Overview
Julie provides labor and employment counsel that is outcome based. Before giving advice, she asks her clients what they want or need as the outcome to their matter; then skillfully crafts a pragmatic, business-centric solution to the issue.
Julie actively navigates employers of all shapes and sizes through the legal pitfalls of the employment relationship from its inception at recruitment and hiring through the implementation of policies and procedures, and the conclusion of the relationship with the termination/separation process. When litigation becomes necessary, Julie aggressively advocates for clients in the areas of traditional labor and employment law, including but not limited to discrimination/retaliation cases, non-competition/non-solicitation enforcement, wage and hour litigation, and employment and labor arbitrations.
Julie represents many public sector/municipal employers in traditional labor and employment issues. Most commonly, Julie represents municipalities in labor disputes, including negotiations, grievances, ULP defense, and arbitration. Her impressive legal practice includes representing both public and private sector employers in federal, state and administrative venues. These venues include a trial practice in federal and state court, as well as at the Illinois Human Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board and Department of Labor.
Finally, in addition to, and in concert with, her labor and employment practice, Julie assists a substantial number of not-for-profits with both their traditional employment issues, as well as the issues that arise before 501(c)(3) and 501 (c)(6) organizations. Julie’s not-for-profit practice includes training in board policies, procedures, and development, as well as counseling a defense.
In 2012, Julie was honored as one of the 40 Attorneys Under 40 in the State of Illinois to Watch by Chicago Lawyer magazine. At the time, she was described by a client as, “honest, bright, creative, diligent and aggressive.” Another client stated, “Julie has never failed to give me exceptional assistance.” Amundsen Davis leadership and Julie’s labor and employment team members echo these sentiments.
Julie is well respected by her peers in the legal, business and service communities. She is often asked to speak on trending topics in the labor and employment arena by clients and educational providers around the country. The articles she pens are regularly broadcast to more than 20,000 people across the Midwest by various educational providers and associations.
Prior to joining Amundsen Davis, Julie practiced at a Midwest-based boutique labor and employment law firm. Preceding that, Julie worked in the Human Resources Department of Northern Illinois University as the Assistant Director of Affirmative Action and Legal Compliance. In this role, she conducted numerous internal investigations, reviewed policies and procedures for legal compliance, and developed training programs aimed at preventing employment litigation and liability.
Experience
Membership & Involvement
- Co-Chair: Amundsen Davis Committee for Diversity and Inclusion
- Illinois Senate Task Force on Sexual Harassment, 2017 – 2018
- Member: Illinois State Bar Association; National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO); Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Past Instructor; Northern Illinois University PHR-SHRM Certification Past Instructor; Dupage SHRM
- Illinois Landscapers and Contractors Association (ILCA): Member; Panelist for ILCA Business Advisory Counsel; ILCA Women's Networking Group
- Board of Directors and Legal Counsel: Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce
- USLAW Labor and Employment: Chair (2020 - present); Vice Chair (2019 - 2020); Education Chair (2018 - 2019)
- Vice Chair, Board of Directors: Hesed House (2020 - Present)
- Fox Valley United Way: Board of Directors, 2013 – 2019; Past Chair, 2019; Chair, 2015 – 2018; Vice Chair, 2014
- Board Member: YWCA Aurora, 2014 – 2016
- Advisory Board: Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry, 2016
- Practical Law Public Sector Advisory Board: Thomson Reuters
Honors
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers list: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" list: 2011, 2013, 2014
- Recognized as "40 Illinois Attorney Under 40 to Watch" by the Law Bulletin in 2012
- Received the Influential Women in Business Award from the Daily Herald Business Ledger in 2013
- Selected to the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association's "The List" in 2013
-
Selected by the Leading Lawyers Network as an “Emerging Lawyer” in employment law: management and labor law: management
Resources & Insights
In the Media
Alerts
Speaking Engagements
Published Works
Blog
Contributing Author, SmithAmundsen's Labor & Employment Law Update, a labor and employment advisory blog.
Contributing Author, Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Dispatch, an HR advisory blog.
Contributing Author, Administrative Eyecare Magazine.
Blog Posts
Education on Demand
As organizations strive to be more welcoming to all team members and the public, internal discussions, trainings and policies regarding diversity, inclusivity and allyship are becoming more and more important. Join Heather Bailey and Julie Proscia as they discuss strategies to challenge bias and how to be an advocate and ally for a diverse workforce.
Research has proven that diverse teams drive better business performance, with the most diverse companies more likely than ever to outperform their less diverse peers. Diversity, inclusion and allyship are top of mind for many organizations, but many of us lack the knowledge, skills, or tools to take meaningful and long-term action.
As quickly as the world is changing so is the legal landscape. These changes span the spectrum and challenge many aspects of the relationship between employers and employees, including greater restrictions on non-compete agreements to patterns and trends emerging with unions.
COVID-19 Webinar Series: The Latest Local, State and Federal Mandates Impacting the Workplace
Firm News
- L&E Legal Updates + Business Succession PlanningL&E Legal Updates + Business Succession Planning
Join Julie Proscia for a presentation at the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative Conference!
- Diversity, Inclusion and Allyship in the WorkplaceDiversity, Inclusion and Allyship in the Workplace
Heather Bailey and Julie Proscia will discuss diveristy, inclusion and allyship, and provide practical tips for businesses.
- Diversity, Inclusion and Allyship in the WorkplaceDiversity, Inclusion and Allyship in the Workplace
- 30 Amundsen Davis Attorneys Included on 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists30 Amundsen Davis Attorneys Included on 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Congratulations to all of our attorneys named to the 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and 2022 Illinois Rising Stars lists!
Services
- Affirmative Action
- COVID-19 Resource Center & Task Force
- Employment Advice & Counsel
- Employment Litigation
- Equal Pay Compliance
- Government Regulation, Audit & Compliance
- Labor, Employment, Benefits & Immigration
- Mandatory Training
- Nonprofit Institutions & Tax-Exempt Organizations
- Public Entities
- Public Sector
- School & Higher Education
- Staffing Agency, Independent Contractor & Contingent Workforce
- Traditional Labor & Union Relations
- Unfair Competition Counseling & Litigation
- Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Investigations
Education
Northern Illinois University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
Eastern Illinois University, M.A., European History
Eastern Illinois University, B.A., cum laude
Admissions
- Illinois