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Attorney By Attorney Career Profiles of the Profession Who? Jane Leslie Dalton dalton@duanemorris.com What? Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields: Employment law: Represent employers in litigation, counseling, and investigation allegations of employee misconduct. Areas include discrimination, harassment, defamation, unfair competition and violation of non-compete agreements. When? Years in Practice Area: Since 1973 Years in the Legal Profession: Since 1971 Where? Employer: Duane Morris, LLP www.duanemorris.com Size/Sector: 500+ lawyers City/State: Philadelphia, PA Law School: University Of Pennsylvania, (1971) Undergraduate School/Degree: Smith College B.A., (1966) Why? Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area: Employment law is challenging and interesting because it is constantly evolving. One new decision or new statute can dramatically impact an employer's employment strategies. It is rewarding because clients value my judgment, not just as to technical legal requirements but as to best business practices. Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area: Superior interpersonal skills; the ability to listen behind the words; superior negotiating skills; superior litigation skills; knowledge of law and recent cases; predicting current trends and developments. Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area: It is a wonderful and vast area in which to practice because it presents "people" as well as legal issues. It is never boring. Work experience outside the law provides invaluable insights to both the employer and employee perspective on issues. How? Career Path to Current Position: I started in the litigation department of my firm, before there was an employment group. I worked on antitrust class actions. As a result, when class actions were filed in the employment area, I was assigned to those matters. After second chairing a 28 day non-jury trial for the head of the department, I focused increasingly on employment matters. Influences and Mentors: The faculty at Smith who encouraged women to achieve. Henry T. Reath, chair of the litigation department when I joined the firm, who encouraged me to be a woman litigator and who taught me the value of preparation, thoroughness and tenacity. Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area: Employment Law - Mark A. Rothstein, 1999, 2nd ed.; Employment Discrimination Law, Barbara Lindemann, Paul Grossman, Paul W. Cane, 1996 3d. Edition. Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s): After law school, I accepted the offer at the firm where I had the best feeling about the people. I wanted to be assigned to litigation. I asked for it and received the assignment. Bar Affiliations and Activities: American Bar Association: Labor and Employment Law Section, Litigation Section. Pennsylvania Bar Association: Member House of Delegates. Philadelphia Bar Association: Chair, Board of Governors, 2003, Member 2001-02; Business Law Section, Co-Chair, Human Resources Committee 2001 to present. Recent Professional Publications: Practice Painters, After Acquired Proof Can Aid Employer Defense, Circuits Split Over Means - Based Awarding of Costs. Recent Professional Presentations: Employment Contracts, 9th Annual Northeast Regional Employment Law Institute, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, April 29, 2003 Litigating Employment Discrimination Cases, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 21, 2003 Reviewing Employee Handbooks, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, April 15, 2002 Ethical Issues in Employment Cases & A Socratic Exercise, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 7, 2001 Is This Information Privileged?, 7th Annual Employment Law Institute, April 24-25, 2001 Practice Pointers and Perspectives, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 8, 2000 How to Terminate an Employee Lawfully, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, November 17, 2000 Issues and Implications of the ADA, Gerontology Institute of New Jersey, November 14, 2000 ADA Issues for Long Term Care Facilities, Center for Healthcare Education, September 28, 2000 Admissibility of Expert Testimony After Daubert, Sixth Annual Employment Law Institute, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, April 18, 2000 Memorable Career Moment: Appearing in the United States Supreme Court to be admitted and to attend oral argument in a case where our clients ultimately won. Intriguing Interests: Metaphysics, vegetarian cooking, being a grandmother.