Description of field of expertise

Lindsay Samuel has broad experience litigating claims of workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage-and-hour, and other employment related claims under various state and federal laws. Her practice also includes counseling on employee discipline, separations, terminations, and severance negotiations. Lindsay frequently advises clients in the development of personnel rules and policies including discipline and grievance procedures, and the investigation of grievances. She also represents employers in arbitrations and administrative proceedings involving disciplinary actions and grievances.

An experienced litigator, Lindsay served for five years as a staff attorney and supervising attorney with the Orleans Parish Public Defender's Office in New Orleans where she passionately defended indigent defendants through all phases of the criminal justice system.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

One thing I always tell new attorneys is that careers in law rarely follow a straight line—and that’s okay. You don’t have to follow a defined path to get where you want to go. In law school, I really liked my juvenile defense clinic, but I never imagined I would actually end up in criminal defense, and definitely not for five years. The recession pushed me into public service, and it turned out to be one of the most formative parts of my career. As a public defender, I learned how to build a defense from the ground up—conducting investigations, interviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence closely, trying cases, and learning how to really talk to people. When I decided I wanted to try something new, I leaned on those skills to transition into employment law and eventually into Big Law. The foundation was already there; I just needed to build subject-matter expertise. I studied relentlessly, took every continuing education opportunity I could, and read every practice guide I could get my hands on. Trust that your experiences will carry forward, even when the path shifts.

Final thoughts...

I encourage lawyers not to be afraid of change. Good lawyers can learn new areas of the law, move between practice settings, and even change jurisdictions. Strong foundational skills travel well and remain valuable no matter where your career takes you.