Michael Brown is a litigation attorney in Wisconsin. He will teach a course entitled "Employee Rights Law" at Solo Practice University®

Michael Brown is a litigation attorney at the law firm of Peterson, Berk & Cross, with offices in Green Bay and Appleton, Wisconsin.

Michael’s practice involves employee rights and visa worker rights. He represents workers in Wisconsin, as well as workers from different States and countries with respect to wage and visa-worker fraud claims.

Michael authors the Employee Rights Wisconsin blog, and H-1B Legal Rights blog.

Michael assists employees and immigrant workers with matters concerning unpaid wages, fraud (including H- visa worker wage fraud), employment contracts, discrimination and harassment, unemployment, wrongful discharge, and whistleblowing. He has represented hundreds of employees with diverse jobs, backgrounds, and nationalities, and has helped them achieve positive results.

Michael has represented clients in Federal and State forums, including appellate work in the Seventh Circuit and Wisconsin Court of Appeals.  He has also represented clients in several administrative forums.

Michael has served as board chair of the State Bar’s Civil Rights and Liberties section.  Michael is a year 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, and has legal work experience with large public and private organizations prior to practicing employee rights law.

Michael has contributed writings for several publications, including Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine, Marketplace Magazine, and the Employment Rights Section Newsletter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.  He has been a speaker at seminars and events, including events sponsored by Wisconsin Association for Justice and the Wisconsin Association of Legal Professionals.

Syllabus

This course will have twelve one-hour classes. An overview of the material is below. For a more detailed outline, see the full syllabus (PDF).

Overview of Employee Rights Law

• Pros and Cons of Employee Rights Practice
• Case Evaluation: Big-Picture Issues and Traps
• Common Views of Plaintiff/Employee, of Defense/Employer
• Employment at will doctrine
• Termination-Based Claims
• Wage & Benefit Claims
• Other Adverse Actions, Incl. Post-Employment

Intake/Prospective Client Process

• Example Employee Intake FORM
• Example Employee Intake CALLER
• Case Evaluation
• Case feasibility

Setting Up an Employee Rights Practice

• Disclaimer: set-up areas I am and am not experienced in
• Set-Up Considerations: Lifestyle & Financial
• Education
• Identify Limited Scope and Niche(s) of Practice
• Identify Core Competencies
• Marketing
• Fee Issues