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American Bar Association

ABA Career Counsel
Your Career Partner on the Web


Attorney By Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession

Who?

Ellen C. Kearns
Partner
ekearns@ebglaw.com

What?

Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Labor & Employment Law.

When?

In Practice Area:
Since 1976

In the Legal Profession:
Since 1976

Where?

Employer:
Epstein Becker & Green
www.robinsonlawfirm.com


City/State:
Boston, MA

Law School:
Boston College

Other Post-Graduate Education:
Boston College, M.A. in Teaching

Undergraduate School/Degree:
Regis College, AB in Mathematics Program

Why?

Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
One gets to deal with the workplace issues of today, trying to resolve conflicts between employers and employees. Often times, issues involve cutting edge matters involving human relationships.

Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Labor and Employment Law can be learned as part of an associate's on the job training, but a course or two on Basic Employment Laws is preferable.

Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Maintain your contacts with all former employers; volunteer as a law student for your local discriminative agency.

How?

Career Path to Current Position:
Law School to law firm that specialized in labor and employment law.

Influences and Mentors:
My father was a labor and employment lawyer. I worked with him for 7 years.

Bar Affiliations and Activities:

Women's Bar Association-President; American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section-Council Member, Committee Chair; Boston Bar Association-Chair Labor & Employment Law Section.

Recent Professional Publications:

Fair Labor Standards Act, published by BNA in 1999
Non-Traditional Employment in the Health Care Field, American Health Lawyers Assn., 2003
Off-the-Clock Time-When Is It Compensable, LEI, 2003.

Recent Professional Presentations:

The New "541 Regs"-What Do They Say, ABA Teleconference
The Contingent Workforce.

Memorable Career Moment:

Recipient Cushing-Gavin Award for Excellence in Labor Management Relations.
Intriguing Interests:

Former Rugby Player, current rollerblading aficionado, planning family gatherings for 30 plus family members.