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.

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.

Panel Format Programs:

A Panel Format program consists of 3-4 speakers, typically presenting their content from a head table or other seated stage setup. Panels may include polling and/or audience Q&A, but do not involve audience participation beyond that.

Each Panel Format program idea submission requires the following information:

• Title
• Course Description
• Special accommodations (i.e. technology, room set-up, etc.)
• Audience Skill Level
• Session Duration

Session Duration:

All sessions will be 60, 75, or 90 minutes. You may designate a preferred length for your session, and will be notified of your program’s final scheduled duration with your session selection notification in March.

Innovative Format Programs*:

Any session that does not qualify as a Panel Format should be submitted as an Innovative Format program. This can include the standard workshop format, but we encourage you to get creative with your submissions. The more novel a session format, the higher priority it will be given during selection. Read through examples of highly innovative format programs from previous Annual Meetings for inspiration.

In addition to the basic information required for panel format program submissions, innovative submissions will require:

1. An identified Program Organizer that will be responsible for recruiting and preparing speakers and facilitators
2. An explanation of the session’s facilitation needs and interactivity separate from the course description

*Including audience polling on its own does not justify an “innovative format” designation. Innovative formats must be a novel or sophisticated plan for engaging the audience beyond polling questions throughout the presentation.

• Audience Size: Approximately 2,000 corporate counsel
• Experience: Most attendees have extensive legal industry careers, but their time in-house varies from new corporate counsel to seasoned Chief Legal Officers  
• Specialization: 
  
  • More than half of attendees are from small law departments, meaning that they handle the general legal responsibilities of the organization, often, with little support
  • Approximately 35% of attendees come from large law departments, whose legal practice tends to be more specialized (e.g., an employment lawyer for a large corporation) 
• Responsibilities: 
  
  • Beyond providing legal advise to their organizations, the role of in-house counsel has evolved to require these professionals to understand their company’s business and serve as a trusted advisors to all sectors company-wide
  • Most hold management responsibilities, either of other legal or non-legal staff
• Industry: Attendees’ employers represent a vast array of industries, but the largest represented typically include: manufacturing; information technology; financial services & banking
• Geographic: Mostly US attendees, approximately 10% non-US
• Gender: Approximately half women, half men

Speaking Slot Opportunities

Speaking opportunities accumulate based upon your role and level of support. Additional speaking slots are US$2,500 each.

E.g., an ACC Network sponsor that is also a Silver Level sponsor will receive up to 3 speaking slots total at the meeting (2 Network slots + 1 Silver slot = 3 speaking slots)

• Gold Level Sponsorship: up to 2 Speakers 
• Silver Level Sponsorship: 1 Speaker
• Blue Level Sponsorship: 0 Speakers 
• ACC Network Sponsorship: up to 2 Speakers
  • Network sponsor speaking slots should be arranged through early collaboration with your Network. Discuss in January which ideas they plan to submit and agree upon those that, if selected by the Advisory Board, will have slots reserved for your participation.

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 2024 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.

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.