Labor & Employment Associate

About the Role

Miller Johnson is seeking a Labor & Employment Associate to join our dynamic and highly collaborative Labor & Employment Practice Group in our Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Kalamazoo office. This attorney will advise and represent employers across a broad range of workplace matters, including employment counseling, compliance, litigation, and—depending on experience—traditional labor support. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator with excellent judgment, attention to detail, and a commitment to providing practical, solutions-focused guidance to clients. The ideal candidate will be located in Michigan.

Responsibilities

Employment Counseling & Compliance

• Provide day-to-day guidance on workplace issues such as hiring, discipline, termination, accommodations, wage and hour, performance management, workplace accommodations, and leave administration (FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and ESTA).
• Draft and update employee handbooks, policies, employment agreements, severance agreements, and internal protocols.
• Counsel HR teams and business leaders on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Conduct or support internal investigations involving alleged misconduct and employee complaints of discrimination, retaliation, or harassment.
• Monitor legal developments and support client training initiatives.

Employment Litigation

• Represent clients in state and federal courts on a wide range of employment disputes, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, breach of contract, and wage/hour claims.
• Handle administrative charges before the EEOC, MDCR, and other agencies, including position statements and mediation.
• Manage case strategy, discovery, motion practice, depositions, mediations, and hearings.
• Prepare persuasive briefs, legal memoranda, and client communications.

Traditional Labor Support (Depending on Experience)

• Assist with collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, and union-related strategy.
• Provide guidance on labor-contract interpretation and grievance processing.
• Support clients responding to union organizing activity and NLRB/MERC proceedings.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Admission (or eligibility for admission) to the Michigan Bar.
• 4–6 years of Labor & Employment experience, including counseling and/or litigation.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical abilities.
• Excellent communication skills with a client-service mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience handling wage/hour issues, accommodations, investigations, or employment litigation.
• Prior work representing employers across manufacturing, education, healthcare, financial services, or other regulated industries.
• Experience preparing and delivering training for management or HR audiences.
• Traditional labor exposure is a plus but not required.

Culture & Values

At Miller Johnson, our culture is anchored in our Core Values and how we work together:

Who We Are

• Integrity and Candor – We speak the truth
• Down to Earth – We stay humble and real
• Grit – We push through and get it done
• Committed to Excellence – We raise the bar
• Committed to Impact – We lift others up

How We Work

• Entrepreneurial Mindset – We think like owners
• Down to Business – We move fast and stay practical
• Rooted and Invested – We build lasting trust

Benefits

We are committed to fostering an exceptional work experience that includes a healthy work-life balance and an inclusive culture that values uniquely talented team members. We offer:

• Competitive wages
• Flexible scheduling
• Paid time off
• Annual performance reviews
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Adoption assistance
• 401(k)-retirement plan