8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
Welcome & Introduction
– Grant T. Collins, Course Chair

9:05 – 9:15 a.m.
Overview of the Labor & Employment Law Specialist Certification Exam
– Timothy B. Kohls, Chair, MSBA’s Labor & Employment Specialist Certification Board

9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Employment Discrimination

• Part I  (30 minutes)
  State and federal employment discrimination statutes, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (discrimination and accommodation), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and the Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act.
  – Steven Andrew Smith
  
  
• Part II  (30 minutes)
  Releases of employment discrimination claims, arbitrability of claims, and how employment discrimination statutes affect analysis in reductions-in-force.
  – Jenny Gassman-Pines

10:15 – 10:20 a.m.
BREAK

10:20 – 11:05 a.m.
Private Sector Labor Law
Overview of the NLRA, NLRB proceedings, organizing and unfair labor practices. 
– Chelsea J. Bodin & Sara L. Lewenstein

11:05 – 11:35 a.m.
Ethics Issues in Labor and Employment Practice
0.5 ethics credit applied for
This short and impactful session will deliver your essential employment ethics tips including, identifying your client and constituents in an organization, analyzing conflicts, conducting ethical investigations, and drafting ethical settlement agreements.
– Ingrid N. Culp & Cassie B. Hanson

11:35 – 11:45 a.m.
BREAK

11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Immigration Law for the Labor and Employment Attorney
All foreign nationals, except for US permanent residents, must obtain authorization from the US government to live and/or work in the US. This session will provide an overview of H1-B Non-Immigrant Work Visas, L-1 Non-Immigrant Work Visas, E-1/E-2 Non-Immigrant Work Visas, TN Classification, Lawful Stay for Dependents, Form I-9 and E-Verify. 
– John T. Medeiros

12:15 – 12:30 p.m.
2023 Changes to Leave Laws (covering FMLA, ADA, State Statutes and Local Ordinances)
This session will provide a brief overview of recent changes to federal, state, and local leave laws. It will address the FFCRA, FMLA, MPLA, ADA, the 2023 Minnesota Legislative session and Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth sick leave ordinances.
– Grant T. Collins

12:30 – 1:10 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK

1:10 – 1:40 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION A

EMPLOYMENT LAW TRACK –
What Every Employment Attorney Needs to Know About Labor Law
Labor law isn’t just for labor unions. Thus, even attorneys representing employees and employers in a non-union environment need to understand how federal labor law applies in a non-union workplace. What is more, President Biden has made expanding private-sector unionization a goal of his administration. As a result, every employment lawyer should have a basic understanding of the NLRB representation process, how the NLRA interacts with other employment laws, and how to administer and enforce a union contractor.
– Grant T. Collins

OR

LABOR LAW TRACK –
What Every Labor Attorney Needs to Know About Employment Law
The duty to bargain regarding workplace policies that implicate employment law; the approach to disputes that involve both employment law and labor law claims; and the procedural and substantive differences in agency enforcement regarding employment law claims versus labor law claims.
– Brendan D. Cummins

1:40 – 1:50 p.m.
BREAK

1:50 – 2:20 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B

EMPLOYMENT LAW TRACK –
Common-Law Employment Contract and Tort Claims
This session will provide an overview of employment torts, including tortious interference, invasion of privacy, defamation, and negligence. This session will also cover employment contracts, non-compete/restrictive covenants, executive compensation.
– Lawrence P. Schaefer

OR

LABOR LAW TRACK –
Labor Arbitrations
This session will review the process for grievance arbitrations, challenges to arbitrability, appeals, and more.
– Alex M. Bollman

2:20 – 2:30 p.m.
BREAK

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C

EMPLOYMENT LAW TRACK –
Wage and Hour
Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, state wage and hour laws, prevailing wage (federal and state) and settlements/releases in the wage-hour context.
– Mary B. Thomas

OR

LABOR LAW TRACK –
Collective Bargaining
This session will discuss the duty to bargain in good faith; subjects of bargaining; process and notices; and more.
– Emily L. Marshall 

3:00 – 3:10 p.m.
BREAK

3:10 – 3:40 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D

EMPLOYMENT LAW TRACK –

• Family and Medical Leave  (15 minutes)
  A brief overview of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, several Minnesota equivalents and the Minneapolis and Saint Paul sick and safe time ordinances. 
  – Sara L. Lewenstein
• Whistleblower, Reprisal and Retaliation  (15 minutes)
  This session will provide a general overview of federal and state whistleblower, reprisal, and retaliation claims.
  – Shawn J. Wanta

OR

LABOR LAW TRACK –
Duty of Fair Representation Claims, LMRDA and Labor Disputes
In this session you will learn about strikes, lockouts, and picketing. This session will also review the duty of fair representation claims and provide an overview of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.
– Grant T. Collins

3:40 – 3:50 p.m.
BREAK

3:50 – 4:20 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION E

EMPLOYMENT LAW TRACK –
Other Significant State and Federal Employment Laws
This session will address Minn. Stat. 181; occupational safety and health (OSHA and state health and safety laws); unemployment compensation; state and federal veterans rights; federal contract compliance; DOL OFCCP; federal, state, and local affirmative action; and WARN.
– Thomas R. Revnew

OR

LABOR LAW TRACK –
Public Sector Labor Laws
This session will identify the relevant laws and take a close look at the relevant portions of Minnesota’s Public Employment Labor Relations Act.
– Paula R. Johnston

4:20 – 4:30 p.m.
BREAK

4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Benefits Law for the Labor and Employment Attorney
Except for wages and salaries, employee benefits are the primary tools by which employers attract and retain qualified personnel for their organizations.  Learn the common issues that arise with regards to employee benefits.Topics include ERISA plans, deferred compensation plans under IRS Code Section 409A, severance agreements and other related topics.
– Thomas B. Henke

LIVE IN-PERSON
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota

ONLINE REPLAYS
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Attend online
A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.

$295 MSBA members / $295 paralegals / $345 standard rate

Other discounts that may apply:

• Season Pass Discount
• New Lawyer Discount

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 6.0 CLE credits, including 0.5 ethics credit. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 6.0 credits.

Minnesota CLE also has applied to the Minnesota State Bar Association for 6.0 labor and employment law specialist credits.