ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Fran Sepler, President of Sepler & Associates, is a renowned investigator, trainer and consultant whose work includes consulting with the EEOC to create a new harassment training program. The author of Finding the Facts – What Every Workplace Investigator Needs to Know, she is a master communicator who teaches lawyers, human resource professionals, business leaders and employee relations professionals how to conduct timely, thorough, fair, credible, and neutral investigations.

SCHEDULE:

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

9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

9:05 – 10:05 a.m.

1. The Structure of an Investigation

Components of a Competent Investigative Process

• Intake – Taking the fresh complaint; What will facilitate a smooth investigation and what will undermine it?; What does an investigator need from the "first responder?"
  
• Interim actions
  
• Using a "need to know" team
  
• Paperwork and administrivia
  
• Evidence collection – Using creative thinking to uncover evidence; Securing electronic or digital evidence; Taking notes, making your notes reliable, dealing with requests for notes
  

Organizational Readiness for Investigations – Policies and decisions to have in place today

The Decision to Investigate

10:05 – 10:15 a.m.
BREAK

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.

2. Planning the Investigation
Attendees participate in creating a plan for the hypothetical case

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

3. The Investigative Interview

The Anatomy of an Investigative Interview

• The 5 essential stages of an interview
  
• Special tips for dealing with tough questions and typical issues
  

Special Issues in Interviewing Complainants, Respondents and Witnesses

Assuring Integrity

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
LUNCH (on your own)

12:15 – 2:15 p.m.

Demonstration Interview: The Reluctant Witness

Demonstration Interview: The Respondent

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
BREAK

2:30 – 3:15 p.m.

4. Credibility Assessments

Myths About Lie Detection

Strategies and Mechanics of a Credibility Assessment

How to Evaluate Inherent Truthfulness or Lack Thereof

How to Document Credibility Assessments

3:15 – 3:45 p.m.

5. Making Findings and Preparing Reports

Avoiding the Myth of "Substantiation"

To Recommend or Not to Recommend

Written or Verbal?

3:45 – 4:15 p.m.

6. The Unique Psychological Dynamics of Workplace Claims

LIVE IN-PERSON
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota

ONLINE REPLAYS
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Thursday, February 20, 2025
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 5.75 standard CLE credits. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 5.75 credits.

Minnesota CLE also has applied to the Minnesota State Bar Association for 5.75 labor and employment specialist credits.