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More than 60 staffers from around the country rolled up their sleeves in September and sharpened their research and communication skills at the Professional Development Seminar for Senior Legislative Research and Committee Staff in Denver. Presented by the Research and Committee Staff Section (RACSS) (one of nine staff sections available to you as a member of NCSL), the annual seminar is designed for research staff with four or more years in the legislature and focuses on practical skills development.

For many of the staff, it was the first time they had met their counterparts from other states. Many agreed that the opportunity to get to know their colleagues was one of the most valuable aspects of the seminar. "I thought the sessions on writing and working with difficult people were exceptional and very relevant to my job as a legislative analyst," said one participant. "Also, the ability to meet analysts from other states was very valuable."

Mornings were spent on sharpening writing skills, policy analysis and communication styles. Workshops on legal research, effective written reports and...