Michelle Alcala

PARTNER

Email:
Phone: 512-637-4295
Location: Austin
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Michelle Alcala is a highly regarded, strong, and effective advocate for her clients. She has extensive experience in handling employment law matters, complex litigation, transactional matters, and other legal disputes. Michelle puts her clients first and prides herself on learning the unique issues that clients face.

Michelle has been litigating cases for over eighteen years, with a specialization in Labor and Employment Law. Michelle spent the first twelve years of her practice in private practice, handing all types of civil litigation disputes, including breach of contract, negligence, wrongful death, landlord-tenant, premises liability, real estate, trade secrets, legal malpractice, construction defects, breach of fiduciary duty, and estate and probate. Additionally, Michelle was selected by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct to serve as a special prosecutor in an ethics violation prosecution of a state judge.

In 2012, the Texas Board of Legal Specialization certified Michelle as a specialist in Labor and Employment Law. The Texas Board Legal Specialization certifies that Michelle has substantial knowledge and special competence, including trial experience, handling employment disputes involving employment contracts, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, fair pay requirements, and workplace safety.

Michelle is the first person in her family to attend college, is a 2003 graduate of Harvard Law School and is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Employment Law.

PRACTICE AREAS

• Labor and Employment Law
• Litigation, including state and federal court, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings Mediations and Arbitrations
• Grievances involving civil rights and discrimination, due process issues, contracts, and termination of employment
• Economic Development Agreements, (Chapter 313) Whistleblower claims in state and federal courts Education Law
• Special Education and 504 Due Process Hearings and Appeals

EDUCATION

J.D., Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 2003
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 2000
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Building Trial Skills Course 2008

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

School Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Employment Law Section, State Bar of Texas and Austin Bar Association
Litigation Section, State Bat of Texas
Texas Council of School Attorneys
American Bar Association

SEMINARS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Texas Ed Con 22, Controversy in the Community and Public Comment
• Education Service Center, Region 2 Personnel Services Symposium
• Education Service Center, Region 6, Discipline and Documentation Training
• TASA Midwinter Conference, Elections and Voting and Texas Educator Dos and Don’ts
• Topics Covered in District Trainings:
  • Handling Sensitive Employment Investigations
  • Preparing to Make Employment Decisions
  • Effective Performance Documentation
  • Workplace Investigations and the Reporting of Educator Misconduct
  • Taking Adverse Employment Action and Terminating Employment Relationship
  • Preventing Workplace Harassment

HONORS

Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Labor and Employment Law
Served as President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer for the Austin Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section
Austin Under 40 Award Finalist, Legal
Repeatedly designated as a “Rising Star” in litigation published by Texas Monthly Magazine
Recognized for over ten years as a Texas “Super Lawyer” published by Texas Monthly Magazine
Suzanne Covington Pro Bono Service Award for service with Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas

BAR ADMISSIONS

State Bar of Texas

COURT ADMISSIONS

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

CIVIC & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Board Member, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Advisory Board Member, Hispanic Scholarship Consortium
Board Member, Launch Pad
Volunteer Legal Services volunteer
Board Member, Junior Achievement of Central Texas
Board Member, Crime Prevention Institute
Graduate of Leadership Austin Emerge Program
Martin Middle School Mentor

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, Shareholder, 2004-2017