Michele Z. Stevenson is an attorney with substantial experience and expertise in representing employers of all sizes in all aspects of employment counseling and litigation. Ms. Stevenson’s practice focuses on representing and providing preventative advice counsel to employers on various aspects of employment law, including wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, policies and procedures, discipline, and termination. She prepares, reviews, and revises employee handbooks, and drafts employment, independent contractor, severance, and settlement agreements. She assists employers in responding to claims by former employees, including claims filed with the California Labor Commissioner. She has prepared position statements in response to charges and complaints of discrimination, harassment (age, race, gender, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation), and retaliation before the EEOC and DFEH.
Prior to establishing her own practice in 2011, Ms. Stevenson worked for more than eight years as special counsel at Littler Mendelson P.C., a national management side law firm, where she defended employers against claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She defended employers in numerous wage claims before the California Labor Commissioner. Ms. Stevenson worked on legal teams defending employers against wage and hour class action lawsuits, and served as lead counsel in defending a cable company and a commercial moving company in class action wage and hour lawsuits.
Ms. Stevenson served more than eight years in the U. S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General Corps, achieving the rank of Captain, where she advised and prepared legal documents for soldiers and their families regarding employment law, family law, consumer rights, and estate planning. She served as the Deputy Command Judge Advocate to the Military Transportation Brigade, Vallejo, California.
Education:
Santa Clara University, J.D. – 1995
San Jose State University, B.A. in Political Science, with great distinction – 1992
Bar Admissions:
California
Washington
District of Columbia
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. District Court Central District of California
Published Works:
“The Forensic Use of DNA”, San Jose Studies, 1992
Co-Author, “Military Leave Policy” The In-House Counsel’s Essential Tool Kit, American Bar Association Committee on Corporate Counsel, Vol. 4, Employment Law, Ch. 6
Co-Author, “California’s New Leave Law for the Spouses of Military Members”, Littler Mendelson ASAP, October, 2007
Co-Author, “Amendment to the Family Medical Leave Act Provides New Leave Rights for the Families of Service members”, Littler Mendelson ASAP, February, 2008
Wage and Hour Answer Book, Aspen Publishers, Ch. 3, Minimum Wage, and Ch. 13, Investigations by the Wage and Hour Division, 2008
“California Court Finds Individual Liability Under Joint Employer Theory”, Wage and Hour Counsel: Developments in Wage & Hour Law, blog entries, March 12, 2009
Co-Author, “Bill Would Increase Employer Penalties and Strengthen Provisions of USERRA”, March 16, 2009
“California Labor Commissioner Debars Contractors for Prevailing Wage Violations”, March 15, 2010
Professional Associations and Memberships:
California Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
Placer and Sacramento County Bar Associations
Women Lawyers’ Association of Sacramento County, Former Board Member
National Association of Professional Women
Honors and Activities:
Academic and Women Lawyers’ Scholarships
Moot Court Board
Public Interest Committee
Women Lawyers Committee
Student Liaison, Santa Clara Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Committee
Community Service Panel
Various military honors and awards
Pro Bono Activities:
Law School Women Lawyers’ Admissions Committee, Chair
Children’s Choice for Hearing and Talking, Legal Advisor