Available On-Demand CLEs
Program Description:
Recent executive orders targeting law firms for the clients they represent, the partners they associate with, or the causes they pursue raise urgent constitutional questions. Such measures strike at the core of the First Amendment, threatening both expressive freedom and the independence of the legal profession. How should the Constitution protect professional autonomy against ideological restrictions? What happens when principles of expressive association collide with anti-discrimination law? How do legal ethics, the Sixth Amendment, and the historic role of lawyers as Alexis de Tocqueville’s "natural aristocracy" safeguard the rule of law itself?
During this St. Thomas Law Journal symposium, First Amendment scholars and nationally recognized figures in legal ethics explore each of these questions in depth.
The program contact is Michael Paulsen (paul2317@stthomas.edu).
View The Constitutional Rights of Lawyers & Law Firms CLE
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Program Description:
The University of St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy’s fall 2025 symposium convened distinguished scholars, historians, and policy experts from across the nation and around the world to examine the Rule of Law, one of the most enduring and contested principles of democratic governance.
The symposium featured a keynote address and panel discussions exploring the evolving role of the rule of law in both domestic and international contexts. Topics include executive authority, constitutional interpretation, authoritarianism, international order, and the use of legal processes as instruments of political or economic power.
The program contact is Charles Reid (cjreid@stthomas.edu).
View the Rule of Law CLE
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Program Description:
The Journal of Law and Public Policy's Spring Symposium explored the legal, economic, and policy challenges that might be seen throughout this second Trump term. The first panel discussed the impact of judicial decisions, executive power, and shifting policies on civil rights, trade, and digital speech. The second panel examined the shift to protectionist trade policies under both the Trump and Biden administrations, focusing on tariffs, sanctions, and economic nationalism. Then, the keynote speaker addressed the ethical concerns surrounding cryptocurrency investment and policy, particularly in light of Trump’s recent pro-crypto shift. Lastly, the third panel examined the effects of stricter immigration, trade policies, and financial regulations, as well as U.S. foreign policy in Eastern Europe, particularly regarding NATO and Russia. Together, this symposium explored how legal, economic, and diplomatic changes could reshape the U.S. and global landscape.
The program contact is Charles Reid (cjreid@stthomas.edu).
View The Age of Trump: Projecting Policy and Legal Impacts of a Second Term CLE
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Program Description:
The various protections of the First Amendment aim, among other things, to ameliorate polarization by limiting government’s coercive role against individuals and groups. But if managing conflict is a key First Amendment goal, how should laws reflect that goal? Are religious and expressive freedoms different in their effect on political/cultural divides? Beyond issues of law and government policy, how can debate in civil society be more productive and less polarizing? Joined by First Amendment and Social Science experts from across the country, this law journal symposium explored each of these questions in depth.
The program contact is Tom Berg (tcberg@stthomas.edu).
View the Navigating Polarization: The Role of the First Amendment CLE
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Program Description:
The St. Thomas Law Journal's spring 2024 symposium focused on "Emerging Issues in Sports Law." The event featured panelists from Minnesota and across the country who discussed current topics in college and professional sports.
The program contact is David Grenardo (gren2380@stthomas.edu).
View the Emerging Issues in Sports Law CLE
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Program Description:
The University of St. Thomas Law Journal’s symposium, Fentanyl: Tragedies and Solutions, covered one of the most pressing public health crises of our time. The event brought together a diverse group of experts to share insights, experiences, and strategies in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by fentanyl.
The organizers' goal was for attendees to gain a deeper understanding of the real-world impact of the fentanyl epidemic through firsthand accounts and expert analyses. Key takeaways included innovative law enforcement strategies and community-based approaches that can be replicated in various contexts. Attendees heard powerful stories of resilience from individuals in recovery, shedding light on the human aspect of this crisis and offering hope for change, and an ER doctor shared firsthand experiences during the peak of the epidemic. Finally, the Attorney General of Minnesota provided insights on state initiatives, creating a comprehensive dialogue on the path forward in addressing this urgent public health challenge.
The program contact is Mark Osler (mark.osler@stthomas.edu).
View the Fentanyl: Tragedies and Solutions CLE
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Approved 1/8/26 for 1.0 standard CLE on-demand credit (541587)
Program Description:
University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Michael Stokes Paulsen, a leading constitutional law scholar, examines separation of powers, checks and balances, and the role of lawyers in times of democratic stress.
