Our 13th Annual Ethics Law Forum will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, from 11:30 AM - 4:15 PM at the Gallup Riverfront Campus. This complimentary seminar will address emerging challenges facing in-house legal counsel and best practices for protecting your organization, responding to increased regulatory action, and the impact of artificial intelligence on businesses and the legal profession.
AGENDA
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Registration and Check-In
12:00 PM
Introduction
Rick Jeffries
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Addressing Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health in the Legal Profession
Chris Aupperle, Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program Director
Since 1996, The Nebraska Lawyer Assistance Program (NLAP) has been a confidential resource for lawyers, judges, and law students to address mental health, alcohol and drug use disorders, cognitive loss, stress, and other conditions that impact the personal and professional lives of our legal professionals. This program will exam recent research, warning signs and resources available to assist lawyers who may be struggling with drug and alcohol use disorders, as well as common health disorders. We will discuss how to encourage others to seek help and to support them as they seek treatment.
1:00 - 1:30 PM
Protecting Company Assets and Goodwill Amid NLRB and FTC Position Changes
Henry Wiedrich and Sydney Huss
Protecting an organization's assets and goodwill through restrictive covenants continues to be both important to and challenging for employers. This session will cover recent decisions, guidance, and position changes from the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Trade Commission, and how those decisions and position changes impact employers in Nebraska and Iowa. In particular, in light of the federal positions that have been staked out on restrictive covenants and confidentiality, how do employers adequately protect company assets, confidential information, and goodwill? Additionally, with respect to changing federal law on confidentiality obligations, how does this change impact the scope and content of common provisions in employee separation agreements?
1:30 - 2:15 PM
The Supreme Court's Decision in Students for Fair Admissions/Harvard College: Attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs
Tara Stingley
Dean Richard Moberly, University of Nebraska College of Law
Susan Lewis, Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company
Shawntal Mallory, Nebraska Legal Diversity Council
In Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, et al, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that universities' use of race as a criterion in admissions violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Some states' Attorneys General have opined that the Supreme Court's decision applies to employment policies, and at least one U.S. Senator has cautioned law firms on advising their clients on programs addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through this framework of recent legal developments, Panelists Dean Richard Moberly, University of Nebraska College of Law, Shawntal Mallory, Nebraska Legal Diversity Council, and Susan Lewis, Senior Associate General Counsel for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, will join moderator Tara Stingley to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court's decision in the context of employment and the legal profession, the impact on DEI initiatives and programs, and practical considerations in light of attacks on and challenges to DEI.
2:15 - 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 - 3:15 PM
Preparing for and Responding to Surprise Regulatory Visits
Daniel Oldenburg, Beau Bump, and Andrew Strotman
Tomorrow may be the day that the government knocks on your company's door. Whether the knock comes from ICE, OSHA, law enforcement, or another state or federal agency, you will not have time to prepare in the minute it takes you to answer the door. Preparation happens today, and our panel will discuss how to plan and prepare for investigations and audits initiated by the government, increased regulatory enforcement, crisis management, and best practices for organizations in managing risk.
3:15 - 4:15 PM
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Practice of Law
Jessica Robinson
For many, AI technology such as ChatGPT became readily accessible to the public overnight. Now, legal practitioners must grapple with how the rise of AI can and should impact the practice of law. This presentation will discuss AI technology generally, some attorneys' early blunders using AI, ethical concerns to consider when incorporating AI into your practice, and potential beneficial ways to ethically use AI.
Four hours of continuing legal education credit (including one hour of ethics) are being sought from the Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado CLE Commissions.
To register, please fill out the form below.
