43rd Annual Federal Sector Labor Relations & Labor Law Conference

Thursday, September 18, 2025
8:45 am - 4:30 pm

Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60661

Eligible for IL MCLE Credit: approximately 6.0 hours, which includes 1.0 hour of Mental Health and 1.0 hour of Ethics credit

Please join us for our 43rd annual gathering of federal government officials and policymakers, prominent attorneys and union representatives, and leading academics at this one-day, virtual conference of engaging discussions about the status of the federal workforce and the law that governs federal workers. In addition to updates from top agency officials, this conference will explore how the federal workforce is adjusting to the current administration and policy changes.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

PROGRAM SCHEDULE *Schedule subject to change*

Thursday, September 18, 2025

8:45 am - 9:00 am	Welcome Jason Bent, Professor of Law, Director of the Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace
9:00 am - 10:00 am	Opening Plenary Martin H. Malin, Professor of Law Emeritus, Chicago-Kent, Moderator Noah Peters, Sr. Advisor to the Director, Office of Personnel & Management Rob Shriver, Managing Director, Civil Service Strong and Good Government Initiatives, Democracy Forward
10:00 am - 10:10 am	BREAK
10:10 am - 11:10 am	FLRA Case Law Update Attorneys from the Federal Labor Relations Authority will discuss recent Authority decisions, including exceptions to arbitration awards and negotiability determinations under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute. Anna Molpus, Chief Counsel, Office of Chairman Kiko Melissa Wisniewski, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Member Wagner Moderated by Jason Bent, Professor of Law, Director of the Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace
11:10 am - 11:30 am	BREAK
11:20 AM - 12:20 pm	CONCURRENT SESSION I
	Federal Sector Arbitration Techniques This session will address both the unique nature of federal sector arbitration (Douglas Factors, management's rights and the impact of law, rules and regulation) and how to successfully present a case from the perspectives of an Arbitrator and advocates from both sides of the aisle. Steve Bierig, Arbitrator Michael McAuley, General Counsel, National Treasury Employees Union Dan Mullenix, Senior Counsel, IRS
	The Healthy Advocate: Balancing Law Life and Menatl Health Felicia Frazier, Managing Partner, Odelson, Murphy, Frazier & McGrath Moderated by Jason Bent, Professor of Law, Director of the Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace
12:20 pm - 1:20 pm	Lunch/Break
1:20 pm - 2:20 pm	MSPB Updates David Lidow, Administrative Judge, MSPB Elisabeth (Elisa) Nolte, Administrative Judge, MSPB Gina Rozman, Administrative Judge, MSPB Brooke Worden, Administrative Judge, MSPB
2:20 pm - 3:20 pm	CONCURRENT SESSION II
	Litigation Updates or How Unions Are Responding Dan Kaspar, Director of Field Operations, National Treasury Employees Carolyn Shapiro, Professor of Law, Co-Director of the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States, Chicago-Kent College of Law
	Administrative Channeling: An Obstacle to Federal Employee's Quest for Justice Margaret Donaghy, AALJ, Social Security Administration Harold J. Krent, Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law Judge Som Ramrup, President, Association of Administrative Law Judges
3:20 pm - 3:30 pm	BREAK
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm	CONCURRENT SESSION III
	EEOC Updates In this session, we will cover recent EEOC Federal Sector caselaw and review tips for practicing before the Commission’s Administrative Judges. June Calhoun, Supervisory Administrative Judge, The Chicago District Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
	Ethics Katrina Kelley, LCPC, CST, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Modern Insight Therapy Melissa A. Smart, Director of Education, ARDC Moderated by Jason Bent, Professor of Law, Director of the Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace

*All sessions will be available for On-Demand viewing after the conference*

Click here for information about our Speakers

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CREDITS

This conference is eligible for approximately 6.0 hours of General CLE credit in 60-minute states, which includes 1.0 hour of Mental Health and 1.0 hour of Ethics credit.

Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state's approval and credit rounding rules.

Chicago-Kent College of Law will seek accreditation for this conference in the following states: CA, IL, IN, MO, NY, OH, PA, TX, and WI.

States typically decide whether a program qualifies for MCLE credit in their jurisdiction 4-8 weeks after the program application is submitted. For many live events, credit approval is not received prior to the program.

TO RECEIVE CLE CREDIT: If you have met the participation requirements, you will be prompted to complete your affidavit link and receive your personalized CLE affidavit directly from mcle@americanbar.org within 48 hours after the conclusion of the conference. Please check your spam or junk folders, as these emails often end up there. If you have any questions about receiving your certificate, email mcle@americanbar.org

CONFERENCE PRICING

	Regular Registration: 8/11–9/16/25	Late Registration: 9/16–9/18/25
Individual	$425/person	$450/person
Group*	$350/person	$350/person

* Register ten or more individuals in one transaction to qualify for the group rate. The discount will be applied to your cart during checkout.

QUESTIONS? WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

CONTACT THE OFFICE OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

CONTACT US: EMAIL cle@illinoistech.edu | PHONE 312.906.5090

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/27 - 28	Fundamentals of Banking Law
11/7	41st Annual Public Sector Labor Relations + Labor Law