Workplace Prof Blog

Bales Named Dean at Ohio Northern

Congratulations to our own Rick Bales, who has just been named the Dean of the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University. From the press release:

Ohio Northern University President Daniel A. DiBiasio announced today that Richard Bales, director of the Chase Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law, has been named dean of ONU’s Pettit College of Law. Bales replaces Stephen C. Veltri, who has served as interim dean for the past year, and David C. Crago, who became ONU’s provost and vice president of academic affairs last summer.

“Ohio Northern University is pleased to welcome Dean Bales to our campus and leadership team,” DiBiasio said. “Rick’s impeccable academic credentials and scholarly body of work, along with his enthusiasm and passion for teaching students, make him the ideal choice to head the Pettit College of Law.”

Bales, who joined Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law in 1998, has authored or co-authored five books and more than 80 scholarly articles. He has spoken widely on topics pertaining to dispute resolution, labor/employment law, and innovative ways of teaching law. Bales spent July 2010 as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and, before starting at ONU, he will spend May 2013 as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has spoken on labor/employment or ADR topics in Russia, Turkey, Malaysia, Italy, Cambodia, France, Vietnam, Colombia and Australia.

Drawn to apply at Ohio Northern by the strong sense of community among the faculty, staff, students and alumni, Bales said, “I am extremely proud to become dean of this purpose-driven, student-centered law college. I am looking forward to continuing Ohio Northern’s strong tradition of innovative law teaching, personal approach to legal education, and consistently strong bar passage and employment statistics.”

Bales is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is actively involved in several sections of the American Bar Association, and chairs the ABA committee in charge of the national Negotiation Competition. He received several university-wide teaching and scholarship awards at NKU Chase.

“Rick is a great addition to the institution,” said Crago. “I am confident he will work closely with the faculty and staff to maintain and enhance the excellent tradition and reputation of the law college. I also would like to acknowledge Stephen Veltri’s strong leadership and dedication while serving as interim dean.”

Before arriving at Chase, Bales taught at the University of Montana Law School and the Southern Methodist University Law School in Dallas, and he served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Houston Law School. Prior to that, he litigated employment cases for the Houston-based law firm of Baker Botts and the Cleveland-based law firm of Baker Hostetler. He earned his law degree from Cornell Law School in 1993.

Congratulations to both Rick and Ohio Northern.

MM

Introducing Guest Blogger Katie Eyer

I'm pleased to introduce Katie to readers of Workplace Prof Blog, although many of you will not need any introduction.

Although Katie is  new to Rutgers-Camden Law School this year, where she teaches Civil Procedure as well as employment-related subjects, she made a name for herself while at Penn where she was a Research Scholar and Lecturer in Law. She is already well-published, having appeared in the Minnesota Law Review, the Yale Law & Policy Review and the Administrative Law Review. 

And she has already achieved distinction.  A work-in-progress, Constitutional Colorblindness and the Family, was Honorable Mention in the AALS 2013 AALS Scholarly Papers Competition, where it was described by the selection committee as "saying something new and compelling about constitutional colorblindness."

Not to mention being recognized in Jotwell for her Minnesota piece. To borrow from myself last year in commenting on That’s Not Discrimination: American Beliefs and the Limits of Anti-Discrimination Law,

One might question the wisdom of a young, not-yet-on-the-market, scholar basically arguing that most of us in her field—including me—have been wrong in important ways. But wise or not,[the article] is a remarkable piece of research and exposition. She has an ability to deal with complicated issues in a lucid and spritely prose style. I almost enjoyed being informed how wrong I was!

Like our other recent guest blogger, Charlotte Garden, Katie is a strong new voice in the labor and employment wing of the academy, and I speak for Paul, Rick, Jeff, and Marcia in welcoming her to Workplace Prof. 

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Welcome Charlotte

Workplace Prof is pleased to welcome a guest blogger, Charlotte Garden. 

Although she's relatively new to the academy, having started on tenure track at Seattle in 2011, Professor Garden is well-know to a lot of our readers through her scholarship and presentations at conferences. In fact, I first met Charlotte at Seton Hall's Forum in 2010. It was clear to everyone present that she would be an strong new voice in our patch of acadmia, and that's certainly proving true. Working so far mainly in the labor area, with an emphasis on labor speech, she's not only very well published, but has already been featued in Jotwell.

We welcome Charlotte and look forward to her contributions.

CAS

Congratulations to Workplace Prof Blog ...

... on receiving this morning its two millionth visitor. Thanks to all who contribute to Workplace Prof Blog by reading, sharing ideas for new posts, guest posting (if you haven't but are interested, let one of our editors know), and for the heartwarming thanks-for-the-blog emails the editors receive every once in a while that help keep our motivational juices flowing.

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We're #20!

Jay Brown (Denver) has counted citations to blogs in cases and law journals.  He finds that Workplace Prof Blog is the 20th most-cited blog in law journals.  For the complete count, download from SSRN Law Faculty Blogs and Disruptive Innovation: The Data.

