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Pamela J. Kovacs

As a former recruiter, Pamela Kovacs brings a unique insight into her work in employment and labor law, including having advised clients in the areas of discipline and discharge, employee handbooks, wage and hour, professional employer organizations, joint employment issues, collective bargaining, and labor campaigns. In addition, her education and experience in government contract law during law school provided Pamela a useful foundation for her affirmative action work with government contractors.

Pamela also advised colleges and universities on higher education laws, such as Title IX, the Clery Act, the Campus SaVE Act, and FERPA. As part of trainED, she regularly conducts trainings and investigations for higher education institutions as well.

Prior to joining Lathrop GPM, Pamela was a clerk for the Honorable James B. Loken at the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She also served as a summer associate for Gray Plant Mooty in 2011.

Representative Experience

  • Conducted multiple investigations of allegations of sexual misconduct involving students and/or staff at higher education institutions
  • Drafted sexual misconduct policies for multiple higher education institutions
  • Advised higher education institutions on decisions and appeals following sexual misconduct or other policy violation investigations involving students, faculty, and/or staff
  • Advised and assisted university in successfully opposing union campaign to organize adjunct faculty
  • Prepared affirmative action plans for various government contractors
  • Represented university in defending federal lawsuit following Title IX investigation and assisted university in reaching favorable settlement

Presentations

  • Co-presenter, "Current, and Future, Wage and Hour Challenges," and "Recruiting and Hiring Trends," Lathrop GPM 2023 Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 24, 2023 (Minneapolis)
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, August 4, 2021
  • Co-presenter, "Annual Training for Advanced Title IX Coordinators and Deputy Coordinators," trainED, August 3, 2021
  • Co-presenter, "Annual Training for New Title IX Coordinators and Deputy Coordinators," trainED, August 2, 2021
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," trainED, July 21, 2021
  • Co-presenter, "Annual Training for Advanced Title IX Coordinators and Deputy Coordinators," trainED, July 20, 2021
  • Co-presenter, "Title IX/VAWA Investigator Training," SC Technical College System, June 25, 2020
  • Co-presenter, "Campus SaVE Act Final Regulations Update," trainED, November 19, 2014
  • Co-presenter, "Drafting Your Notice of Determination Training," trainED, November 13, 2014
  • Co-presenter,"Clery Act Annual Security Report Training," trainED, September 10, 2014

Publications

  • “Affirmatively Inefficient Jurisprudence?: Confusing Contractors’ Rights to Raise Affirmative Defenses with Sovereign Immunity,” coauthor, The Federal Circuit Bar Journal

Client Alerts and Blog Posts

Community Involvement

  • Bethlehem Baptist Church, member
  • Immigration Law Center of Minnesota, pro bono attorney
  • Manage child safety policies, training, and response for faith-based organization working overseas

Honors

  • Minnesota State Bar Association, "North Star Lawyers," 2014, 2023
Photo of Pamela J. Kovacs
  • Minneapolis

    80 South Eighth Street
    3100 IDS Center
    Minneapolis, MN 55402

Assistant

Tammy Hahn 
612.632.3216

Court Memberships

  • Minnesota 
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota

Education

The George Washington University Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, 2012

  • Order of the Coif

Bethel University, B.A. in Journalism, magna cum laude, 2007

Languages

Turkish