Lawyer Bio : Jill M. Benson
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Jill M. Benson
Greensboro
Jill Benson is an experienced labor and employment litigator who represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment issues, including:
- Wage and hour claims (Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws);
- Leave of absence issues, including Family Medical Leave Act, military leave and paid time off concern;
- Anti-discrimination disputes, including those involving Americans with Disabilities Act claims, as well as claims involving alleged discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion or age;
- Trade secrets and employee non-compete cases;
- Whistleblower retaliation claims.
Jill represents employers at both the trial level and appellate level before federal and state courts. She also represents clients in proceedings before federal and state administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor, as well as in arbitration disputes before the American Arbitration Association.
In addition to defending employers in litigation, Jill helps employers avoid potential litigation through training on various topics, including anti-discrimination, harassment, FMLA, ADA, FLSA, workplace investigations and e-verify employment eligibility verification. She counsels clients on employment decisions, such as hiring and termination.
She also conducts internal audits of employment policies and procedures and works with employers to draft employment policies, employee handbooks and employment agreements that comply with federal and state laws.
Before focusing her practice on labor and employment law, Jill represented clients in environmental and appellate litigation.
Contact
- 336-574-8095
- 336-574-4563
Professional Activities
Admitted to the bar: North Carolina, South Carolina.
Admitted to practice in U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina; U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina; and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Civic Activities
Member, Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce’s Council of Governmental Affairs, 2010-present; Secretary, Young Professional Republicans of Forsyth County, 2010-present; Board Member/Legal Advisor, NCASP, 2010-present; Member, Junior League of Winston-Salem, 2009-present.
Education
B.A., 2003, Political Science, Winthrop University, cum laude.
J.D., 2006, Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law; Case Summary Writer, Campbell Law Observer.
Prior Legal Experience
Associate, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, Winston-Salem, N.C., 2008-2011; Associate, McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC, Charlotte, N.C. & Columbia, S.C., 2006-2008; Law Clerk, McAngus Goudelock & Courie, 2005-2006; Law Clerk, Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C., Summer 2004.
Prior Business Experience
Intern, Congressman John Spratt’s Office, Washington, D.C., Summer 2002.
Publications
- “The New Form I-9,” Womble Carlyle Client Alert, April 2013.
- “The Department Of Labor Celebrates The FMLA’s 20th Anniversary,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, March/April 2013.
- “New Year Resolutions for North Carolina Staffing Firms (A Legal Perspective),” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, January/February 2013.
- “Wage and Hour Claims: Is the Staffing Industry a Target for the Department of Labor and Plaintiffs’ Counsel?” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, November/December 2012.
- “Incorporating GINA’s Safe Harbor Language into Employment Policies,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, May/June 2012.
- “Misclassification of Independent Contractors: Will North Carolina Join Forces with the IRS & DOL?” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, March 2012.
- “North Carolina Jumps on the E-Verify Bandwagon,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, September/October, 2011.
- “Medical Inquiries for Temporary Workers: Timing is Everything,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, January/February 2011.
- “Controlling Your Company’s Legal Costs,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, November/December, 2010.
- “Why You Should Care About ObamaCare: The Impact on Staffing Firms,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Staffing Now, September/October, 2010.
Presentations
“The EEOC’s Strategic Enforcement Plan: What to Expect in the Next Four Years,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, June 2013.
“The EEOC’s Strategic Enforcement Plan: What to Expect in the Next Four Years,” Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management 2013 Legal Update, June 2013.
“How Will Healthcare Reform Impact Employers’ Health Insurance Plans?” (with Womble Carlyle attorney Bill Whitehurst), North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, June 2013.
“The New Form I-9,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, May 2013.
“Labor and Employment Law Update,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals Annual Training Conference, April 2013.
“FMLA: A closer look at Intermittent Leave,” Rockingham County Personnel Association, February 2013.
“North Carolina’s E-Verify Mandate,” Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, December 2012.
“Wage and Hour Claims: Is the Staffing Industry a Target for the Department of Labor and Plaintiffs’ Counsel?” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, December 2012.
