LegalEase Continuing Education

LegalEase Continuing Education

Access convenient, relevant training on legal topics specifically tailored to county government. See course offerings below for this on-demand training. The courses are relevant for all county officials, and the trainings are approved for continuing education credit as noted below each course.

Continuing Education and Prerequisites
The V.G. Young Institute of County Government at Texas A&M University is the education co-sponsor for the TAC LegalEase Continuing Education series. There are no prerequisites to attend these programs.

Registration Fee
Each course is $50 per video per viewer. Individuals must register with a unique email address.

Jump To:

• Social Media and the First Amendment
• Website Considerations for Texas Counties
• Public Information Act
• Open Meetings Act
• Ethics Considerations for County Officials

Social Media & the First Amendment
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023

This training includes topics on symbolic messaging, viewpoint discrimination in public forums, best practices for elected officials' social media accounts, relevant court cases and much more.
Upon completion of the training, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. Submit this confirmation to the appropriate coordinating body for credit.

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Website Considerations for Texas Counties (Parts I & II)
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023

A county's website can be an incredibly effective resource for the public, but there are some considerations and requirements to keep in mind. Training includes topics on posting requirements, website accessibility and copyright issues – and a few best practices that may save your county time and money.
Upon completion of the training, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. Completion of parts 1 and 2 are required to receive CE credit. Submit this confirmation to the appropriate coordinating body for credit.

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Public Information Act (Parts I & II)
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023

A core component of open government is the Public Information Act. In this course, TAC attorneys explain the dos and don’ts of the Act for county officials and personnel.
Take the course to learn how catastrophes impact the application of the Act; best practices for handling requests; records retention; deadlines and penalties associated with the PIA; and, when and how to request an Attorney General opinion.
Upon completion of the training, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. Completion of parts 1 and 2 are required to receive CE credit. Submit this confirmation to the appropriate coordinating body for credit.

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Open Meetings Act (Parts I & II)
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023

The Texas Open Meetings Act is a core component of the state's open government laws, designed to promote public transparency about the work of government. In this training, attorneys with the Texas Association of Counties unpack the law and its requirements and considerations specific to county government and county officials.

Topics include definitions of meetings and walking quorums; agendas for open meetings and public notice requirements; executive session and other exceptions; video and phone meetings; commissioners court best practices; penalties for violations; and the public's rights under the law.

Upon completion of the training, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. Completion of parts 1 and 2 are required to receive CE credit. Submit this confirmation to the appropriate coordinating body for credit.

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Ethics Considerations for County Officials (Parts I & II)
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023

Conflicts of interest, ethics, nepotism, required disclosures…. There are quite a few ways to get into hot water in the course of county business. TAC attorneys discuss the law and best practices specific to county government in this training course.

In the two-part training, they give an overview of ethics for county officials: conflicts of interest, required disclosures, exemptions and penalties for noncompliance, the County Purchasing Act, and nepotism.

Upon completion of the training, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. Completion of parts 1 and 2 are required to receive CE credit. Submit this confirmation to the appropriate coordinating body for credit.

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