Breaking into Employee Benefits Law

It is probably safe to say that most people who entered law school did not dream about becoming an ERISA/employee benefits attorney. For one, many might not even know what ERISA is, and even if they do, practicing in the field of ERISA doesn’t seem as glamorous as areas such as criminal law or intellectual property. ERISA stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Its name is misleading, however, because ERISA also regulates health plans and other types of employee welfare benefit plans. ERISA’s primary purpose is to protect employee retirement and health benefits. Marie Skinner, my colleague, and I were like most individuals who never imagined a career in employee benefits.