ONLINE
Friday, May 1, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Ready to launch your career in contracts law?
Contracts are essential to business and the more you understand about how they work and how to draft effective ones, the more successful you will be. But success in this field goes beyond knowing the law – it takes business savvy, sharp communication skills, and real-world experience – and that’s exactly what this program delivers. Join an amazing group of faculty for a day-long discussion of the essential skills and lessons learned along the way.
Learn the skills to become a successful contracts lawyer.
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
– Jennie A. Clarke, Course Chair
9:05 – 9:35 a.m.
Building Your Foundation: Drafting LLC Formations and Operating Agreements
– Allison M. Plunkett
9:35 – 10:35 a.m.
What Really Matters in Contract Drafting – Drafting Principles and Enforceability
– Jennie A. Clarke & Michael H. Frasier
10:35 – 10:50 a.m.
BREAK
10:50 – 11:20 a.m.
How to Use AI to Draft Better Contracts
– Mark D. Stignani
11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Battle-Tested: Practitioner Insights on Handling Tough Negotiations and Difficult Parties
– Michael C. Flom, Jeffrey C. O’Brien & John R. Remakel
– Jennie A. Clarke (moderator)
12:20 – 1:05 p.m.
LUNCH BREAK (on your own)
1:05 – 1:50 p.m.
What Goes Wrong When Deals Go to Court: Drafting Lessons Learned from Litigation
– Faris A. Rashid
1:50 – 2:05 p.m.
BREAK
2:05 – 3:05 p.m.
Own Your Journey: Defining Success and Finding Your Career Path
– Scott M. Hagel, Rochelle L. Hauser & K. Davis Senseman
– Jennie A. Clarke (moderator)
3:05 – 3:20 p.m.
Helpful Resources for Contracts Lawyers
– Holly L. Garland
3:20 – 3:30 p.m.
BREAK
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Real-World Ethics for Business Lawyers
1.0 ethics credit applied for
– Chad A. Snyder
LIVE IN-PERSON
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
ONLINE REPLAYS
Friday, May 1, 2026
Monday, May 11, 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:
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 1.0 ethics credit. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 6.0 credits.
