August 21st, 2025 Legal Expo and Education Schedule

Austin Chapter Association of Legal Administrators is recognized by SHRM to offer 2 Professional Development Credits
(PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities."

1st Education Session

Employment Law Update: Federal and State Law Developments and Current Trends - This session provides a comprehensive overview of the most significant employment law developments in 2025 at both the federal and Texas state levels. Attendees will gain insights into recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that reshape employer obligations, understand the evolving regulatory landscape and explore new Texas laws that impact workplace policies. From wage and leave updates to DEI rollbacks and worker classification changes, this presentation equips legal administrators with the knowledge necessary to stay compliant and proactive in a rapidly changing legal environment.

Key Takeaways:

1. Gain knowledge of U.S. Supreme Court decisions affecting employers and receive an update on federal agencies under the Trump administration.
2. Learn about developments in Texas law regarding classifications and status of DOL’s salary thresholds for overtime exemptions.
3. Learn about recent developments with Artificial Intelligence laws that could impact employers.

Susan P. Burton, J.D., a native Austinite and Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, represents employers in all aspects of the employee-employer relationship, offering strategic advice and defending clients in court and before government agencies. With extensive experience as an employment law Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, she advises on a wide range of HR and legal issues, including discipline, discharge, layoffs, disability accommodations, FMLA, injuries, contracts, wages, and non-compete matters. She helps employers manage risk through policy reviews, training, and compliance strategies, and represents them in administrative proceedings before the EEOC, TWC, DOL, and OSHA. Susan also litigates state and federal cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, ADA claims, and wage disputes, and has secured injunctions in non-compete and confidential information cases. Before joining the Firm in 2018, she led employment law practice groups at two of Austin’s top full-service law firms.

Ted Smith, a founding partner of Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP, is Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been recognized among The Best Lawyers in America since 2010, including being named Austin’s “Lawyer of the Year” in Employment Law - Management. A Texas Super Lawyer since 2003 and part of Texas Monthly's “Top Attorneys in Texas,” Mr. Smith represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including litigation, counseling, and arbitration related to federal and state statutes such as Title VII, ADA, FMLA, and NLRA, as well as trade secret, non-compete, and international employment issues. He earned his B.B.A. from Notre Dame and J.D. from the University of Texas, served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, and practiced at Littler Mendelson and Jenkens & Gilchrist before co-founding his firm. Mr. Smith is active in the Texas and Austin Bar Associations, previously serving as Chair of the Austin Bar’s Labor & Employment Section, and is licensed in multiple federal courts and appellate jurisdictions.

2nd Education Session:

Time Management Skills for Busy Legal Administrators

About our speakers:

Christy Walsh is the Chief Operating Officer at Drew Eckl & Farnham, LLP, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. With a strategic focus on operational excellence, Christy plays a pivotal role in overseeing firm-wide initiatives, including financial operations, human resources, and administrative leadership. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to align firm operations with long-term business goals.  Christy currently serves as President Elect on the board of the Atlanta Association of Legal Administrators (AALA), where she contributes to advancing leadership and innovation within the legal administration community. She is deeply passionate about time management and boundary setting as essential tools for fostering a healthy work-life balance—principles she actively promotes within her team and professional network.

EJ Stern, MA, CPC, advises law firms and lawyers on how to effectively expand their business and generate greater revenue. She is co-founder of Fractional Law Firm CMO, a consulting firm offering sophisticated legal marketing and BD strategies to help firms of all sizes grow their business. EJ has more than 20 years of experience leading strategy, business development and marketing for the legal industry. EJ previously served as US Head of Client Development for Clyde & Co and Associate Director – Business Development Coaching for Troutman Pepper (f/k/a Troutman Sanders). She held marketing positions at Steptoe & Johnson and Proskauer Rose, as well. Beyond her law firm marketing experience, EJ advises corporations, nonprofits, and professional services firms on how to help employees increase productivity, refine leadership skills, and set healthy workplace boundaries.

Can We Truly Juggle It All? Time Management Skills for Busy Legal Administrators

Legal administrators live in an ever-connected world filled with constant distractions, nonstop demands, and never-ending deadlines. Now more than ever, mastering time management is critical to your success. This interactive workshop will provide practical, easy-to-incorporate tips to help you hone your time management skills, increase your productivity and set healthy workplace boundaries.

 Objectives:

• Identify best practices to eliminate distractions.
• Develop strategies to spend your time more efficiently.
• Discuss techniques to get more organized.
• Review how to prioritize competing deadlines and try to avoid rabbit holes.

Otis Hotel Parking Instructions: 

• Turn right off San Antonio Street into The Otis parking garage which is just past the hotel valet. Be sure to take a parking ticket from the machine as you enter.
• Take the elevators to Level 1.

Tickets

$40.00 Member Ticket

$30.00 Guest of the Austin ALA member