“EEOC Enforcement Guidance: Criminal History under Title VII,” Triangle Technical Recruiters Association, October 2012.
“Family & Medical Leave Act—What You Should Know,” Legal Support Staff for Greensboro, July 2012.
“Recent Trends and the FLSA,” Society for Human Resource Management, June 2012.
“Family & Medical Leave Act Update,” Triad Health Underwriters Association, June 2012.
“Federal and State Employment Law Update,” 2012 North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals (NCASP) Annual Training Conference, May 2012.
“Recent Trends and the FLSA” Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, May 2012.
“Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Issues,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, April 2012.
“Recent Trends and the FLSA” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Triad local chapter, April 2012.
“Recent Trends and the FLSA” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, Charlotte local chapter meeting, March 2012.
“Family and Medical Leave Act,” JBA Benefits Smart Choices Series, August 2011.
“Health Care Reform: One Year Later,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, April 2011.
“FLSA (Wage & Hour),” College & University Professional Association for Human Resources of Virginia, September 2010.
“HIRE Act & Employment Law Update,” Council of Independent Colleges of Virginia, May 2010.
“Form I-9 Compliance,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, April 2010.
“Health Care Reform,” North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals, April 2010.
Additional Information
- Interviewed in “The Economics of Litigation: In a Tough Economy, Employers Should Guard Themselves Against Lawsuits,” The Business Journal, June 17-23, 2011.
- Featured on “North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals Conference Radio Series 2011.”
- Named to Business North Carolina’s 2013 North Carolina Legal Elite for Employment Law.
Areas of Proficiency
- Labor & Employment
Practice & Industry Teams
Articles
News
- Jill Benson Wins NCASP Vendor of the Year Award for Service to Staffing Professionals
- Jill Benson Addresses Labor and Employment Issues, Employee Terminations in Home Furnishings Industry
- 14 Womble Carlyle Attorneys Make Business North Carolina’s 2013 Legal Elite
- Stepping Up to the Plate: Womble Carlyle Donates More than 99,000 Meals to North Carolina’s Hungry
- Womble Carlyle’s Jill Benson to Present Seminar on N.C.’s E-Verify Mandate
- “Incorporating GINA’s Safe Harbor Language into Employment Policies” Article Published by Lex Mundi Blog
Publications
Lawyer Articles
- New Year Resolutions for North Carolina Staffing Firms (A Legal Perspective)
- Wage and Hour Claims: Is the Staffing Industry a Target for the Department of Labor and Plaintiffs’ Counsel?
- Incorporating GINA’s Safe Harbor Language into Employment Policies
- Misclassification of Independent Contractors: Will North Carolina Join Forces with the IRS & DOL?
- The Department Of Labor Celebrates The FMLA’s 20th Anniversary
Client Alerts
Case Studies
Events
- Jill Benson to Discuss EEOC Strategic Enforcement Plan in June 26th Webinar
- Womble Carlyle to Hold Legal Update for Winston-Salem Society for Human Resource Management
- How Will Healthcare Reform Impact Employers’ Health Insurance Plans?
- Recap: Jill Benson Presents Webinar on the New Form I-9
- Jill Benson to Give Labor & Employment Law Update at NCASP Annual Conference
- Recap: Womble Carlyle Attorney Jill Benson Gives FMLA Presentation
- Recap: Womble Carlyle’s Jill Benson Presents Seminar on N.C.’s E-Verify Mandate
- Jill Benson to Lead Webinar on Wage and Hour Claims in Staffing Industry
- Jill Benson to Speak on EEOC Enforcement Guidance
- Recap: Jill Benson Speaks on Family and Medical Leave Act
- Womble Carlyle Attorneys to Offer Legal Update for HR Professionals
- Event Recap: Jill Benson Speaks on Family & Medical Leave Act
- Jill Benson to Discuss Employment Law Changes with NCASP Members
- Jill Benson to Speak in Greensboro on Fair Labor Standards Act Issues
