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9 Top Continuing Legal Education Conferences in 2026 to Attend

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By
Ben Aston
Ben Aston Founder/CEO, Black and White Zebra

Ben Aston is an online media entrepreneur and founder of Black & White Zebra, an indie media company on a mission to help people and organizations succeed.




Since 2011, he has been evaluating, reviewing, and helping to recommend software through hundreds of articles across the company's influential digital publications, seeking to make technical workplace topics fun and easier to understand.

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Last updated on Jun 4, 2026

I've rounded up the best CLE conferences worth your time — from criminal defense and IP law to bankruptcy and beyond. Your next credit hour (and career boost) starts here.

The right continuing legal education conferences do more than check a compliance box. They sharpen your practice, expand your network, and keep you current across fast-moving areas of law. Whether you're focused on criminal defense, IP, or business law, finding events worth your time matters. Here's a curated look at the top CLE conferences to help you plan your professional development.

Best Continuing Legal Education Conferences in 2026 Shortlist

Here's a shortlist of the best continuing legal education conferences I think are worth attending in 2026:

  1. Albert J Krieger Annual Meeting of NACDL - St. Petersburg, FL (August 5-8, 2026)
  2. Texas Eminent Domain Conference 2026 - Houston, Texas, USA (August 27–28, 2026)
  3. ABA Business Law Fall Meeting 2026 - Chicago, Illinois, USA (September 2-4, 2026)
  4. NALS National Legal Education Conference - Jacksonville, Florida (October 5-7, 2026)
  5. ABA Business Bankruptcy Committee Meeting - San Diego, California, USA (October 7–10, 2026)
  6. Attorneys Conference 2026 - Nashville, Tennessee, USA (October 19–21, 2026)
  7. ClioCon - Boston, MA (October 26–27, 2026)
  8. AIPLA 2026 Annual Meeting - Washington, DC (October 29-31, 2026)
  9. Destination CLE Turks and Caicos 2026 - Turks and Caicos (December 12-18, 2026)

Below are my summaries of the best continuing legal education conferences that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a look at each event’s dates, location, pricing, and unique offering.

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1. Albert J Krieger Annual Meeting of NACDL - St. Petersburg, FL (August 5-8, 2026)

Aerial view of The Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, FL promoting a 2026 NACDL CLE conference.
2026 Albert J Krieger Annual Meeting of NACDL offers a pre-trial focused continuing legal education conference including a special 1-Day Appellate Advocacy CLE Program in St. Petersburg, FL.

The 2026 Albert J. Krieger Annual Meeting of NACDL is NACDL's annual CLE event focused on criminal defense practice, organized by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. It covers pre-trial strategies, appellate advocacy, and ethics, earning attendees approximately 13 CLE credits. The event has a single location (St. Petersburg, FL), so no multiple-location table is needed.

The Albert J. Krieger Annual Meeting is NACDL's flagship CLE event for criminal defense attorneys, offering ~13 credits across pre-trial strategy, ethics, and technology topics.

Why attend? This year's program zeroes in on pre-trial strategy — from suppression motions and Brady compliance to AI-powered case assessment. A bonus one-day Appellate Advocacy Track adds extra depth for appellate practitioners looking to sharpen brief writing and oral argument skills.

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2. Texas Eminent Domain Conference 2026 - Houston, Texas, USA (August 27–28, 2026)

Texas Eminent Domain Conference takes place in Houston in August 2026.
Texas Eminent Domain Conference 2026 banner for Houston event.

A CLE International event for Texas-based eminent domain practitioners, the Texas Eminent Domain Conference has run annually for over two decades. The 2026 Houston edition is organized by CLE International and draws attorneys, appraisers, and landowner advocates.

Why attend? This conference zeroes in on Texas-specific eminent domain law, covering case law updates, property valuation, TxDOT issues, and pipeline and energy projects. It's one of the few CLE events built entirely around the Texas condemnation landscape, making it essential for practitioners active in this space.

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3. ABA Business Law Fall Meeting 2026 - Chicago, Illinois, USA (September 2-4, 2026)

Aerial view of Chicago skyline at sunset with river and skyscrapers in circular frame.
ABA Business Law Fall Meeting 2026 takes place in Chicago, offering continuing legal education conferences against the backdrop of the city's iconic downtown skyline.

The ABA Business Law Section's Fall Meeting is an annual gathering for business law practitioners, organized by the ABA. It draws 1,000+ attendees from corporate counsel, private practice, and government roles across 122 countries.

Why attend? This three-day program offers CLE sessions spanning M&A, securities, corporate governance, cybersecurity, and more — covering the full breadth of business law practice. With 35,000 Section members in the room, it's one of the most connected networking events on the business law calendar.

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National Legal Education Conference 2026 takes place in Jacksonville.
2026 National Legal Education Conference banner for Jacksonville, Florida.

