Featured – AALA https://www.aglaw-assn.org Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:20:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 CLE Webinar: Burnout in the Legal Profession https://www.aglaw-assn.org/uncategorized/burnout-in-the-legal-profession-recognition-response-recovery/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:57:46 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10904

Burnout has reached critical levels in the legal profession—nearly 80% of legal professionals report experiencing burnout, and 40% have considered leaving the profession entirely due to stress. This presentation examines the occupational phenomenon of burnout, distinguishing it from everyday stress. Attendees will learn to recognize burnout warning signs in themselves and colleagues, understand the key differences between stress and burnout, and discover practical strategies for response and recovery.

Please note the following:

1. This webinar is offered to current AALA members only as a part of the member benefits.

2. This program is being offered for CLE credit in each state and reporting will not occur until after the program.

3. Pre-registration and active participation during the program are required in order to receive credit.

4. AALA is seeking CLE approval from the most stringent states before the program and approval for all other states will be sought afterwards. AALA will do its best to seek CLE credit for all members who attend, but it is possible that some states may not approve the webinar.

5. CLE credit will not be offered to those who only watch the recorded version provided after the webinar on the member portal.

This webinar will be offered to AALA members only for continuing legal education credit. If you are not currently an AALA member but want access to this webinar, you can become a member here.

Members:

Click here to be taken to your AALA member portal home page to register!

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2026 Annual Educational Symposium https://www.aglaw-assn.org/featured/2026-annual-educational-symposium/ Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:45:15 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10820

47th Annual Agricultural Law Educational Symposium

November 5–7, 2026 |Fairmont, Dallas, TX| Dallas, Texas

The American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) is proud to host its 47th Annual Agricultural Law Educational Symposium, bringing together leading agricultural law professionals for three days of in-depth education, discussion, and connection.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

Attendees will have the opportunity to earn:

  • Up to 3 CLE credits on Thursday

  • Approximately 11–13 CLE credits on Friday and Saturday*

(*CLE credit approval is pending and subject to state requirements.)

Sponsorship Opportunities

This symposium is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. Thank you for investing in the future of agricultural law as we celebrate 47 years of education and professional excellence.

Discover how your organization can connect with agricultural law professionals nationwide through our 2026 Sponsorship Packages:

AALA 2026 Sponsorship Guide. For sponsorship information, contact Executive Director Liz Icenogle at Liz@aglaw-assn.org.

Request for Proposals (RFP)

2026 AALA Annual Educational Symposium

AALA invites proposals from experienced professionals interested in presenting timely, relevant topics in agricultural law.

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

We look forward to seeing you in Dallas.

For more information, please e-mail us at info@aglaw-assn.org or use this websiteʼs contact form.

* AALA will submit sessions deemed eligible for continuing legal education (CLE) credits to symposium registrants’ states. CLE credits are granted based on individual attendance records and state CLE rules. Note that approvals will vary because each state has different CLE requirements and rules. For example, not every state calculates CLE credits based on the clock hour. Not every state will grant CLE credits for each session submitted by AALA. In all events, AALA is committed to providing top-quality, relevant CLE that will be approved for most states.

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Committee & Content Opportunities https://www.aglaw-assn.org/uncategorized/committee-content-opportunities/ Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:29:03 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10773 Explore our committees and let us know where you’d like to get involved or if you’d like to contribute articles to the Farm to Firm newsletter.

Sign up here!

Committee Descriptions:

