2026 ISBA ANNUAL MEETING

CLE PROGRAM
Thursday, June 25

Government Practice Track

Room: Bishop C

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
A More Perfect Workplace: A Guide to Constitutional Law for Counsel to Public Employers
Brent Hinders, Hinders Updegraff & Franklin, PLC

1 state CLE credit

Mixed Bag Track

Room: Bishop A

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Criminal Law Update
Hon. Paul Ahlers, Iowa Court of Appeals

Compelling insights into pivotal criminal law rulings and legislative shifts influencing Iowa courts, delivered by Hon. Paul Ahlers of the Iowa Court of Appeals.

1 state CLE credit

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Medicaid Eligibility for Long-Term Care Scenarios 
Scott Hartsook, The Thoreau Center, LLC

Gain a practical understanding of Medicaid eligibility for long-term care. Through real-world case scenarios, this presentation guides legal practitioners through asset limits, spousal allowances, and complex spend-down rules, providing the essential insights needed to effectively navigate the application process and protect client resources.

1 state CLE credit

Plenary Track

Room: Bishop A–B

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 
Copilot 101: Taking Flight with Copilot
Ben Schorr, Affinity Consulting 

Discover the essentials of Microsoft 365 Copilot and how it integrates into your daily workflow. Attendees will gain a foundational understanding of how this AI tool operates alongside practical, step-by-step guidance to confidently utilize its features and enhance workplace productivity.

1 state CLE credit

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Practical Copilot
Ben Schorr, Affinity Consulting

Master advanced prompting techniques, efficient drafting, and streamlined management of emails and Teams chats using Copilot. This session delivers high-level strategies and sophisticated workflows to maximize your productivity and unlock the full potential of Microsoft’s AI assistant in your daily legal practice.

1 state CLE credit

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Health and Fitness Tools to Improve Mental Health in the Practice of Law
John Mongar

With attorney anxiety and burnout remaining critically high, legal professionals face profound physical and mental exhaustion. Explore how chronic stress impacts the body and discover practical do’s and don’ts to counter its effects. You will leave with actionable stress-reduction tips, including how targeted exercise can help restore well-being.

1 state and 1 wellness CLE credit

Rural Practice Symposium

Room: Bishop C

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
The Rural Lawyer: How to Incentivize Rural Law Practice and Help Small Communities Thrive
Prof. Hannah Haksgaard, University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law 

The Rural Lawyer explores America's rural access-to-justice crisis and successful recruitment solutions. Highlighting Hannah's analysis of challenges in rural practice, this presentation provides critical strategies for new attorneys navigating these environments and insights for established practitioners ready to offer impactful mentorship.

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Rural Law in Practice: Perspectives from the Field
Ally Bedwell, Reynoldson, Van Werden & McCoy, LLP
Jennifer Harrington, Buchanan, Bibler, Gabor, & Meis
Michael Mahaffey, Mahaffey Law Office
Abby Wessel, Rickert, Wessel & Allen
Moderator: Ryan Daisy, Willson & Pechacek, PLC

Join several rural Iowa attorneys for an engaging roundtable discussion exploring the distinct realities of their legal practices. This session highlights the unique challenges and rewarding opportunities faced by rural practitioners, while actively dispelling common myths surrounding rural practice and community life.

1 state CLE credit

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Around the Table: Rural Lawyers and Stakeholders in Conversation
Ryan Daisy, Willson & Pechacek, PLC
Prof. Brian Farrell, Director of the Citizen Lawyer Program at the University of Iowa College of Law
Rep. Brian Lohse, Iowa House District 45
Omar Padilla, Stakeholder
Tom Vilsack, CEO, World Food Prize Foundation; former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Prof. Jennifer Zwagerman, Director of the Drake Agricultural Law Center
Moderator: Kathy Law, Nyemaster Goode, P.C.

Engage in a critical roundtable discussion addressing the barriers to expanding Iowa’s rural attorney workforce. Panelists will analyze the rural housing shortage, declining law school applications, misconceptions of rural practice, an aging bar, and access to justice, while sharing strategic solutions to revitalize these legal communities.

1 state CLE credit

Solo and Small Firm Series: Practical Solutions for Every Stage of Practice
Segment 1: From Intake to Invoice

Room: Bishop B

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Client Intake and Screening Systems
Amy Swaner, Lexara
Gabrielle Vazquez, Vázquez Law Office PLLC

0.50 state CLE credit

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Engagement Letters and Workflow Systems
Mark Gray, Mark Gray Law, PLC
Thomas Hillers, Hillers Legal, PC
Emily Laposha, Lockton Affinity
Melvin O. Shaw, The Law Office of Melvin O. Shaw, P.L.C.
Moderator: Jennifer Chavez-Rivera, Strategic Counsel, PLLC

Optimize your firm's efficiency with proven strategies to streamline office workflows. This session provides practical guidance on system improvement alongside customizable sample engagement letters, equipping practitioners with the tools necessary to enhance productivity, mitigate risks, and elevate client management from day one.

1 state CLE credit

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Billing Practices and Collection
Christina Thompson, Christina I. Thompson Law Office

Christina Thompson provides an essential guide to ethical billing and collection practices tailored specifically for attorneys. This session explores compliant fee structures, effective collection strategies, and risk management techniques to help practitioners protect their hard-earned revenue while maintaining strict adherence to professional responsibility standards.

1 state and 1 ethics CLE credit

Today's Non-CLE Activities