Ward and Smith, P.A. is pleased to announce that Labor and Employment attorneys X. Lightfoot, Emily Massey, and Devon Williams have become North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Employment Law.
They are among the first attorneys in the state to earn this distinction under the newly established Employment Law Specialty.
X., Emily, and Devon participated in the inaugural “beta exam,” a pilot version of the rigorous specialty examination that attorneys must pass to achieve board certification. In addition to passing the comprehensive six-hour written exam, candidates must meet high standards set by the Board of Legal Specialization, including significant practical experience in employment law, a peer review process, and completion of advanced continuing legal education.
The creation of the Employment Law Specialization was the result of extensive work, much of it led by Ward and Smith attorneys. Grant Osborne chairs the Employment Law Specialty Committee, with Will Oden serving as Co-Chair and Ken Gray, the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice leader, serving as an Advisory Committee member. Together, they played a central role in shaping the framework and standards for the certification, which was officially approved in March of 2024. This designation became North Carolina’s 15th legal specialization and marked the state as just the seventh in the country to offer board certification in employment law.
"Seeing this process come full circle—from building the framework for the specialty, to gaining support and formal approval, to now celebrating the attorneys who successfully earned certification— is a meaningful culmination of years of effort,” said Grant Osborne. “We’re proud of X., Emily, and Devon, and we also congratulate the other attorneys across the state who passed this demanding exam. It’s a meaningful achievement that raises the bar for employment law practice in North Carolina.”
X, Devon, and Emily now join Grant, Ken, and Will with their specialist designations, bringing Ward and Smith’s total number of Board Certified Specialists in Employment Law to six— further highlighting the firm’s depth of knowledge and commitment to excellence in this evolving area of legal practice.
“Having board-certified specialists on our team means our clients can be confident that they’re being guided by attorneys who have not only demonstrated deep knowledge in employment law but have also had their expertise independently and objectively verified by the State Bar,” said Will Oden. “This recognition reflects our ongoing dedication to excellence and leadership in the field.”
To learn more about the benefits of working with a board-certified specialist, visit the North Carolina Legal Specialization website: https://www.nclawspecialists.gov/for-the-public/the-benefit-of-hiring-a-specialist/.