Awards Committee
Recognize excellence in agricultural law by coordinating AALA’s annual awards. Review nominations and select recipients for the Excellence in Agricultural Law Award, Professional Scholarship Award, and Student Scholarship Award. Coordinate recognition of award winners during the annual symposium. Time Commitment: Work begins in late spring with planning, followed by soliciting nominations in late summer and evaluating nominees in late summer/early fall. Committee members are encouraged to help present awards during the symposium in November, if available.
Distance Education Committee
Expand member access to professional development through webinars and online CLE programs on emerging agricultural law topics. Working with subject-matter experts, the committee plans and delivers timely, high-quality educational content to members nationwide, with up to two sessions annually designated as members-only CLE.
Time Commitment: The committee typically meets 1-2 times per year via Zoom to plan annual content, with additional coordination via email as needed. Committee members volunteer to manage 1-3 educational sessions throughout the year.
Membership and Marketing Committee
Support AALA’s membership growth and visibility by assisting with recruitment strategies, engagement initiatives, and marketing campaigns. Help implement outreach efforts to attract new members and re-engage lapsed members.
Time Commitment: The committee typically meets monthly. Committee members participate in personal outreach to lapsed members in late summer and may support additional initiatives such as social media content, promotional materials, targeted potential and new member outreach, or other member communications throughout the year.
Newsletter Committee
Produce Farm to Firm, AALA’s monthly e-newsletter, keeping members informed on legal and policy developments affecting agriculture. Committee members solicit and edit articles as well as contribute to Letters from the Editor.
Time Commitment: The committee meets monthly and holds an annual planning session at the beginning of the year to outline content themes and the publication schedule for 11 issues throughout the year.
Students and Young Professionals Outreach Committee
The SYP Committee connects the next generation of agricultural and food law professionals to the AALA community by recruiting law students and young lawyers into the agricultural law community. It also builds relationships with law students and schools, organizes webinars and mentorship sessions specifically for students and young professionals, and creates pathways for early-career professionals to network and engage with experienced practitioners. The committee plays an instrumental role in planning student-focused events during the annual symposium.
Time Commitment: The committee meets monthly. Committee members can get involved in various ways, including hosting webinars, facilitating mentorship and career panels, coordinating symposium student events, or connecting with law schools for outreach.
Symposium Planning Committee
Oversee content for AALA’s premier annual event by soliciting speaker proposals, reviewing submissions, and curating programming to deliver a high-quality educational experience that advances the profession.
Time Commitment: Work begins in late winter with the call for proposals and speaker outreach. The committee typically meets virtually once a month, with flexible or optional attendance depending on your availability. Additional meetings may be scheduled in late spring/early summer to review and select sessions, and again in the fall to finalize details.
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Webinar: Reviewing New OBBBA Tax Provisions Impacting Agricultural Producers https://www.aglaw-assn.org/uncategorized/webinar-reviewing-new-obbba-tax-provisions-impacting-agricultural-producers/ Mon, 13 Oct 2025 20:49:30 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10596

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act enacted significant tax provisions that impact farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners. In this one-hour webinar, agricultural tax expert Kristine Tidgren, Director of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, will break down the key tax changes introduced by the OBBBA legislation, explaining how these provisions may affect your operation as you close out 2025 and prepare for the 2026 tax year. With practical examples and actionable planning tips, Kristine will help producers understand the implications of the new rules and how to make informed decisions that support long-term financial stability.

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2025 Symposium Sponsors https://www.aglaw-assn.org/uncategorized/2025-symposium-sponsors/ Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:54:33 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10527 AALA Thanks You for the Generous Contributions!

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CLE Webinar: Trump v. CASA https://www.aglaw-assn.org/featured/cle-webinar-trump-v-casa/ Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:11:42 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10399

In this webinar, legal experts unpack the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Trump v. CASA, which limited the authority of federal courts to issue universal injunctions. The panel will explore the ruling’s implications for judicial power and future of legal challenges to statutes, regulations, and other unlawful actions.

Video replay of this webinar is available to members in the Webinar Archives of the Resources section of the AALA website.

Click HERE for access.

Replay not eligible for CLE credit.

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Webinar: Heirs’ Property Law Update https://www.aglaw-assn.org/featured/heirs-property-law-update/ Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:42:17 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10368

This webinar explores the complex legal and interpersonal challenges involved in heirs’ property cases, with a focus on quiet title actions. Attendees will gain insight into navigating the tangled webs of ownership, family dynamics, and genealogy. The session will also offer practical strategies for managing client expectations, improving communication with multiple heirs, and addressing the emotional and logistical hurdles that often arise in these sensitive cases. Ideal for attorneys, legal aid professionals, and advocates working in property and estate law.

Video replay of this webinar is available to members in the Webinar Archives of the Resources section of the AALA website.

Click HERE for access.

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Webinar: Making America Healthy Again https://www.aglaw-assn.org/uncategorized/webinar-making-america-healthy-again/ Thu, 22 May 2025 19:56:10 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10311

Food industry policy and legal experts provide insights into the Making America Healthy Again agenda, including an update on the MAHA Commission, reforms to the GRAS regulations, banning of food dyes, and more. Our speakers come with a wealth of policy and legal experience, representing some of the most major food manufacturing brands in the country.

Video replay of this webinar is available to members in the Webinar Archives of the Resources section of the AALA website.

Click HERE for access.

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Featured Member: Sarah Luther https://www.aglaw-assn.org/featured/featured-member-sarah-luther/ Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:45:09 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10095

Current employer:
Farmers Business Network

Education and work experience:
Bachelor’s degree in agricultural and biological engineering from the University of Florida, an MBA and a JD from the University of Houston. Previously at Mills Shirley in Galveston, Texas, doing both transactional and litigation work.

