Laura Alrutz concentrates her practice on the representation of management in a broad range of issues related to labor and employment law.
Laura handles litigation arising from claims of discrimination under Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Laura also counsels employers regarding implementing effective policies and procedures that comply with the law. Laura represents clients in state and federal court and also regularly handles charges of discrimination in administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She is comfortable handling all phases of litigation up through trial preparation and has consistently litigated employment dismissal hearings to verdict with favorable defense outcomes. She has represented clients in a variety of industries including insurance, education, construction, and healthcare.
Prior to joining FordHarrison, Laura was the Director of Policy and Advocacy of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, a nonprofit aimed at closing the achievement gap of low-income students in Jacksonville's public schools. Before this, she served as an associate at a large Tennessee-based general practice firm, with a focus on employment, education, and insurance defense litigation.
Before pursuing a career in the law, Laura spent three years with Teach for America, teaching for two years in Jacksonville and serving as a recruitment associate for one year in Philadelphia.