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We're #26!

Fwiw, Workplace Prof Blog has been named a "top-50 human resources blog".  I don't know the methodology, so I'm not exactly going to take this to my dean and demand a raise or anything.  Regardless, readers of this blog might be interested in perusing some of the other blogs on the list.

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AALS Section on Women in Legal Education Mentoring Program

Sandra Sperino (Cincinnati) writes to tell us of a mentoring program organized and administered by Colleen Medill (Nebraska) for the Section on Women in Legal Education of the American Association of Law Schools. Here is the announcement:

Opportunities for finding a mentor

At different stages of their careers, individuals may need different types of mentoring. Mentoring needs could be in teaching, in scholarship development, or with work-life issues and experiences. Therefore, a "onesize fits all needs for all times" approach to mentoring has proven difficult to implement in the past.

The Section on Women in Legal Education's Mentoring Program takes a different approach to traditional mentoring. The Section's program is structured as an "a la carte" program. The volunteer mentors and their expertise and experiences are listed on the Mentoring Program website. Individuals who desire mentoring are encouraged to contact directly any volunteer mentor on the list who matches the individual’s particular mentoring need(s). Mentors are available to give assistance and advice concerning teaching, scholarship and work-life issues. The URL for the site is: http://law.unl.edu/wile.

Professor Colleen Medill at the University of Nebraska administers theweb site and serves as the chair of the Mentoring Program. Her e-mail is cmedill2@unl.edu. You may contact Colleen if you want assistance infinding a "match" for the type of mentoring you are seeking.

The Mentoring Program Committee currently is working to develop the web site, publicize it, and expand the list of mentors. The members of the Mentoring Program Committee are: Colleen E. Medill, Chair (Nebraska); Marina Angel (Temple); Michelle Simon (Pace); Jennifer Hendricks(Tennessee); Sandra Sperino (Cincinnati); Melissa Marlow (Southern Illinois); Nicole Huberfeld (Kentucky); Kerri Stone (Florida International);and Ruth Jones (Pacific).

The Section's Mentoring Program and the web site are a work in progress. If you have suggestions for the web site and improving the quality of the program, please contact any member of the Mentoring Program Committee.

Mentoring Opportunity

The Section also is looking for individuals who want to be mentors. If you would like to be a mentor, please contact Colleen Medill for a Volunteer Mentor Application Form. Colleen can be reached at cmedill2@unl.edu.

This is a wonderful approach to mentoring and a great service to our community. And it's nice to see so many workplace profs helping to make it a reality.

MM 

Hart & Secunda in NYT

Congratulations to Melissa Hart (Colorado) and our own Paul Secunda (Marquette), whose 2009 Fordham Law Review article on social framework evidence was quoted heavily in a New York Times article on Wal-Mart v. Dukes, which the Supreme Court will hear tomorrow. The article focused on the use of sociology and expert testimony by William Bielby (U. of Ill. at Chicago) in the class certification decision.

Great work!

MM

Best protest signs from Wisconsin

The media coverage and debate about the protests in Wisconsin over the Governor's plan to remove public sector collective bargaining rights has been extremely engaging. It's been frustrating to see it at times superficial and fascinating when at times it's been quite in depth. I have to admit that watching and reading it all has been both stressful and energizing--and public sector labor law isn't even really my field, although I am mostly a product of public schools, was a government worker for most of my time in practice, my parents have been public workers for much of their working lives (different government), and my grandparents too, were public workers (yet a third government), so I feel connected to the issue.

And so suitable for a Friday, when we all likely need some levity to relieve the stress, enjoy the 100 Best Protest Signs at the Wisconsin Capitol courtesy of Buzzfeed. My favorite, shown above, are the anguished snowpeople.

Hat tip: Dan Marks

MM

Off to KL

I'm off this morning to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for my Fulbright.  I'll be facilitating a mediation training program coordinated by the Industrial Court (here's a brilliant idea the U.S. should consider: channel all labor/employment cases through a single administrative/adjudicatory agency!), and learning all I can about the labor and employment law of Southeast Asia. 

I expect my blogging will slow down a bit while I'm there.

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Shout-Outs

If you have recent accomplishments to share, don't forget to send them our way.  One of the best things about blogging here on Workplace Prof Blog is the opportunity to keep up with -- and brag to the rest of the blogosphere about -- the myriad accomplishments of our readers.  So please -- let us know what you're up to.

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Workplace Prof Blog Welcomes Charlie Sullivan

Marcia, Jeff, Paul, and I are thrilled to announce the addition of Charlie Sullivan as a fifth permanent editor of Workplace Prof Blog. Charlie's posts over the last several months have added real depth and insight to the Blog.  We are exceptionally happy to have him on board.

