The Atlanta Lawyer January/February 2014 | Page 35

section update Labor & Employment Section Update By Andrea Doneff Atlanta's John Marshall Law School [email protected] P lease join us for the annual Advanced Employment Law seminar to be held Friday, March 7 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Professor Rebecca White from the University of Georgia will provide an update on developments in employment law over the past year. Other speakers will address current issues in Class Actions and a sociological approach to trade secret theft. We will have panels on settlement negotiations in employment cases and on benefits laws for the employment practitioner. This seminar is aimed at practitioners who have experience in the labor and employment arena and want to advance their knowledge. It will take place at the Capital City Club. In addition to the March seminar, the Section co-sponsored the State Bar Employment Law Seminar in December. Board members Dan Klein, Amanda Farahany, Craig Cleland, and Robert Lewis all spoke at that seminar. The Labor & Employment Section planned to host a Happy Hour on January 30 but it was postponed due to snow. The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association Please look for an updated announcement for the rescheduled date. Judge Amy Totenberg spoke at the Section luncheon on October 4. She provided insights for practitioners and explained some of the things she has learned in her time on the bench. For example, she talked about the importance of preserving our credibility as lawyers—by being reliable, playing by the rules, acting courteously and reasonably, and by being forthright with the court. She recommended in-person meetings between lawyers to work out discovery issues, especially in complex cases, and warned against trying to hide or unduly delay discovery. In addition, Judge Totenberg stressed the importance of communicating the law directly and honestly, addressing cases contrary to your position and not mischaracterizing the law. And she emphasized the importance of the facts of each case, recommending sufficient investment into investigating the facts to create proper evidence for trial. A very practical and enlightening, as well as enjoyable, talk. January/February 2014 THE ATLANTA LAWYER 35