Ward and Smith Attorneys to Speak at the 2026 NC/SC Labor & Employment Law Conference

Employment law does not stand still, and neither can employers, HR professionals, and attorneys responsible for navigating it.

From new court decisions to evolving workplace expectations, staying current is essential to making sound decisions before a dispute reaches the courtroom.

Ward and Smith attorneys Avery Locklear and Will Oden will help attendees do just that when they present the North Carolina State Update to fellow employment attorneys at the 42nd Annual NC/SC Labor & Employment Law Conference in Asheville on November 7, 2026.

Their session will provide a review of significant labor, employment, and employment-adjacent decisions issued over the past year by North Carolina state and federal district courts. Avery and Will will examine developments that may influence workplace policies, employee relations, litigation strategy, and everyday compliance decisions.

The Employment Law Conference is a two-day event sponsored by the Labor and Employment Sections of the North Carolina Bar Association and the South Carolina Bar that brings together attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals from North Carolina and South Carolina for continuing legal education on employment law topics presented by experienced practitioners in that area of practice.

Other conference topics include:

• U.S. Supreme Court employment law decisions from the most recent term
• Notable Fourth Circuit decisions and trends
• EEOC enforcement priorities and activity in the Charlotte District
• A live mock summary judgment argument and feedback from federal judges and litigators
• Trial-practice guidance from the federal bench, including voir dire, evidence, jury instructions, and post-trial motions
• Ethical use of AI agents, chatbots, and automated workflows in employment law
• Preventing professional burnout and supporting mental well-being in high-stress legal work
• Current trends in wage-and-hour litigation, including class and collective actions
• OSHA inspections, workplace fatalities, and serious safety incidents
• A South Carolina employment law update covering state appellate and federal district court decisions

The program will be held at the Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel. For registration and program details, visit the North Carolina Bar Association’s CLE website.