AALA leadership roles:
Symposium planning committee

How did you get interested or involved in agricultural law?
I grew up on a beef and poultry farm and had a menagerie of farm animals. I currently manage cattle across 200 acres in northern Florida.

What is your current role and what type of work are you doing?
I support the input sales and marketing groups at FBN, spanning issues from regulatory, transportation, intellectual property, etc. As in-house counsel, I manage litigation, provide advice across a wide range of subjects, and review and draft a wide range of materials, whether it be marketing materials prepared for external sharing or traditional legal materials.

What are some challenges and opportunities you see in your job and the ag law profession?
Agriculture is an ever-evolving industry, as it must be to keep up with the needs of the populace, changing weather patterns and consumer sentiment, and rising input and land costs. As lawyers, we must also keep up with the changes in the industry. With a reduction in the number of farmers and people in general who are knowledgeable about agricultural issues, this becomes even more complicated and important. We not only need to know the law, but we also need to know agriculture so we can educate those we interact with about the industry’s current state and rising issues.

How does AALA help or benefit your profession or current role?
AALA is a great resource to get applicable updates on changes in ag law. It’s also the best place to connect with other ag-focused attorneys.

What is one of your favorite AALA memories or experiences?
The symposium always creates great memories. I come back every year with a list of new things to check into or research.

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Request for Proposals (RFP) https://www.aglaw-assn.org/uncategorized/request-for-proposals-rfp/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:28:09 +0000 https://www.aglaw-assn.org/?p=10233

2026 AALA Annual Educational Symposium

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

RFP Process, Information, & How to Submit

The American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) invites proposals for educational sessions for the 2026 Annual Educational Symposium. The Symposium delivers high-quality Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and serves as a national forum for discussion of laws and public policies affecting agriculture. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the presentation will provide substantive, practical, and non-promotional educational content consistent with the high standards of the Symposium.

Symposium Overview
Dates: November 5–7, 2026
Location: Fairmont, Dallas, Texas
Format: In-person only (virtual presentations will not be considered)

Submission Deadline & Notification
Proposal Deadline: March 1, 2026
Notification of Decisions: By June 1, 2026

About AALA
The American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) is a professional organization for legal and other professionals who focus on agricultural law and the legal needs of the agricultural and rural community. Founded in 1980, it serves as an independent, nonpartisan forum that provides education, information, networking, and resources on legal issues affecting farmers, agribusinesses, policymakers, and others connected to agriculture and rural areas.

Topics of Interest

The Planning Committee welcomes proposals addressing timely legal issues affecting agriculture nationwide. For 2026, proposals addressing issues of regional significance to the Southwest are especially encouraged, including:

  • Water rights and groundwater regulation
  • Agricultural labor and immigration policy
  • Environmental and climate-related regulations
  • Transportation, trade, and cross-border compliance
  • Land use, zoning, and farmland preservation
  • Food safety, FSMA compliance, and traceability
  • Native American law and its impact on agriculture and natural resources
  • Drought, disaster relief, and agricultural risk management
  • Proposals addressing other emerging or “hot” legal issues relevant to agricultural stakeholders are also encouraged.

Program Tracks
Policy
Private Practice
Food Law
In-House / Corporate Counsel
Ethics (Ethics CLE sessions included)

Session Format & CLE Requirements
Session Length: 60-minute concurrent sessions
Format Preference: Multi-speaker panels; three presenters preferred
CLE: Sessions must be designed to qualify for CLE credit in most states
Materials: Speakers must prepare slides and written materials suitable for CLE accreditation and attendee use

Panel Composition & Diversity

The Planning Committee seeks diverse perspectives and encourages proposals that include:

  • Presenters from multiple organizations or employers
  • Multiple viewpoints on the topic
  • National or cross-regional perspectives
  • Presenters from under-represented or diverse backgrounds
  • Panels composed entirely of speakers from a single firm or organization will generally receive lower priority.
  • Panels should include at least one attorney speaker.

Selection Process

  • Proposals are reviewed by a Planning Committee of more than 30 AALA members.
  • Sessions are selected based on educational value, relevance, and balance within the overall program.
  • Approximately 15% of session slots are reserved for direct committee placement outside the RFP process.
  • Session slots are not available for sponsorship.
  • The committee may invite presenters with similar proposals to collaborate on a combined session.

Multiple Submissions
Applicants may submit multiple proposals and should indicate a priority order if doing so. To ensure a balanced program, the committee may limit the number of sessions assigned to any individual presenter.

Speaker Expenses
Selected speakers receive a discounted symposium registration rate. Speakers are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

For questions or additional information, please email us at info@aglaw-assn.org

? SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

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