AALRR’s Inaugural Public Agency Employment Law Forum

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AALRR’s Inaugural Public Agency Employment Law Forum

Crucial Updates. Leading Legal Minds. Unbeatable Value.

Navigating public sector employment law has never been more complex. From the evolving boundaries of workplace free speech to the development of AI technology and its impact on H.R. and labor relations, the legal stakes California’s public agencies are facing is unprecedented.

Join Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud, and Romo (AALRR) for a half-day forum that will dive into cutting edge employment law developments affecting cities, counties, and special districts. We are bringing together some of the state’s top labor and employment law attorneys to deliver the practical guidance, compliance updates, and insights needed to protect public agencies in the following areas:

1. Navigating the Limits and Risks of Free Speech in a Charged World
   • Speech in the public sector workplace has increased in recent years, following the turbulent pandemic years, the proliferation of social media, and responding to a charged environment. Public officials, employees, and union representatives alike resort to workplace speech to raise concerns on an expanding set of topics, often made online and bolstered with AI-generated content. Managers and supervisors must now navigate a complex interplay of legal protections for speech, and consider how to adapt their practices to respond to employee speech—including in some instances off-duty speech activities—in this new reality. This session will provide attendees with evolving, complex standards affecting public free speech. Further, participants will grapple with scenarios drawn from real-life cases, and consider best practices in how they can respond to their own agencies’ challenges involving employee speech.

2. Behind the Curtain: Conducting Workplace Investigations Without Missing Your Cue

   • When workplace allegations take center stage, investigators must do more than follow the script, they must manage the cast to preserve fairness, define a scope with precision, and avoid legal missteps. This session will spotlight common investigation challenges, including drafting effective interview notices, handling shifting allegations, managing reluctant or complicated witnesses, navigating recording and transcription issues, and staying current on legal developments. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for keeping investigations thorough, defensible, and professionally directed from opening scene to closing curtain.

3. AI Developments and the Impact on Labor Relations and H.R.
   • Just a few years after its release, generative AI has sparked both excitement and concern across the public sector.  Is it the key to improving efficiency and enhancing HR decision-making? Or does it pose an existential risk—introducing algorithmic bias, disparate impact, misinformation, brain rot, and other potential liabilities that agencies are unprepared to manage? From recruitment to service delivery, AI is already reshaping how government agencies operate. But alongside the opportunities come critical questions: To what extent are AI tools subject to collective bargaining under California labor laws?  Do public agencies have the managerial right to adopt AI technologies to improve operational efficiency?  Are public agencies required to meet and confer regarding the impacts of such decisions?  What legal risks, such as hiring bias and potential disparate impact claims, must HR leaders proactively address? Join this dynamic session to explore the role of generative AI in public sector HR and labor relations. 

Network with AALRR Attorneys Over Lunch. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect with AALRR attorneys in an informal setting. During lunch, attendees will have the chance to discuss current challenges, exchange ideas, and build valuable professional connections with colleagues and legal practitioners. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and expand your professional network.

Join us for elite-level legal training, and regional networking at a public sector friendly rate of $99. 

Program Details:

Date: September 29, 2026
Time: 7:30am Registration/Continental Breakfast | 8:00-11:45am Program | 11:45am Networking Lunch
Registration Fee: $99* (Includes continental breakfast and networking lunch)
*Cancellations must be received in writing at aalrr_programs@aalrr.com no later than September 21, 2026, to receive a refund. 
Continuing Education Credit: SHRM, HRCI, and MCLE recertification credit hours available. 

Event Agenda:

For questions about the half-day forum, please contact Jatinder.sandhu@aalrr.com.