Attorneys Michael Kornbluth and Joseph Hjelt are among the first group of lawyers to earn certification as employment law specialists from the North Carolina State Bar, the Durham-based law firm of Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., announced today.
Kornbluth and Hjelt were included in a group of just 15 attorneys who earned certification as employment law specialists after the State Bar’s inaugural exam for the practice area.
The comprehensive six-hour exam covered a wide range of topics, including:
- Title VII
- ADEA (Age Discrimination in Employment Act)
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
- Wage & Hour
- Fair Labor Standards
- Severance Issues
- Retaliatory Employment Discrimination
- Family Medical Leave Act
- Covenants Not to Compete
In addition to passing the exam, applicants needed to submit 10 references from other attorneys in North Carolina. Applications were reviewed by the specialty committee and then by the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization. The State Bar announced the results on May 30.
The North Carolina State Bar’s website explains how clients can benefit from working with a board-certified specialist. It states, “Hiring a board-certified legal specialist helps to ensure that your lawyer is proficient in the specialty legal field in which you have a legal need. When you are looking for a lawyer, you can use board certification to identify lawyers who are qualified to represent you.”
The State Bar notes that specialists must devote a minimum of 25 percent of their legal practice to the specialty, and must satisfy continuing education requirements, in addition to passing the exam and securing references from peers. Specialists must be recertified every five years by continuing to satisfy the requirements for certification.
“Board certification, unlike the self-laudatory information in advertising and marketing, is a credential that you can rely upon because it is based upon objective criteria,” the State Bar’s website states.
About Michael Kornbluth and Joseph Hjelt
Michael Kornbluth’s law practice at Kornbluth Ginsberg focuses on employment law and related matters, such as employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and executive severance. He is the past Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Employment Law Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
Mr. Kornbluth has received numerous professional accolades, including recognition from North Carolina Super Lawyers and an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Joseph Hjelt also concentrates on employment law matters at Kornbluth Ginsberg. He serves as Chair of the Employment Law Section of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. Mr. Hjelt has been recognized as a Rising Star by North Carolina Super Lawyers and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
