Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliet Burgess.
Juliet, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story starts simply: local girl is awarded a scholarship to law school in Washington, D.C., works extremely hard, and is hired at a prestigious law firm. I graduated with a B.A.in Psychology, cum laude, from the University of Arizona and a J.D. cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law. While in law school, I practiced as a Student Attorney for the Samuel-Glushko Intellectual Property Clinic, completed an externship at the Recording Industry Association of America, and was selected for a fellowship at the American Library Association. I was also a columnist and the Copy Editor/Perspectives Editor for the American Jurist magazine – nationally recognized by the American Bar Association as the #1 Law School Magazine in the country.
I spent the next decade practicing law in the Phoenix offices of the large international law firms of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Littler Mendelson, PC. I represented employers, ranging from fortune 500® companies to start-up businesses, before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and in mediation and arbitration proceedings, successfully handling cases from inception through trial. I also managed multi-district litigations and class actions and served as corporate, litigation, and labor & employment counsel to clients nationwide. After winning a two-week jury trial in Baltimore, Maryland and being named a Rising Star by Southwest Superlawyers®, my future at the firm was bright. I loved practicing law, but as a female attorney, I grew increasingly frustrated by the glass ceiling and dated culture in the traditional law firm model. After my second child was born, I made the difficult decision to veer off the professional path I had chosen and to gift myself time to decide my next step.
I soon became even more active in the Phoenix community. I accepted a position on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library, where I eventually took on the role of VP Community Outreach and helped to plan their annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraising event. I also Co-Chaired the Jewish National Fund’s Annual Women For Israel Luncheon for two consecutive years, bringing together over 500 plus women from all generations and featuring inspirational women such as Paralympic Gold Medalist Keren Leibovitch and Captain (Res.) Libby Weiss, former IDF Spokesperson to the U.S. and Head of International Social Media. I worked on the host committee for Lambda Legal Arizona, which advocates for LGBTQ equality in the workplace, became a sustaining member of Crisis Nursery, was active on the Parent and Social Action Committees of Temple Solel, and grew increasingly involved with other local non-profits.
Then I received a call from a longtime client asking if I could update their company’s Employee Handbook to comply with a recent change in Arizona law. I jumped at the chance to use my legal skills and to collaborate with one of my favorite local businesses. This opportunity ultimately inspired me to launch Burgess Employment Law. I strategized with trusted entrepreneurs in various industries to set up the business and reached out to friends and colleagues in the legal community. Within months of opening the firm, I had a steady stream of diverse referrals and business development opportunities.
While being a small business owner is very different than the path I initially started on, I am thrilled with the firm’s development and am motivated by our continued growth. Burgess Employment Law is truly a modern enterprise that continues to evolve with me, my clients and our community.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any new business, there have been twists and turns! For example, some of the most exciting opportunities have presented themselves at the craziest of times and many of the “bumps in the road” have turned out to be great learning opportunities and have helped shaped the direction of the firm. For example, helping my clients launch new businesses has underscored just how important strong policies are and the value in non-competes and confidentiality agreements. I’ve also learned the importance of being able to “pivot” from helping clients adjust their businesses as we navigate the new federal paid leave requirements, unemployment expansion at the state and federal levels, and the federal stimulus programs related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The beauty of Burgess Employment Law is that it has truly been (and continues to be) shaped by the very real struggles I face as a female professional and small business owner starting a local business from the ground up.
As a female attorney with young children, one of the biggest struggles I faced while working at big firms was juggling unpredictable court deadlines and long hours. Many of my colleagues had others to take care of household duties I managed (groceries, laundry, dinner and childcare, etc.). Although I loved my work, it was extremely hard to fit two full-time jobs into 24 hours, be present when I was home, and be responsive to my clients and colleagues at all hours of the day.
Looking back, I am grateful for this struggle as it gave me the courage and motivation to leave the “safe” career path I was on and to go out on my own. It also motivated me to work “smarter not harder” by using technology to be responsive to my clients when outside of the office and to work with businesses who share a similar mindset. In employment law, many issues are extremely time-sensitive. I think my clients appreciate that I am a real person. They know that I am accessible and responsive and that I will give them practical advice.
Please tell us about Burgess Employment Law.
Burgess Employment Law is a boutique law firm specializing in labor and employment law. We provide strategic and collaborative counsel to our clients on all types of pertinent workplace issues such as gender discrimination and retaliation, sexual harassment, equal pay, hiring, termination, social media, wage and hour issues, FMLA, paid sick time, discrimination, retaliation, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, OSHA, and other sensitive workplace issues, not only from a legal standpoint; but also, a human standpoint. We also provide legal seminars on poignant employment law topics, conduct workplace investigations and do in-house trainings on diversity awareness and harassment and discrimination avoidance in the workplace.
There are several reasons Burgess Employment Law is unique from other firms. First, we don’t view ourselves as counsel for employers or employees, but rather as employment counsel working collaboratively to solve problems, make well-reasoned business decisions and create healthy, productive workplace cultures within corporations and throughout the community. We represent individuals, executive-level employees, law firms, and businesses in various industries/sizes (everything from healthcare to skincare and catering to cannabis).
Second, our client base is built on referrals and meaningful relationships with great organizations and individuals throughout Phoenix. This is not a business I inherited or purchased, but rather something genuine that evolved from a sincere desire to work with great local businesses and people who I trust and respect.
I am extremely proud of our role in empowering women of various ages to get involved in the community and to come together to take action for causes they believe in. Professionally, I mentor female executives to stand up for themselves and to advocate for what is lawful but also to see the bigger picture and to find creative ways to keep them in the workplace. I also help businesses maximize diversity and minimize harassment and discrimination exposure by incorporating policies and training programs in the workplace. I sincerely believe that this starts from the ground up and am incredibly proud to serve as a Girl Scouts leader for my daughter’s Daisy troop, where we strive to teach young girls leadership, organization, and communication skills they can take with them as they go through life and enter the business world someday.
I am also very proud to be the Co-Founder of The Aggregate—an organization that brings female attorneys and small businesses owners together in modern and constructive ways. We are building a community with the mindset that the sum is greater than each individual and together we can accomplish great things!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I firmly believe that having the courage to take risks, working hard, and treating others with kindness and respect are invaluable in business and life. Each time I took a risk and said “yes” to a new opportunity—whether it was moving across the country for school or a job, taking on a non-paying project for a cause I believed in, or chairing an event because it meant that I got to work with people that inspired me, I have always been grateful.
Contact Info:
- Address: Burgess Employment Law
4340 E. Indian School Rd, Suite 21, PMB 460
Phoenix, AZ 85018 - Website: www.burgessemploymentlaw.com
- Phone: 480-277-0284
- Email: juliet@burgessemploymentlaw.com
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-burgess-ab4216133/
Image Credit:
Leland Gebhardt Photography; Haley Mcmackin Photography; Jewish National Fund
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