Ms. Brucker is a partner with the firm and has ten years of experience in employment law.  Her practice is dedicated to providing counseling and transactional services to management and human resources professionals.  Ms. Brucker has a strong background in employment litigation and extensive experience assisting companies with risk management.  Particular areas of expertise include wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, disability accommodation, employee terminations and discipline management, employment contracts, compensation plans, and hiring and background check compliance.

Ms. Brucker regularly conducts audits for large and small employers in the areas of exemption classifications and HR compliance.  She also provides management training on a wide variety of topics including sexual harassment prevention, managing employee leaves and disability issues, avoiding wage and hour claims, and the differences between California and federal employment laws for multi-sate employers.

Ms. Brucker also represents employers in administrative proceedings before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the California Department of Labor. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
  Partner (2007 - present), Associate (2001 - 2006)
• King & Ballow - Associate
  May 1998 - February 2001
• Harris & Offner - Associate
  August 1997 - May 1998

EDUCATION

• Northeastern University School of Law
  J.D., 1997
• University of California, San Diego
  B.A. 1992, cum laude

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIPS

• Partnerships With Industry, Board of Directors
• Thursday Club Professionals
• State Bar of California – Labor Law and Employment Section
• San Diego County Bar Association – Labor and Employment Law Section
   

ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS

• Advising California Employers and Employees, Continuing Education Of The Bar, Contributing Author (2005-2006)
• Employment Law Question Of The Month, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Website, Author (2006)
• Court Holds Release Agreements With Confusing Legalese Are No Bar To Age Discrimination Claims, Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton E-Update (September, 2006)
• Pre-Hire Medical Exams and Drug Tests Must Be The Last Step In The Hiring Process, Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton E-Update (April, 2005)
   

RECENT PRESENTATIONS

• The Burnham Institute, “Working Together To Prevent Workplace Harassment” (March 2007)
• Continuing Education Of The Bar, “Employment Law Update” (February 2007)
• Brandes Investment Partners, LP “Manager Training: Employment Law Tips and Trends for 2007” (February 2007)
  San Diego Employer’s Association, “Must Have Policies for 2007” (February 2007)
• SHRM Law Day, “Leave of Absence ‘Boot Camp’” (January 2007)
  Council On Education in Management, “Avoiding FMLA/CFRA Retaliation Claims” & “Determining Whether the Employee Has A serious Health Condition As Defined Under the FMLA/CFRA” (August 2006)
• San Diego Employers Association, “When Do You Have To Pay Your Employees?” (August 2006)
  San Diego Zoological Society, “Leaves of Absence: Manager Training” (July 2006)
• UCSD Healthcare Executive Leadership Program, “Human Resources Law” (June 2006)
• San Diego Employers Association, Human Resources Survival Guide Seminar, “Alphabet Soup: How Do All These Leaves Mix Together?” (June 2006)
• Continuing Education Of The Bar, “Employment Law Update” (February 2006)
• San Diego Employer’s Association, Certificated Education Program, “Preparing Employee Handbooks” (February 2006)
• San Diego Employer’s Association, “Scrubbing Your Employee Handbooks” (March 2005)
• Delta Design, Inc., “Harassment In The Workplace,” Employee and Supervisor Training (February 2005)
• California Chamber of Commerce, “Legal Update: New Laws Regarding Domestic Partners” (February 2005)
• San Diego Recruiters Roundtable, "Labor Law Update 2005” (January 2005)
• San Diego Recruiters Roundtable, “Workplace Law Update 2004” (February 2004)
• Biogen Idec, Inc., "California Employment Law 2004" (January 2004)

ADMISSIONS

Ms. Brucker  is admitted to practice before all California state courts and federal district courts in California.