The NALS conference has one location (Jacksonville, FL) and one set of dates (October 5–7, 2026), so the table task does not apply.

Organized by NALS, the 2026 National Legal Education Conference brings together legal support professionals for CLE sessions and networking. It's one of the legal profession's longest-running events dedicated entirely to legal support staff.

Why attend? Unlike attorney-focused CLE conferences, this event is built specifically for paralegals, legal assistants, and legal administrators. Attendees get hands-on education, access to the legal marketplace, and connections with peers from across the country — all in a community that genuinely understands the legal support role.

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5. ABA Business Bankruptcy Committee Meeting - San Diego, California, USA (October 7–10, 2026)

Three legal professionals in suits reviewing a document together in a courtroom.
ABA Business Bankruptcy Committee Meeting offers continuing legal education conferences where legal professionals collaborate and review case documents in a courtroom setting.

The ABA Business Bankruptcy Committee Meeting is a single-location, single-date event (San Diego, October 7–10, 2026), so the table task does not apply.

Organized by the ABA Business Law Section, this four-day committee meeting brings together bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys for focused CLE programs, subcommittee sessions, and peer discussion on the latest developments in business bankruptcy law.

Why attend? Unlike broad legal conferences, this meeting zeroes in on bankruptcy and restructuring practice. Sessions have covered cross-border insolvency, third-party releases post-Purdue Pharma, and franchise agreement disputes in Chapter 11 — topics that directly shape how practitioners advise clients navigating financial distress.

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6. Attorneys Conference 2026 - Nashville, Tennessee, USA (October 19–21, 2026)

Attorneys Conference 2026 webpage featuring the Nashville skyline.

The Attorneys Conference 2026 has one location and one set of dates, so the table task does not apply.

Organized by America's Credit Unions, this conference is exclusively for licensed attorneys — in-house or outside counsel — who represent credit unions. It offers up to 14 CLE credits, including 2 ethics credits, covering regulatory, litigation, and risk topics.

Why attend? This is one of the only CLE conferences built entirely around credit union law. Sessions cover NCUA regulatory updates, attorney-client privilege risks, fintech and third-party liability, AI in legal practice, and payments fraud — all directly relevant to how you advise credit union clients day to day.

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7. ClioCon - Boston, MA (October 26–27, 2026)

Four panelists seated on stage, one woman speaking into a microphone at a conference.
ClioCon offers panel discussions featuring legal and industry professionals seated on stage, sharing insights in a conference setting.

Organized by Clio, ClioCon is the legal industry's flagship legal tech conference, drawing thousands of attorneys and firm leaders. Keynote speakers include Malcolm Gladwell and Ethan Mollick (Wharton AI researcher).

Why attend? ClioCon goes well beyond CLE credits. With 10 content tracks, 8 industry workshops, 90+ vendors, and curated networking, it's built around the real challenges law firms face — especially AI adoption, firm growth, and legal tech. Past keynotes include Arianna Huffington, Mel Robbins, and Seth Godin.

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8. AIPLA 2026 Annual Meeting - Washington, DC (October 29-31, 2026)

Four attendees posing in front of large AIPLA letter display at a conference hall.
AIPLA 2026 Annual Meeting offers a professional conference environment where attendees gather for continuing legal education in intellectual property law.

Organized by AIPLA, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, this annual gathering brings global IP law professionals together to engage on the latest developments in IP law and policy. AIPLA has represented IP practitioners for over 125 years.

Why attend? The AIPLA Annual Meeting covers the full spectrum of IP law — patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, and emerging tech policy. It's one of the few gatherings where you get direct access to committee leadership, peer networking across practice areas, and sessions on pressing issues like AI, design patent reform, and global IP harmonization.

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9. Destination CLE Turks and Caicos 2026 - Turks and Caicos (December 12-18, 2026)

Legal CLE retreat combines education and relaxation in Turks and Caicos.
Turks and Caicos CLE event page with beach destination image.

Destination CLE is an attorney-focused travel CLE program organized by Elite CLE Travel, LLC. It pairs accredited legal education with luxury international travel. The Turks & Caicos trip offers 12 CLE hours covering ethics, technology, bias elimination, and wellness.

Why attend? This isn't a conference — it's a week-long all-inclusive stay at Beaches Turks & Caicos, blending CLE sessions with curated excursions and oceanfront networking. It's a genuinely different format for earning credits, built for attorneys who want professional development and a real vacation in the same trip.

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ben aston headshot
By Ben Aston

Ben Aston is an online media entrepreneur and founder of Black & White Zebra, an indie media company on a mission to help people and organizations succeed.




Since 2011, he has been evaluating, reviewing, and helping to recommend software through hundreds of articles across the company's influential digital publications, seeking to make technical workplace topics fun and easier to understand.

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