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

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Introduction to Employment Law
– Leonard B. Segal

9:15 – 10:00 a.m.
Federal and Minnesota Employment Laws You Need to Know from Day One
Knowing the law is a must, but there is so much to know! This session will highlight laws you need to know to be a successful employment lawyer.

• Federal laws, including Title VII, FMLA, ADA, ADEA, FLSA
• State laws, including MHRA, PFML, ESST

– Daniel G. Prokott

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
7 Common Employment Law Questions and Strategies to Respond
This session will review common questions asked of employment lawyers and strategies to respond, including:

• Minnesota is an at-will state, so can’t we just terminate an employee?
• We have an employee who takes a lot of time off…do we have to allow even more?
• My supervisor is a jerk; can I sue my employer?

– Leonard B. Segal

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
BREAK

10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Litigating an Employment Law Case: Insights from Both Sides
Employment claims are very personal, meaning personalities, emotions, and other factors are involved. This fast-paced session, with attorneys from both sides, will take you through a typical employment law case.

• Plaintiff’s attorney’s initial case analysis & valuation assessment
• Defendant’s attorney’s initial case analysis & valuation assessment
• Key considerations in discovery & motion practice
• Settlement considerations
• Getting prepared for trial

– Gina K. Janeiro & David E. Schlesinger

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Careers in Employment Law
Hear what it really means to be an employment lawyer from a plaintiff’s lawyer, defense lawyer, and in-house lawyer.

• How they started their career in employment law
• What is a “typical” day for them
• What do they find most rewarding
• What do they find most challenging
• What keeps them up at night

– Ilyse S. Goldsmith, Tina A. Syring & Joni M. Thome
– Leonard B. Segal (moderator)

12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK (on your own)

1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
How “Traditional” Labor Law Differs from Employment Law
Organized labor activity is on the rise, but practicing such “traditional” labor law can be quite different than employment law. How so? This session has the answers. 

• How a unionized workforce differs from a non-unionized workforce
• What happens during a union organizing campaign
• How collective bargaining works
• Handling labor arbitrations

– Dominic J. Cecere & Justin D. Cummins

1:45 – 2:15 p.m.
Common Mistakes in Employment Law and How to Avoid Them
We all make mistakes. The key is not to repeat them. Learn from two seasoned lawyers, one who represents employees and one who represents employers, so you can avoid these common mistakes. Mistakes to be discussed include:

• Taking your client’s statements at face value without reviewing the evidence
• Rushing to court before exhausting required administrative remedies
• Not asking about possible insurance coverage

– Nicholas G.B. May & Debra L. Weiss

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
BREAK

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
How I Built My Employment Law Practice
You want to practice employment law, but how do you get started and grow your practice? Whether you want to do defense or plaintiff’s work, this session will give you ideas to grow your practice.

• Starting an employment law practice
• Gaining necessary knowledge
• Building your practice

– V. John Ella & Lawrence P. Schaefer

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Ethical Challenges in Employment Law
1.0 ethics credit applied for
Like any practice area, employment lawyers face ethical challenges. Join Eric Cooperstein to learn about recent developments impacting lawyer communications under Rules 4.2 and 4.3 of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.
– Eric T. Cooperstein

4:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Helpful Resources for New Employment Lawyers
– Holly L. Garland

LIVE IN-PERSON
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota

ONLINE REPLAYS
Friday, May 22, 2026
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
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 6.25 CLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credit. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 6.25 credits.

Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Bar Association for 6.25 labor and employment law specialist credits.

Minnesota CLE is appyling to the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) for 6.25 HR (General) recertification credit hours.

Minnesota CLE is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. This program is valid for 6.25 PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Get more information about certification or recertification.