Professional Path for Legislative Staff

Whether you are a lawmaker or legislative staffer, you have specific professional development interests. The professional paths are designed specifically with you in mind. (Dates and times are tentative.)

Managing Change and Transition
Whether change is a result of technology, power shifts, term limits or catastrophic events, it can be difficult. Learn how to manage change effectively and introduce change to others.
Tuesday, August 7 at 1:30 p.m.

Dealing With Conflict
Everybody in a role of leadership faces conflict in their professional and personal lives. Develop a working knowledge of the different ways to manage conflict and learn your preferred management style.
Tuesday, August 7 at 3:15 p.m.

Separation of Powers
Separation of powers ensures a balance among the three branches of government. Review recent court cases and other constitutional crises that threaten this balance.
Wednesday, August 8 at 2:45 p.m.

Demographic Trends That Change Your World
Join a noted demographer for a trip through time and data to understand how key demographic trends are reshaping America’s economic, political and social makeup and what those trends mean for policy in your state.
Wednesday, August 8 at 1 p.m.

The Anatomy of Ethics Reform
States are actively reforming their ethics laws and these experiences provide lessons for other states. This session examines the steps New Jersey took and the obstacles it surmounted, as well as recent ethics reforms in several others states.
Thursday, August 9 at 10:15 a.m.

The Media: Out With the Old, in With the New?
Newspaper readership is declining while web traffic on news sites continues to rise. Statehouses are even fielding requests from bloggers for press credentials. Are state legislatures prepared to communicate with the public in this new era?
Wednesday, August 8 at 2:45 p.m.