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. 

 

 

 

 

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.