Jennifer McManus began her tenure as MAJ president in early June, succeeding attorney Stuart Sklar as head of the trial lawyers association. She is pictured with her husband John, an attorney, and sons, Jack (right), and Henrik.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer McManus
By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
Upon graduation from Boston University School of Law in 2001, Jennifer McManus had the good fortune of landing a federal court clerkship with Judge Bernard Friedman, whose judicial career has been marked by noteworthy federal decisions and an unyielding commitment to the highest standards of civility and professionalism.
“He has been a wonderful mentor to me throughout my career,” said McManus, who on June 1 was sworn in as 71st president of the Michigan Association for Justice, an organization of more than 1,300 attorneys who represent individuals in injury, employment, civil rights, and criminal matters.
Following two tours of duty as a clerk for Judge Friedman, McManus benefitted from a mentorship, from her current law partner Barry Fagan, who has carved out a reputation as an expert in the area of employment law and civil rights litigation.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have learned from two of the best in the legal profession, men whose contributions to the law are significant in so many respects,” said McManus. “They have served as role models on how to conduct myself as an attorney and to advance the cause of justice for my clients.”
McManus, a magna cum laude graduate of Western Michigan University where she majored in English Literature and International Comparative Politics, joined Fagan McManus, P.C. in 2016 and has been working with Barry Fagan in private practice since 2012.
“Barry encouraged my involvement in MAJ and I’m grateful that he did, as I have met so many incredible attorneys and developed such lasting friendships,” said McManus, who has served as treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president-elect before assuming her new leadership role in June.
“It’s a very collegial and collaborative organization, where we celebrate each other’s wins, recognizing the fact that a win for one of us is a win for all of us.”
After her first clerkship following law school, McManus accepted a job at Miller Canfield in Detroit in its commercial litigation practice. She spent three years there before the birth of her first child coincided with her desire to return to the public service sector where Judge Friedman welcomed her back.
Originally, a career in the law was not on McManus’s radar, as she enrolled at Western Michigan with plans to pursue a degree in aeronautical engineering.
“I had some amazing instructors at Western, some of whom I remain in contact with to this day,” she related. “They encouraged to consider law school as an option, believing that I had the aptitude and the skills to succeed.”
Which she did at Boston University School of Law, where she earned her JD magna cum laude.
McManus, who speaks frequently at employment law seminars presented by the State Bar of Michigan and the Federal Bar Association, is co-chair for the FBA’s Legal Ethics Committee, which she helped develop. She has participated in panel discussions on a variety of topics, including the Family Medical Leave Act, wage theft, dispositive motion best practices, and legal ethics in social media.
McManus is a former member of the Labor & Employment Law Advisory Board for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education. She also has served on the Board of Directors for the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and is supportive of the Chaldean Community Foundation, a nonprofit that assists Chaldean immigrants with language, medical, and employment needs.
“I love my work, especially the opportunity to serve as an advocate for clients who have been subjected to discrimination, unlawful termination, or other unfair labor practices,” said McManus, whose practice ranges from complex multi-state collective actions against large corporations to individual cases of workplace misconduct.
One such case that still resonates with McManus involved a woman who was employed at a doctor’s office and was forced from her job after she refused to undergo daily weigh-ins.
“It was a blatant case of weight discrimination, which is prohibited under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act,” McManus explained.
“She was overweight and because of that was forced by the physician to step on the scale each day in an effort to manage her weight. It was a humiliating experience for her and resulted in her losing her job after she refused to comply with his directive to weigh in.
“Fortunately, we were able to secure damages for wage loss, unlawful termination, and the emotional distress that she suffered from the experience, helping someone who at one point felt hopeless and totally defeated to feel somewhat whole again,” McManus said.
“The outcome of that case helped restore her faith.”
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