Submit to Present!

The Annual Meeting and Convention will be held in Kansas City, MO September 5-7, 2024 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. The call for panel presentations is now open.

We encourage leadership and members to submit or obtain presentation proposals.

Call for Presentations Schedule

  • Submissions are to be submitted no later than 11:59 pm ET on Friday, March 29, 2024.
  • Final selection notifications will be emailed to the presentation Main Point of Contact by Friday, April 19, 2024.

[SUBMIT PROPOSAL]

Proposal Guidelines

When developing the conference curriculum, our goal is to provide a balanced program that meets the variety of skill levels and interests of the conference audience, presented by speakers of the highest quality who represent the diversity of the Federal Bar Association membership. Presentation proposals must have broad appeal across practice areas and satisfy educational requirements for CLE accreditation.

For a presentation to be considered, the content and materials must be educational in nature – that is, sales presentations, business promotion, showcase of a service or product will not be accepted. In addition, the material should be original and all sources must be referenced. For multiple speakers, each speaker must agree to the submission guidelines.

Presentations submitted for consideration of the selection committee must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • All presentation submissions are to be submitted no later than 11:59 pm EDT on Friday, March 29, 2024 via the FBA online submission portal. No presentation submission will be accepted for consideration after this date/time.
  • All presentation submissions must be submitted through the FBA online submission portal. A presentation that is submitted directly to an FBA staff member will not be accepted for consideration.
  • Presentations will be no more than 60 minutes in length, including a brief segment for questions and answers.
  • Presentations should consist of no more than four speakers, including the moderator. Special considerations may be made on a case by case basis.
  • The individual responsible for submitting the presentation via the online submission portal must complete all required fields. If any required field is left blank or incomplete, the presentation will not be considered by the selection committee.
  • Panelists must adhere to all print, material, and CLE deadlines:
    • Friday, May 20: Speaker Portal & Panel Details Due
    • Friday, July 12: CLE Materials Deadline

Diversity
The FBA is committed to sponsoring CLE programs that include members of diverse groups as defined by the FBA’s Diversity Statement (racial or ethnic minorities, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other unique attribute). By submitting a proposal, you are certifying that the program meets these diversity requirements.

Continuing Legal Education
All presentations included in the conference program will be available for continuing legal education (CLE) accreditation pending receipt of all required presentation materials by the POC and panelists by the deadlines stated above.

[SUBMIT PROPOSAL]

Evaluation Process

Members of the Professional Development Committee and Kansas &Western District of Missouri Chapter will review all presentation proposals and evaluate each submission on 0-5 numerical scale (0=Deficient, 5=Excellent) in each of the following six categories:

  • Quality of Submission
  • Relevance to Legal Community
  • Practical Application of Material
  • Timeliness of Topic
  • Speaker Qualifications
  • Diversity of Panelists

An average numerical score will be given to each presentation submission. The highest score a presentation may receive is (30), the lowest score a submission may receive is (0). The Committee will then review and discuss the highest scored presentations to confirm final selections.

Our Mutual Commitment

The FBA expects presenters to:

  • Arrange their own transportation and lodging, either by their own means or through an FBA chapter, section or division. Speakers do not receive funding or reimbursement for participation.
  • Acknowledge they are available to speak during any timeframe of the conference and as such will not request a change to the session timeframe assigned if selected.
  • Replace a speaker on their panel if one cancels.
  • Work closely with the conference organizers before the conference and meet all deadlines.
  • Provide high-quality CLE materials and PowerPoint presentations, in electronic format, by the deadline given.
  • Recognize that a conference presentation is an opportunity to share information and is not a showcase for promotion of business, practice, service, or product.

In return, the FBA will provide a complimentary Education Package registration (Thu/Fri admission) and grant speakers valuable professional exposure.

Honoraria | The FBA has a tradition of using educational conference sessions as a platform for innovation in the field of legal issues. We look for contributors who are willing to share their expertise without expectation of payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When does the Call for Presentations open for the 2024 Annual Meeting?
A: The Call for Presentations will be open Thursday, February 8 through Friday, March 29, 2024.

Q: What is the deadline to complete a submission?
A: All submissions must be completed by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 24, 2024 in order to be considered.

Q: What topic should I submit for consideration?
A: Presentation proposals must have broad appeal across practice areas so that convention attendees, regardless of specialty, will find value in its education and relevance. We encourage proposals to incorporate one (or several) practice areas that align with ethics or the association’s sections and divisions.

Q: What information is required within a proposal?
A: The following information is required in order to submit a presentation proposal and to be considered:

Main Point of Contact
Presentation Topic(s)
Title of Presentation
Skill Level of Presentation
Presentation Description
Learning Objectives
*Speaker/Presenter Information
Optional: Preview of CLE Materials

*Speaker Information Required: Name, Agency/Organization, Title, Email, Bio, and Speaking History. A maximum of four (4) speakers may be assigned to a proposal.

Q: What should I provide for Learning Objectives?
A: Well-developed learning objectives are participant-oriented, observable, and measurable. Describe the skills, knowledge, and/or learning outcomes participants will be able to demonstrate as a result of the proposed panel. (For example: At the culmination of this session, participants will be able to…) You should describe your learning outcomes using action verbs.

Q: Do I have to submit my presentation proposal online?
A: Online submission of proposals is required. Email submissions will not be accepted or reviewed.

Q: Do I have to have an email address to submit online?
A: Yes, your submission account requires an email address. All communications from FBA regarding your proposal, and ultimately session if it is selected, will be done via email. Please use an email address you check regularly.

Q: How will I know if my proposal was submitted successfully?
A: Once you have finalized your submission, the webpage will show a confirmation message. Before you submit your proposal, please make sure all steps have been completed.

[SUBMIT PROPOSAL]

Questions can be directed to Caitlin Rider Samson, Director of Conferences (crider@fedbar.org)