Alicia M. Ward skillfully balances legal compliance with her client’s business needs. She counsels clients on an array of employment-related questions that arise throughout the course of the employer-employee relationship concerning pre-employment, hiring and onboarding, training, termination, reasonable accommodations, performance evaluations and improvement plans, and policies governing leaves of absence. Her background in human resources allows her to collaborate seamlessly with employers to help them stay knowledgeable and in compliance with the ever-changing employment laws – whether state, federal, or local.
Alicia’s practice includes advising and representing clients in labor, employment, and higher education issues involving claims of discrimination, wage and hour, and contract disputes. She also represents clients before government agencies, such as the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General and the Department of Education.
Alicia also advises colleges and universities regarding Title IX and Clery Act compliance requirements and strategies, campus safety and security operations, student conduct matters, and disability accommodations. She also represents and counsels schools under investigation and audit by the United States Department of Education, including Clery Act compliance reviews and Title IX investigations by the Office for Civil Rights.
Prior to joining the HRW Team, Alicia worked as in-house counsel for an audit and consulting firm where she worked directly with human resources in handling all aspects of employment law-related matters. As in-house counsel, Alicia drafted and reviewed employee handbooks along with important policies and procedures, developed and delivered sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity trainings, and counseled her client on how best to comply with state, federal, and local laws.
Before assuming her role as in-house counsel, Alicia worked in human resources where she acquired an understanding of the ins and outs of the employee-employer relationship and the importance balancing legal compliance with her client’s business needs.
