As you develop each idea, ask yourself...

• How long should this session be? Conference fatigue is real! Please consider the appropriate scope for your presentation, and the time required to effectively deliver the content.
• Been there, done that? If you’ve seen a program on this topic before, then articulate what you will do differently that will make yours more valuable.
• Is this too basic? (Probable answer: Yes.) What can you do to dig deeper into the subject and level-up your program’s appeal for experienced lawyers? 
• How will you engage the audience? Plan and articulate your vision for making your lessons stick through workshopping, games, audio/video incorporation, or other effective teaching techniques.
  • Submissions that include opportunities to learn and connect with others facing similar challenges are strongly encouraged.
• What will the attendee actually learn? Proposals that describe specific, practical learning objectives tend to result in higher quality presentations. 
• What resources will your attendees take back to the office? Identify takeaway materials in advance and develop plans for incorporating them into the presentation. 
• How big is your potential audience? Hundreds of members from around the globe attend the ACC Annual Meeting; limiting your scope to US issues cuts down on the appeal of your program.
• Do in-house counsel from large and small legal departments handle or experience this differently? If so, be sure to address that in the description and plan to recruit both types of speakers if your idea is selected.
• Can I realistically find qualified, available speakers for this program by the deadline? If not, please consider a different submission.
• Are all of the speakers you hope to invite likely able to travel to speak in person in San Antonio? If not, please submit the idea as a virtual program submission. 
  • For quality control purposes, no hybrid panels will be presented in either format – speakers must be either all in-person or all virtual.

This list sheds light on the high-level categories most selected programs will fall into at the meeting. However, we welcome submissions outside the scope of this list.

• Business & Leadership    
• Career Development
• Compliance
• Contract Drafting
• Corporate Governance
• Cross-border/Global
• Data Privacy & Security
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Employment & Labor
• Environment & Energy
• Ethics
• Government Regulation
• Health Law
• Information Governance
• Intellectual Property
• Law Department Management
• Legal Operations 
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Negotiations
• Networking Opportunities
• Technology
• Wellness

For more in-depth insights into any of these areas, please email Rachel Okolski at okolski@acc.com.

To demonstrate a higher level of member support for your idea, collaborate in advance with other networks’ Program Chairs and develop joint submissions that cross practice areas. 

• Only ONE network should submit the joint proposal (“primary network”), designating the partner network on the submission form (“secondary network”).
  • The proposal will only count toward the primary network’s submission count, and the primary network will be responsible for assigning a Program Organizer.
  • The secondary network will be allowed and expected to assist with speaker recruitment, program development, additional resource creation, etc.
  • Both networks will receive all due attribution.

Speaker Selection

•  Panels may consist of a maximum of four (4) speakers total for a 90-minute panel presentation. 
  • We strongly recommend fewer speakers for shorter programs
  • One of the speakers should be assigned to serve as moderator for the session. 
  • Approved in-house speakers will receive a complimentary meeting registration. 
• In-house Counsel Ratio: In-house counsel should comprise the majority of speakers on every session, absent prior approval from ACC. 
  • Exceptions are granted for programs that recruit regulators, judges, academics, non-legal business leaders, and others that are neither sponsor nor in-house counsel. 
  • Approved non-in-house speakers will be issued a day pass for the day of their speaking engagement.
• Outside counsel and/or legal service providers may speak on panels only if their organization is a sponsor of the 2023 Annual Meeting. 
• We are waiving the third-consecutive-year speaker hiatus requirement to celebrate being back in person this year! 
• ACC reserves the right to decline speakers if they do not meet the criteria.
• Additional speaker guidelines will be provided following Program Selection.

Diversity Commitment

ACC aims for 100% of our sessions to feature women and people of color, and for legal professionals from other underrepresented groups in our profession to be showcased frequently and prominently as well.

ACC encourages all Program Organizers to put forth candidates with these diversity objectives in mind and reserves the right to reject a proposed panel of speakers if no people of color and women are presented.

Thank you for being part of ACC’s efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.