For the sixth year in a row, Employee Benefits Committee members took time to visit law students to hold a panel discussion on careers in employee benefits law in connection with an outreach effort the Committee has organized as part of its annual Midwinter Meeting. This year, the panel was hosted by the Belmont School of Law just hours after a visit from the Chief Justice of the United States, John Roberts.
At Belmont, a receptive group of 20 students heard from Marjorie Butler of the DOL’s Solicitor’s Office in Boston and Committee members Marie Casciari of Chicago’s DeBofsky, Sherman & Casciari, Marcelle Henry of Pitta LLP of New York City, John R. Harney of O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue LLP, and Simon Torres of the PBGC, both from Washington D.C. This distinguished panel discussed the broad range of legal careers in the employee benefit field. Belmont students heard about pension and welfare benefit claim appeals, and litigation and compliance issues facing attorneys practicing on behalf of funds, employers, employees, unions, and government agencies.
Employee Benefits Committee panelists discussed their career paths, current work, and the challenges of balancing work and personal life. The Labor and Employment Law Section helped underwrite this diversity effort by providing refreshments and raffle prizes in the form of flash drives and other items with the Labor and Employment Law Section and ABA logos. The panelists also wish to thank Ms. Lisa Doster of the Office of Career and Professional Development at Belmont, who had to juggle visits from Chief Justice Roberts and the Employee Benefits Committee panelists on the same day. The Committee also appreciates the efforts of Margaret Mabury, the ABA Student Representative who helped organize the event. The Employee Benefits Committee will continue to make law student outreach part of its annual Midwinter Meetings in the future with a special focus on reaching out to minority students.