They are among the first attorneys in the state to earn this distinction under the newly established Employment Law Specialty.
X., Emily, and Devon participated in the inaugural “beta exam,” a pilot version of the rigorous specialty examination that attorneys must pass to achieve board certification. In addition to passing the comprehensive six-hour written exam, candidates must meet high standards set by the Board of Legal Specialization, including significant practical experience in employment law, a peer review process, and completion of advanced continuing legal education.
The creation of the Employment Law Specialization was the result of extensive work, much of it led by Ward and Smith attorneys. Grant Osborne chairs the Employment Law Specialty Committee, with Will Oden serving as Co-Chair and Ken Gray, the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice leader, serving as an Advisory Committee member. Together, they played a central role in shaping the framework and standards for the certification, which was officially approved in March of 2024. This designation became North Carolina’s 15th legal specialization and marked the state as just the seventh in the country to offer board certification in employment law.
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