Jacqueline Phipps Polito

Jacqueline Phipps Polito

Office Managing Shareholder, Littler Mendelson PC

Years in current role: 4 (11 at Littler)

What has been your biggest success over the past year?

Although I have achieved notable legal victories and resolved countless workplace challenges for my clients, the biggest success for me over the last year has been the formation of several mentoring relationships. Littler associates have come to me for guidance on issues ranging from litigation strategy to client engagements. What started as a single question has become regularly scheduled touch points, both in-person and virtually, with newer attorneys from the firm’s Rochester office, as well as those across the firm. We continue to discuss strategies on how they can add more value to their practice and utilize the many resources Littler has to offer. It’s truly rewarding to share the knowledge I have gained over my career with the next generation of attorneys.

What advice would you give someone just starting out in labor and employment law?

Labor and employment encompasses so many areas of law. For early career professionals, I recommend determining which areas of L&E they are interested in, whether it be labor relations, occupational safety and health, wage and hour, the list goes on. Once areas of focus are determined, the next step would be to learn as much as possible — join a practice group, talk with subject matter specialists at your firm, ask for work in that area. I also recommend finding a mentor as mentorships allow attorneys to learn and get candid feedback from someone with a different perspective other than who they report to. And finally, always look for opportunities to expand knowledge and experience because the end result is invaluable — becoming a better attorney that provides exceptional client service.

What do you enjoy most about practicing law in the Rochester area?

The Rochester community has so much to offer — from mom-and-pop establishments to corporate businesses. Being able to assist these local companies to ensure they are making the right business decisions for their organization and employees is truly one of the greatest parts of my job. As a Rochester resident, it’s important for me to contribute to our thriving community in a positive way and I’m happy to do so by being a dependable legal resource for local clients and our national clients that have businesses in the Rochester community.