October 1 - 4, 2015

New Orleans, Louisiana

2015 CLS National Conference
Hearing God in the Storm
October 1, 2015 – October 4, 2015

New Orleans, Louisiana

The 2015 National Conference theme covered the essential role of the lawyer – one who lives and practices in conflict. Can we practice law with integrity during turbulent times? We sought to learn from Jesus’ reaction to one storm in particular: ‘“Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39. The 2015 National Conference was a time of learning how to be still and hear the Lord’s voice in conflict, in work, in the storm. We heard from great speakers who challenged us and encouraged us and even from one who said the world needs more Christian lawyers. The conference was held at the beautiful InterContinental Hotel. Attendees took time to tour the Garden District, explore the French Quarter, and enjoy the beautiful and unique city of New Orleans.

ABOUT EVENT
Pre-Conference Events

Communication that Glorifies God – Jeff Rosenau, President, Christlike Dialogue

Keynote Speakers

Thursday: Thabiti Anyabwile, Author and Pastor

Friday: Richard Hammar, Attorney, CPA, and Author

Saturday: Dr. Ben Carson, Pediatric Neurosurgeon and Author

Sunday: Stephan Bauman, President and CEO, World Relief

Workshops

1. Religious Liberty Update: Reflections and Predictions – Kim Colby, Director, Center for Law and Religious Freedom

2. Legal, Tax, and Risk Management Hotspots for Churches and Nonprofits – Richard Hammar; H. Robert Showers, Simms Showers LLP; and Sally Wagenmaker, Wagenmaker and Oberly

3. Title VII, Federal Contractors, and LGBT Employment Discrimination: Can Religious Organizations Continue to Staff on a Religious Basis? – Carl Esbeck, University of Missouri School of Law

4. Anticipating the Future now that the Supreme Court has Spoken on Marriage – Jordan Lorence, Alliance Defending Freedom

5. When Civil Liberties and Zoning Powers Collide – Noel Sterett, Mauck & Baker

6. Increasing Peace in Africa Through Rule of Law: Practical Applications of Biblical Principles of Justice – Leah Boyd, African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries

7. Getting to the Heart of Conflict: Can a Mediator Help? – Candace McCune, Certified Christian Conciliator, and Delia Bouvers Bianchin, Penn United Technologies, Inc.

8. Avoiding Moral Alchemy: Why You Can’t [NOT] Legislate Morality – Jeffery J. Ventrella, Alliance Defending Freedom

9. The Christian and Human Rights – Jeffrey Brauch, Regent University School of Law

10. Religious Hiring: Public Policy, Internal Best Practices, and Public Perception – Stanley Carlson-Thies and Chelsea Langston, Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance

11. Working with Government Grants and Contracts – Grace Hsieh Murphy, World Vision

12. Why Progressives Should Care About Religious Freedom – Tom Berg, St. Martin University School of Law

13. Handling a Leadership Misconduct Matter – Theresa Sidebotham, Telios Law PLLC

14. Legal Hotspots, Risk Management, and Emerging Issues for Churches and Nonprofits – H. Robert Showers and Dan Hebda, Simms Showers LLP

15. Reproductive Trafficking: Gestational Surrogacy as Contracted Pregnancy and Contracted Abortion – Dorinda Bordlee, Bioethics Defense Fund

16. Oath, Ethics, and the Christian Lawyer – William Wagner, Trinity International University

17. Ethical Challenges in a Billable Hour Environment – Gregory H. Teufel, OGC Law LLC

18. What Does it Mean to be a Christian Legal Aid Program? – Ken Liu, Director, Christian Legal Aid

19. Interviewing Low-Income Clients – Jamie Moore, Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia, and Andrya Soprych, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

20. Fundraising 201: Advanced Nonprofit Fundraising Issues – Gretchen Slusser, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

21. Starting a CLA Clinic: Why and How – Ken Liu, Director, Christian Legal Aid, and Paul Baertschi, Tallen & Baertschi

22. Immigration Law Updates – Courtney Tudi, World Relief

23. Second Chances: Relief from the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal History – Beth Johnson, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

24. Judges’ Panel – A View from the Bench

The Honorable Judge Michael Taylor, Mississippi Circuit Court

The Honorable Chief Justice William Waller, Mississippi Supreme Court

The Honorable Judge John Gemmill, Court of Appeals Division One

The Honorable Judge James Teilborg, US District Court, Arizona

The Honorable Judge Scott Schlegel, Louisiana District Court

25. Out of the Box – Jamie Grosshans, Moderator

26. Career Options Panel – Michael P. Schutt, Moderator

27. Your Personal Testimony for Jesus – Lynn Maynard

28. Historical, Scientific, and Medical Evidence Surrounding the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ – Vern Palmisano M.D.

29. Where is God in the Storm? – Michael Sprague, Louisiana State Chaplain

30. Estate Planning for Christian Clients – Stephen Chong, Kingdom Advisors

31. Human Trafficking: In Our Backyard? – Wendy Patrick, National Law Center for Children and Families, and Leah Boyd, African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries

32. Honoring God, Truth and Justice as a Criminal Defense Attorney – Anthony Bushnell

33. Disruptive Technologies, Impoverished Discourse, Faltering Legal Frameworks – Rick Campanelli

Christian Legal Aid Summit

The Christian Legal Aid Summit gave Christian Legal Aid staff and volunteers from around the country the opportunity to learn, support, be a blessing to each other, and grow in the ability to serve those in need. Workshops included the following:

What Does it Mean to be Christian Legal Aid Program? – CLS Staff and Volunteers

Interviewing Low-Income Clients – Jaimee L. Moore, Christian Legal Clinic of Philadelphia

Nonprofit Fundraising 201 – Gretchen Slusser, Cabrini Green Legal Society, and Courtney Herron, Christian Legal Society

Nuts and Bolts of Serving in and Starting a Christian Legal Aid Clinic – Ken Liu, Director, Christian Legal Aid, and Paul Baertschi, Twin Cities Christian Legal Aid

Immigration Law Updates – Courtney Tudi, World Relief

Second Chances: Relief from the Collateral Consequences of Criminal History – Beth Johnson, Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Christian Legal Scholar’s Symposium – What Every Attorney Needs to Know: Protecting Religious Freedom Isn’t Promoting Bigotry

Speakers

Thomas Berg, Professor of Law and Public Policy, University of St. Thomas

Theresa Lynn Sidebotham, Telios Law PLLC

Stanley Carlson-Thies, Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance

Stephanie Summers, CEO, Center for Public Justice

Sponsors

Center for Public Justice

National Law Student Convention

The National Law Student Convention brought together law students from around the country for a time of fellowship with others like themselves seeking to discern their callings and become faithful Christ followers in the legal profession.

Events

Law Student Ministries Late Nights

Christian Legal Scholars’ Symposium and Luncheon

Law Student Praise and Worship

Law Student Main Session

featuring Rod Dreher, Senior Editor, The American Conserative

Law Student Mentoring Lunch

Sponsors

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Pilgrim

CRU

Special Events

WWII Museum Tour

Special Session: Obergefell & Beyond – John Bursch

Welcome Dessert Reception

Book Signing with Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile

Spouse Event: Tempest in a Teapot

French Quarter Walking Tour

Richard Hammar Astronomy Presentation

Book Signing with Rod Dreher

New Orleans Cemetery Walking Tours

Garden District Walking Tour

Book Signing with Dr. Ben Carson and Stephan Bauman