Charlie has taught at Seton Hall since 1978; before that, he taught at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and the University of South Carolina.  His books include Employment Discrimination: Law & Practice; Cases and Materials on Employment Discrimination; Cases and Materials on Employment Law; and Employment Law: Private Ordering and Its Limitations.  Recent articles include The Puzzling Persistence of Unenforceable Contract Terms, ___Ohio St. L. J.__  (2010) and Raising the Dead?: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, 84 Tul. L. Rev. 499 (2010).  He teaches Employment Discrimination, Employment Law, Legal Research & Writing, and Contracts.

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Congratulations to Jeff ...

... for a favorable citation in today's Washington Times.  The article, Is Use of Interns Abuse of Labor?, picked up on Jeff's post Sunday on Unpaid Internships.  Here's an excerpt of the Washington Times article:

Labor law blogger Jeffrey M. Hirsch, associate professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law, said, "It's obviously been an issue for some time, but the bad economy has given employers more incentives to pinch pennies and made interns more desperate for experience - even the unpaid variety."

While demand for coveted internships is at an all-time high, "they can also undermine the purpose of wage laws and highlight class problems when only more wealthy students can afford months of unpaid full-time work," Mr. Hirsch noted. 

Additionally, Jeff's same post was re-published by Today's Workplace.

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What Labor/Employment Blogs Do You Follow?

Add a comment to this post providing the name and link, and I'll collect them all in a post next week.

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Workplace Prof Blog Welcomes Guest Blogger Kevin Kraham

Kevin is a shareholder in the D.C. office of Littler Mendelson. He currently teaches Cross Cultural Management and Negotiations, and next semester he will teach Global Labor and Employment Law, both at Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies.

Kevin began his career in employment and labor law with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an investigator, law clerk, and administrative judge. Kevin now represents clients in employment litigation before administrative agencies and state and federal courts, labor arbitrations, collective bargaining negotiations, and equal employment counseling and training. He represents a variety of employers, including those in the transportation, education, hospitality, distribution, healthcare, government contracting, and nonprofit industries.

Kevin's airline and railroad experience includes representation proceedings and carrier interference cases before the National Mediation Board; federal court litigation with unions under the Railway Labor Act; system board of adjustment and public law board arbitrations; collective bargaining negotiations, including initial contracts, concession bargaining, and merger agreements; and advice regarding contract administration.

Kevin received his B.A. from Boston University in 1992 and his J.D. from American University Washington College of Law in 1996. He lectures regularly on public charter school and education matters. In 2007, he addressed the American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law's conference on assisting law students with disabilities. His comments about workplace issues have been quoted in TIME Magazine, USA Today, and The Washington Times.

Welcome, Kevin!

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Introducing Guest Blogger Jason Bent

We are proud to introduce Jason Bent as Workplace Prof Blog's Inaugural Distinguished Guest Blogger.  He'll be blogging with us over the next month or so. 

Jason's practice includes complex commercial and employment litigation in federal and state courts, at both the federal and state level.

Jason's employment litigation experience includes defending an employer against a novel class action brought by the United States EEOC alleging a "pattern or practice" of sexual harassment in the workplace. Jason has represented a number of employers against discrimination claims before the EEOC and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Jason has also represented an employer in connection with a Department of Labor audit of the employer's wage and overtime payment practices under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Prior to forming Smith & Bent, Jason was an associate at Foley & Lardner, LLP. Before entering private practice, Jason clerked for Judge Cornelia Kennedy of the Sixth Circuit, and for Judge Joan Gottschall in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Jason received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School (2000), where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He also served as Notes Editor of the Michigan Law Review. He earned his B.A. in Economics (1997) from Grinnell College.

Jason is the author of Systemic Harassment (forthcoming Tennessee L. Rev. 2009) and What the Lilly Ledbetter Act Doesn’t Do: “Discrete Acts” and the Future of Pattern or Practice Litigation (Rutgers Law Record 2009).  He serves on the Editorial Board of The Labor Lawyer.

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Interested in Guest Blogging?

Workplace Prof Blog is looking to help bridge the gap between traditional scholarship and blogging by hosting periodic guest bloggers.  The guest bloggers would be welcome to contribute short pieces and links about new developments, but their primary focus will be to contribute longer, perhaps multi-part posts on their current scholarship.  This would be an especially good forum for junior scholars working on labor/employment topics that are currently in the news -- labor law reform, healthcare/pension reform, disability law, the evolving test for employment discrimination, etc.

The commitment is short-term (perhaps a month or so), and the guest blogging will benefit bloggers and readers alike.  If you think you might be interested, email Rick.  If you're swamped now but would be interested in guest blogging in the future, let me know.

Or, consider commenting to this post to nominate someone. 

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Prawfs Blogging

I'll be guest blogging this month over at PrawfsBlawg, mostly on law school governance issues.  Check out my first post.

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Workplace Prof Blog Bloggers

Thanks to Cynthia Nance for taking this photo at the SEALS conference and sharing it with us.  (Was this right after the panel on self-promotion?)

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Secunda Returns to Workplace Prof Blog

It's official -- Paul Secunda is rejoining Workplace Prof Blog.  The divorce was painful, but reconciliation is ever so sweet.  (Paul:  Have you told Mindy yet?) 

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