2025-2026 Legal Hot Topic Seminars

 

Join MSBA for the annual Legal Hot Topic Seminar Series, led by MSBA General Counsel Jim Keith, one of Mississippi’s most respected education law experts. This timely series delivers clear, practical legal guidance on the most pressing issues facing school districts today. Designed specifically for school board members, superintendents, board attorneys, HR directors, and district administrators, the series breaks down complex legal topics into actionable insights to help you lead confidently based on law and policy.

Sessions will cover critical areas such as student discipline and due process, personnel law and EEPL, leave and accommodation compliance, and wage and hour regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This year’s series also addresses emerging challenges around AI misuse, including student violations of acceptable use policies and employee conduct concerns related to artificial intelligence tools.

 

Whether you are new to leadership or a seasoned professional, this series will equip you with the knowledge and legal awareness needed to protect your district, uphold ethical standards, and maintain compliance with ever-evolving laws and policies. 

 

 

Employee Misconduct and AI:

Navigating Legal Boundaries in the Workplace

Wednesday, January 14, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
    

Does the Education Employment Procedures Law (EEPL) leave you confused and searching for answers? This seminar will reveal best practices for reducing legal liabilities related to termination notices, employee contracts, and revocation/suspension of teacher and administrator licenses for misconduct. Learn what you need to know about EEPL and how you can avoid common mistakes. The session will also cover employee misuse of artificial intelligence, such as generating inappropriate or misleading content, misrepresenting credentials, or violating district policy through unsanctioned AI tools. Participants will gain insight into how to update job descriptions, evaluation tools, and codes of conduct to address this growing area of concern.

 

 

 

Clock In with Confidence:
Overtime, Exemptions, and FLSA Compliance

Wednesday, April 1, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  

When it comes to something as important as employee wages, you cannot afford a mistake which may cause an investigation by the Department of Labor or a costly lawsuit from an employee. This seminar will clarify the latest decisions and applications of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Learn from court decisions and hear examples of cases that have cost other organizations time and money. Topics will include exempt vs. non-exempt classifications, comp time, and tracking work hours for salaried employees. Participants will gain tools to ensure payroll practices meet federal requirements and withstand scrutiny.

 

James A. Keith, Esq., a partner with Adams and Reese, LLP, specializes in education and administrative and employment law. He also serves as MSBA's General Counsel. He is a widely regarded expert, both nationally and locally, on special education matters in public school systems. He often represents school districts in state and federal courts on student matters related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Keith serves as a board attorney for several Mississippi school districts and as a resource for superintendents and school boards across the state. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi, where he served as Managing Editor of the Mississippi Law Journal.