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The 2026 Network Call for Programs is now closed. 

 

Thank you for submissions! We will confirm your selected programs by or before March 20, 2026. 

These Call for Programs Guidelines provide all the information you need—including step-by-step instructions—to prepare and submit program ideas for AM26. 

 

Call for Programs Important Dates

MilestoneDeadline
Program Chair Training Call

Monday, December 1

Watch the Recording | Download the Slide Deck

Networks Submit Program IdeasFriday, February 13
ACC Confirms Program SelectionsFriday, March 20
Networks Confirm Program OrganizersFriday, April 4
Networks Submit Speaker Candidates*Thursday, June 18 (Tentative)
Speakers Submit Course MaterialsFriday, August 14 (Tentative)

*Additional speaker guidelines will be provided. ACC reserves the right to decline speaker candidates if they do not meet these criteria.

Preparing & Submitting Your Program Ideas

  • February 2026 - Finalize Submissions

    ACTION ITEM: Submit your Network's finalized program idea details through the submission form by or before February 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT.

    Important Notes: 

    • Submission Form: You will submit the form one time for each program idea you plan to submit
    • Number of Submissions: Each network may submit: 
      • 1-2 program ideas that they hopes to organize and deliver at AM26
      • An unlimited number of ideas for ACC HQ to share with sponsors to guide their submissions
    • Duration: AM26 sessions should be planned to run for 75 minutes. (Requests for a different duration time should be shared in the "Vision" field of the form.)
    • Program Organizers: We ask submitters to identify Program Organizers for any submissions listed as #1 or #2 Network Program Idea
      • Each Program Organizer may only organize one session at AM26
    • Sponsor Collaboration: One speaking slot for a sponsor representative will be reserved on every network session. We ask them to indicate whether:
      • You are reserving a slot for your network sponsor
      • You'll need ACC HQ to find a sponsor speaker
      • You'd prefer not to have a sponsor speaker on the session

  • December 2025 - January 2026 - Discuss Within Your Network

    ACTION ITEMS: During this early planning stage, network leaders should: 

    1. Solicit ideas from your network's members​.
    2. Review your network's Data Memo to understand what worked and what didn't.
    3. Evaluate potential program ideas to determine the highest priority topics for this year.
    4. Discuss these topics with your sponsor — What experts and in-house clients do they have who can speak on these topics?

    Remember: Attendees clamor for deeper dives and engaging sessions. For help elevating your topic or inspiration to transcend the "talking heads" panel format, check out the "Helpful Resources" section below.  

    Pro Tip: Any ideas you don't submit for Annual Meeting can be easily repurposed as your monthly Legal Updates!

Helpful Resources for Preparing Submissions

Advanced-level Session Guidance
Consider this guidance from the outset to ensure that your advanced-level idea actually hits the mark.
Engaging Format Examples
Browse examples of engaging innovative and panel format sessions from previous Annual Meetings.
Networks Data Memos
Outlines network-relevant resource and programming data.
Network Collaboration Workspace (Now Closed)
Collaborate via wiki to stake your claim on your members' important topics.

Other Submission Information

  • Tips for Preparing Program Submissions

    As you develop each idea, ask yourself...

    • How long should this session be? 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? 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.
    • 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.

  • 2026 Annual Meeting Curriculum

    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 programdevelopment@acc.com.

  • Speaker Recruitment Sneak Peek

    Speaker Selection

    • Panels may consist of a maximum of four (4) speakers total. Innovative format sessions have flexible speaker requirements. Please include this information in the "Facilitation Requirements" field on the submission form.
      • We strongly recommend fewer speakers for 60- or 75- minute programs.
      • One speaker should be assigned to serve as moderator for panel sessions.
      • 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 2026 Annual Meeting. 
    • ACC reserves the right to decline speakers if they do not meet the criteria.
    • Additional speaker guidelines will be provided following Program Selection.

Questions?

Contact your ACC HQ network liaison and/or programdevelopment@acc.com.