Annual Labor & Employment Law Symposium helps lawyers prepare for common labor and employment issues in their practice

The Annual Labor & Employment Law Symposium is back for in-person continuing legal education for the first time in three years. Held this Friday, Nov. 11, at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, the symposium will feature speakers well-versed in a variety of labor and employment issues.

The full-day program will include presentations on subjects ranging from arbitration and best and worst mediation practices to legislative developments and remote work issues and trends. A lunch presentation will focus on recent changes for Missouri state court practitioners, including updates regarding dispositive motions, the pleading of punitive damages, and changes in discovery rules. View the full schedule of events online.

“These issues affect lawyers across all fields of practice,” said Lori Bonnot, assistant director of CLE programs at The Missouri Bar. “At some point in their career, most lawyers find themselves facing questions concerning labor and employment. The goal of this conference is to give Missouri lawyers the tools they need to spot problems and respond quickly and effectively.”

In one learning session, panelists Tara Eberline and Kristi Kingston will focus on both plaintiff and defendant perspectives when an employee brings legal claims against his/her current employer, including: the taking of company documents, tape recording, participating in investigations, acts of retaliation, and negotiating exit strategies.

The final speaker of the day, Vincent Reese, will examine the understanding of the nature and science behind implicit bias. Reese will review what implicit bias means and how it influences decisions, the impact of biases, and how to recognize behaviors that suggest bias or differential treatment.

“Besides the opportunity to learn directly from experts, the in-person component of the conference offers benefits you just can’t get virtually,” said Garnett Matthews-Campbell, director of CLE & dispute resolution at The Missouri Bar. “Getting individual feedback about issues you might be facing in your own practice and being able to confer one-on-one with colleagues allows you to engage with the subject matter on a deeper level.”