Chanda Brown Joins Elite Group of Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialists

The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) recently announced that it has certified attorney Chanda L. Brown, a partner with Walton + Brown LLP, as a specialist in the area of Labor and Employment Law. Of the more than 20,000 attorneys in Ohio, the Ohio State Bar Association currently recognizes only 132 attorneys statewide as certified Labor and Employment specialists. Chanda Brown joins a very elite group.

All attorneys licensed to practice law in Ohio must graduate from an accredited law school, pass the extensive bar exam, and attend continuing legal education courses as required by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Attorneys who devote a portion of their practice to labor and employment law may choose to go beyond these requirements to earn specialty certification by the OSBA.

“Certified attorney specialists dedicate themselves to becoming experts in their fields,” said OSBA President Eleana Drakatos in a recent press announcement regarding the certifications. “In their pursuit of providing excellent services to their clients, they meet rigorous standards and go the extra mile to hone their practice skills. It is a great achievement and the OSBA congratulates this new class of specialist attorneys.”

Attorneys seeking certification in Labor and Employment Law must satisfy several criteria:

• demonstrate substantial and continuing involvement in the area, meaning they must devote at least 35% of their practice to that area of law;

• submit five professional references attesting to their competency in the area law;

• have earned a minimum of 36 hours of intermediate or advanced continuing legal education (CLE) credits in labor and employment law within the past three years and

• pass a written examination. 

The Supreme Court of Ohio established a Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists to identify the specialties, set the minimum standards for specialty certification, and approve the attorneys for certification.

Attorney Brown notes that the certification process was difficult but very fulfilling, “I am excited about being able to demonstrate to clients and colleges my commitment to labor and employment law. I have a passion for this area of law, even from my first few years as an attorney when I was a law clerk for the US Department of Labor, to today when I am proud to say I help a wide variety of clients who have been victims of workplace harassment, unfair practices, and discrimination.”