Employment Law 101

Get up to speed on the fundamentals of employment law in just one hour with Employment Law 101—a fast-paced, practical overview designed for professionals who need to spot legal issues before they escalate. This course covers essential topics like Title VII, sexual harassment, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, NLRA, and more. You’ll also explore the lifecycle of a claim, the differences between litigation and arbitration, and how to navigate worker classification. Perfect for managers, HR teams, and business leaders who want to be informed—not blindsided.

This is part of the HR Series designed specifically for insurance agencies to navigate key human resource challenges with confidence. From compliance and hiring practices to workplace culture and employee development, each session offers practical strategies tailored to the unique needs of independent agencies.

Alana Ackels, JD

Partner, Labor and Employment

Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP

Alana advises employers on minimizing risk, protecting their businesses, and navigating the multitude of state and federal laws governing the employer-employee relationship. She works with companies across all types of industries, including retail, hospitality and technology, and organizations that often have workforces distributed across the country. In recent years, she has developed a niche helping international businesses, with headquarters in jurisdictions as diverse as Australia and India, expand into U.S. markets.

Whether managing regulatory compliance issues for a startup or growing business, helping an employer with a risky termination or navigating a whistleblower action, Alana adeptly balances legal exposure and business priorities across the employment law spectrum. She prepares employment, confidentiality and noncompetition agreements; employee handbooks; and other policies that reduce legal exposure. Alana uses her vast trial experience to help companies avoid mistakes that often lead to litigation. She also prepares injury benefit plans for employers who choose to opt out of workers compensation in Texas and manages the plan rollout for companies that go nonsubscriber.