John J. Carney
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.
CONFERENCE RECEPTION
Join your friends and colleagues for tasty refreshments, great conversation, and fun prize drawings!
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
DAY 2 WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:05 – 10:05 a.m.
How Poor Practice Management Leads to Ethics Complaints
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Eric T. Cooperstein
10:05 – 10:15 a.m.
BREAK
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION E
501
Building a Law Firm Culture Where People Thrive
– Leanne R. Fuith
502
Perspectives from Practitioners Who Have Practiced in Large and Small Firms
– Jennifer M. Robbins, David E. Schlesinger & Steven M. Sitek
– Eric T. Cooperstein (moderator)
11:15 – 11:25 a.m.
BREAK
11:25 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION F
601
When Someone Is Out: Practical Strategies to Ensure Work Is Getting Done While an Employee Is on Leave, Vacation, or Otherwise Unavailable
– Alysa A. Hannula & Sarah Ptacek
– Katherine C. Bischoff (moderator)
602
2027 Hiring and Compensation Trends
– Andrew McNaughtan
12:25 p.m.
INSTITUTE ADJOURNS
LIVE IN-PERSON
Thursday & Friday, December 10-11, 2026
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
ONLINE REPLAY
Thursday & Friday, January 14-15, 2027
Attend online
Online replay includes all plenary and breakout sessions. A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
$395 MSBA members / $395 paralegals / $445 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 9.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credit. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 9.0 credits.
