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Hartley working and working hard at employment law

Hartley working and working hard at employment law

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Claire Hartley, lawyer at Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson and Vliet (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)
Claire Hartley, lawyer at Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson and Vliet (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

Attorney finds nothing dull about her specialty

Change is nothing new to Claire Hartley and other lawyers specializing in labor and employment law.

A lawyer at Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson and Vliet, in Waukesha, Hartley deals with litigation, employment law and labor issues for school districts and both public and private employers.

“There is a lot of problem-solving that goes on in employment law,” she said.

Labor and employment laws frequently change depending on which political party is in power, Hartley said. Case in point: Act 10, which changed public employees’ union bargaining rights not long after Gov. Walker came into office.

“It is important for me as a labor and employment law attorney to keep up with changes in the law on the state and federal level,” Hartley said. “I need to educate my clients about those changes and how they can affect them. While in some areas, changes in the law take awhile to go into effect, with employment law the changes can happen pretty quickly.”

Buelow Vetter specializes in labor and employment law, which Hartley said is beneficial since her colleagues are always there to answer questions. She plays different roles depending on what clients need. For some, Hartley acts more like a general counsel handling contracts with employees or outside contractors. For others, she handles emergencies, such as those that arise when there is employee misconduct or allegations of harassment involving an employee.

“Some clients I talk to several times a week while others may be more sporadic. I work to protect the employer from litigation,” Hartley said. “I spend quite a bit of time looking at policies or handbooks to make sure everything is current and within the law.”

When it comes to her work with school districts, she often attends board meetings and offers resources to the board and administration as questions come up throughout the year.

“We also get involved with open-record requests and student or employee discipline hearings to make sure the law is being properly followed,” Hartley said.

“With employment and labor law, there is always something new and challenging. It’s definitely not dull.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Claire Hartley: I really enjoy helping people and businesses by coming up with creative solutions to their problems.

WLJ: Who is your hero in the legal field?
Hartley: There are two women I have worked for who really stand out to me. They went down different paths in the legal field, but reached a very high level in their careers. They both sacrificed a lot personally and endured a lot of adversity to get where they are, but they maintained the highest level of professionalism and are highly regarded in the legal field. Despite their success, they both were approachable and took the time to teach and mentor me and other lawyers. They are people I strive to emulate.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Hartley: I have two toddlers, which keeps me plenty busy. I really enjoy my time with them, watching them grow and explore. I also enjoy going for runs. We also recently moved into a fixer-upper that we hope to transform into our dream home, so I spend a lot of time planning my next remodeling project and decorating our home.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Hartley: Many people outside of the legal field do not always recognize that lawyers do not know all areas of the law. Lawyers are very specialized. I often get questions about traffic tickets, for instance. Luckily, I know some good attorneys that I can refer those individuals to for assistance.

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Hartley: When I met my husband in law school. We were classmates and friends before we started dating.

WLJ: Is there a certain case that stands out to you?
Hartley: I recently helped a business owner who happened to be a family friend in a case involving a competitor. It is memorable since I knew him and could see how the situation affected him personally, as well as how it affected his business. I knew how important it was for us to be successful in litigation, which we were.

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