Barristers Labor & Employment Symposium

Calling all Labor & Employment attorneys! Please join the Barristers Club, Labor & Employment Section for their 2025 Symposium featuring two CLE-provided, engaging, and timely topics. The first, on legal ethics and AI, and the second on Navigating the Class Action Settlement and Approval Process, followed by a reception generously hosted by Farella, Braun + Martel.

Time: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | MCLE: 1 Hour Legal Ethics
Panel I:  Legal Ethics and AI 
Join this interactive session centered on recent cases dealing with ethics and AI with breakout groups to discuss related hypotheticals in our respective areas.

Topics

• Bias and Discrimination: How AI tools can inadvertently perpetuate bias in hiring and employment decisions, and the ethical obligations to mitigate these risks
• Privacy Concerns: The implications of using AI for employee monitoring and data collection, and how to balance these practices with privacy rights
• Transparency and Accountability: The need for clear guidelines on AI decision-making processes and ensuring accountability for AI-driven outcomes
• Compliance with Employment Laws: Ensuring AI applications comply with existing labor laws and regulations, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Impact on Employment: The ethical considerations of AI's impact on job displacement and the responsibility of legal professionals to address these changes
• Informed Consent: The importance of obtaining informed consent from employees when implementing AI technologies in the workplace

Speaker

Michele Neitz USF School of Law

Time: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. | MCLE: 1 Hour
Panel II: Navigating the Class Action Settlement and Approval Process
Attorneys seeking to enhance their expertise in class action settlement agreements should consider attending this seminar that offers a comprehensive overview of the class action settlement process, including the types of cases requiring court approval, such as class actions, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) claims, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims. Participants will gain insights into the fundamental differences between settlement processes, such as the opt-in versus opt-out mechanisms and the fair, reasonable, and adequate standard applied to PAGA settlements. The seminar will also address the strategic reasons for settling, including the rarity of class actions proceeding to trial and the role of mediation. Attendees will learn how to avoid potential conflicts of interest between class counsel and the class, and what terms are crucial in settlement agreements, such as service awards and releases. Additionally, the session will cover the use of technology in settlement approval process and the nuances of navigating opposing counsel's flexibility on terms like notice to class members. This event promises to equip attorneys with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively manage class action settlements, making it an invaluable opportunity for legal professionals in the field.

Topics

• The types of cases requiring court-approved settlements, such as Class, FLSA, and PAGA, and the types of claims that can be brought under these bases, including wage-and-hour and misclassification claims
• The fundamental differences between the settlement processes if class, FLSA, and PAGA actions, including opt-in versus opt-out processes and the impact of new PAGA legislation
• The reasons for settling class actions, the role of mediation, and how to avoid potential conflicts of interest between class counsel and the class
• What clients care about in settlement agreements, terms for which flexibility is desired from opposing counsel, and the use of technology in the settlement approval process
• Next steps after reaching a settlement agreement, differences in the approval process between state and federal courts, and important considerations for class action settlement notices will be discussed

Speakers  

William Jhaveri-Weeks The Jhaveri-Weeks Firm	Matthew Goldberg Perkins Coie

Moderator

Joseph R. Lewis Morgan Lewis

Section Chair
Joseph Lewis, joseph.lewis@morganlewis.com 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Event Code: B251431
For a printable flyer, click here.
For related events, click here. 

Cost

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Program Access
This is an in-Person program only.  Virtual access will not be available. Program recordings are not guaranteed and/or included with this registration, nor immediately accessible to registrants. Approved recordings of live programs are converted to On-Demand CLE Courses and available for separate purchase through a third-party library 30 business days after the live recording. 

For CLE events longer than 1.5 hours, and for special events such as conferences, symposiums, professional development training programs, a 50% refund is available if you cancel at least 10 business days prior to the event. Please complete the Event Cancellation Form.

If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute. Please complete the Event Cancellation Form.

MCLE Notice
To receive MCLE credit, you must sign in during the designated MCLE registration period. This activity is approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California. BASF is a certified provider: Provider #103

Accessibility
People with disabilities and/or special requests should contact BASF regarding reasonable accommodations.