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Legislative Staff Professional Development and Training Seminars

May 2, 2022

NCSL provides a wide range of professional development and training opportunities designed specifically with legislative staff in mind. These opportunities include professional development seminars, planned by each of the professional staff associations, leadership and management development for emerging, new or tenured staff leaders and directors, a biannual meeting for HR professionals, NCSL’s annual Legislative Summit as well as customized, in-state professional development.

Staff Association Professional Development Seminars (PDS) and Online Training

American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries (ASLCS)

The 2022 ASLCS Professional Development Seminar was held in Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 18-23. 

National Association of Legislative Information Technology (NALIT)

The 20222 NALIT Professional Development Seminar was held in Madison, Wis, Sept. 28-30.

National Legislative Services and Security Association (NLSSA)

The National Legislative Services and Security Association held its 2022 annual training conference in Boston Aug. 21-26.

Staff Hub ATL 2022

Create | Connect | Collaborate

Staff Hub ATL 2022 was held in Atlanta Oct. 10-12 2022. The meeting was sponsored by six of NCSL’s professional staff associations (see list of sponsoring staff associations below). The purpose of this meeting was to foster cross-pollination and shared learning and increase synergy among the participating associations. 

  • Leadership Staff Professional Association (LSPA).
  • Legislative Research Librarians (LRL).
  • Legislative Information and Communications Staff (LINCS).
  • National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES).
  • National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices (NALFO).
  • Research, Editorial, Legal and Committee Staff (RELACS).

Legislative Education Staff Network

The Legislative Education Staff Network (LESN) is a partnership between the Education Commission of the States and the National Conference of State Legislatures. LESN is a coordinated network of professional and knowledgeable legislative staff from across the country who work on education policy.

LESN holds two annual convenings. The last meeting was held in conjunction with the ECS National Forum on Education Policy July 13-15, 2022 in Washington, D.C. More information about this meeting and other opportunities will be shared through the LESN listserv, and inquiries about LESN membership or upcoming meetings can be sent to LESN Coordinator.

NCSL Base Camp and Legislative Summit

Two opportunities to learn from experts and network with legislative staff. 

NCSL Base Camp 2022 | Nov. 15-16

In a dynamic online setting, NCSL Base Camp brings together policy experts on a wide range of topic areas to educate policymakers and legislative staff.

NCSL Legislative Summit | Aug. 1-3, 2022 | Denver

The Legislative Summit is NCSL's premier annual event and provides a platform for legislators, staff and other public policy professionals to learn from the nation's foremost experts, as well as each other, about solutions to the country's most pressing issues. 

Legislative Staff Management Institute

The Legislative Staff Management Institute (LSMI) provides legislative staff with the opportunity to develop and enhance their management and leadership skills. The 2022 program was held Aug. 19-26 in Sacramento.

Senior Staff Leadership Development Program

NCSL’s Senior Staff Leadership Development Program is an executive leadership workshop exclusively for legislative staff directors, senior department directors, chamber, caucus or leaders’ chiefs of staff. Check back for information about future programs.

National Seminar on Human Resource Management in State Legislatures

NCSL’s biannual National Seminar on Human Resource Management in State Legislatures is designed for legislative HR professionals and senior legislative staff responsible for creating, implementing and enforcing HR policies and practices. No other national training program offers this special focus on the legislature as an employer or brings together legislative staff who need to know more about this critical body of knowledge.

Legislative Staff Certificate Program

NCSL’s Legislative Staff Certificate Program was held online in September and October 2022. The five-week program is for newer legislative staff, with one to three years of legislative employment, seeking a broader context about state legislatures. Five courses covered the following topics: the legislative institution; model code of conduct; legislative fiscal procedures; clear and concise communications; and leadership within the legislative ecosystem. 

Legislative Training Institute

NCSL has trainers that can develop in-state training and retreat programs customized to you and your office's or chamber's needs.

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