The program contact is Uyen Campbell (ucampbell@stthomas.edu).
View the Constitutional Crises of the Trump Presidency CLE
Approved 7/1/25 for 1.0 standard CLE on-demand credit (531288)
Program Description:
Religious Accommodations and Other Values was presented as part of the “Hot Topics: Cool Talk” speaker series coordinated by the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law, and Business. The event featured two leading legal scholars with different views who discussed the benefits and limitations of religious exemptions in a spirited yet civil dialogue. Rick Garnett (Notre Dame) and Nelson Tebbe (Cornell) drew on pending and recently-granted Supreme Court cert petitions regarding religious accommodations and their potential tension with other values, such as equality, heath, and education. Professor Greg Sisk, co-director of the Murphy Institute, moderated the discussion. The program contact is Gregory Sisk (gcsisk@stthomas.edu).
View the Religious Accommodations and Other Values CLE
Approved 11/22/24 for 5.75 standard CLE on-demand credits (517611)
Program Description:
The St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy's fall 2025 symposium explored the complex challenges of achieving a clean energy future while prioritizing equity and justice. The keynote address focused on reimagining the clean energy transition, highlighting the intricacies involved in reshaping energy markets to ensure both sustainability and accessibility. Subsequent discussions emphasized the necessity of innovations that serve the public interest while advancing a cleaner energy infrastructure.
The symposium featured multiple panels, beginning with an examination of the federal role in the energy transition, including how artificial intelligence can enhance public participation in regulatory processes. The discussions also covered the importance of microgrids in promoting energy justice and the need for facilitating new projects. The second panel addressed how energy transitions affect marginalized communities, emphasizing equitable access for Tribal Nations and restorative energy justice examples, such as Hawaiʻi’s initiatives. The concluding panel focused on governance perspectives from various levels, discussing international cooperation and the role of local utilities in fostering equity and sustainability. An interactive roundtable wrapped up the event, bringing together stakeholders to discuss emerging challenges and actionable steps toward an equitable energy transition.
The program contact is Amy Wildermuth (wild3906@stthomas.edu).
View The Path to an Equitable Energy Transition CLE
Approved 8/9/24 for 6.0 standard CLE on-demand credits (511273)
Program Description:
Symposium co-sponsored by the Journal of Law and Public Policy and the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law, and Business.
Access to quality health care is essential to human thriving, indeed, to human survival. Last year when speaking to health care workers, Pope Francis said: A world that rejects the sick, that does not assist those who cannot afford care, is a cynical world with no future. Let us always remember this: health care is not a luxury, it is for everyone. The culture of care has long been upheld in human societies around the world, predating the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. Although nearly all agree on the aspirational ideal of access to quality health care, difficult questions remain as to how best to achieve that goal in a manner that does not create more harm than it cures. The conventional wisdom has been that a public health model may succeed in providing universal coverage but at the significant cost of quality health care. By contrast, while a largely private model may provide high quality health care to those who can afford it, many are left without meaningful access. In this symposium, we will hear from leading scholars and those on the front lines of health care provision on the subjects of universal access to quality health care, including both public and private models. In addition, speakers will address the distinct calling and mission of Catholic health care provision. The program contact is Gregory Sisk (gcsisk@stthomas.edu).
View the Universal and Quality Health Care CLE
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Approved 8/9/24 for 1.0 standard CLE on-demand credits (511272)
Program Description:
Professor Helen Alvaré, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, presents on themes from her 2022 book, Religious Freedom after the Sexual Revolution: A Catholic Guide. In this work, Alvaré examines the pressing religious liberty challenges of the day. She counsels leaders in the Church and her institutions to provide a more compelling, intelligent and compassionate voice on Catholic teachings on life, marriage, family and sexual identity. Without such a voice, the true mission and identity of Catholic institutions are at risk. As noted by Alvaré in the introductory chapter, explaining the place of sexual expression norms in the life of the Church and her institutions is an important part of the contemporary vocation of Catholics. This is not because sexual expression is the most important facet of the Catholic life, but because the world's need is great. The program contact is Gregory Sisk (gcsisk@stthomas.edu).
View the Religious Freedom after the Sexual Revolution CLE
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