Jill Havens

Jill Havens

5.0
Rating: 9.8

Licensed for 16 years

Employment and labor Lawyer at Boston, MA
Practice Areas: Employment & Labor, Employee Benefits

11 Green Street, Boston, MA

About Jill

Biography

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

Employment and Labor 60%

I practice Employee Justice Law. I do employment and labor law - on the plaintiff's side only. I handle Unemployment cases, Discrimination, MCAD complaints, Wage and Hour claims, Overtime and Minimum Wage issues, employee and union contract negotiations, and wrongful terminations.

14 years | 85 cases

60%
Employee Benefits 40%

I handle all aspects of Employee Unemployment Insurance matters and hearings

14 years | 300 cases

40%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 400-400 per hour

Contingency

33%-40%


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in Massachusetts for 16 years

State: Massachusetts

Acquired: 2009

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Workplace Justice Law Group LLC

11 Green Street, Boston, MA, 02130

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Jill Havens's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

115 Client Reviews

Showing 41 - 45 of 115 reviews

Posted by anonymous | March 02, 2022 | Employment & Labor

Extremely responsive and helpful

I contacted Jill with an urgent issue related to state employment benefits, and her office responded promptly. She was informative and reassuring, and guided me through a complex and overwhelming process. With her help, I was able to resolve my issue.

Posted by Mike | February 27, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor

Employment/Unemployment Expert

I was caught up in a frustrating PUA benefit dispute for over a year. I needed assistance from a lawyer with specific employment law expertise. I found Attorney Jill Havens through her website online. Jill is an excellent employment and labor attorney who is the reason I was successful in resolving ...my dispute. She is extremely knowledgeable of the state unemployment system, its processes and the governing laws. She clearly spelled out the relevant employment law to me, my potential legal remedies and her recommended best outcome approach for me to take. Jill's direct and concise counsel enabled me to successfully appeal and reverse two separate prior determinations against me. I appreciated her candor and straightforwardness. As important was her positive feedback, confidence and optimism for the likelihood of a favorable outcome. I highly recommend Jill Havens as the only one to go to for employment and labor law matters.

Posted by Miguel | February 25, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor

Senior Counsel

I had an unemployment insurance issue and a good friend of mine who is also a great labor lawyer here in MA, advised me to contact Jill Havens as the expert in employee benefits and unemployment matters. That was the best referral my friend could have ever given me. My experience working with Jill wa...s beyond expectations. She is a great lawyer and has the ability to understand her client's needs and concerns, and also provides the best legal advice that is appropriate to the case. She is fully committed to her clients. Her thorough legal analysis and expertise were critical for me to win the case. If someone needs a good employment lawyer, Jill is the right lawyer to go to.

Posted by Diana | January 31, 2022 | Employment & Labor

Excellent Listener and Creative Problem Solver

I was having a hard time finding a lawyer to even setup a consultation with me for an issue with the DUA; I was in a grey-area where I didn't need someone on retainer but I desperately needed advice. Everyone was too busy with other unemployment cases (there's been a spike lately) or were unintereste...d in talking until I had a hearing scheduled. Jill fit in a meeting quickly because she knew I was on the clock. She listened carefully and was "real" with me when she felt something would work or not work. She asked enough questions that she realized perhaps my case didn't need a lawyer at all but rather the help of my local state representative. Within a few days, I had my situation resolved (big thanks to my state rep, too). I am utterly grateful that Jill pointed me in this direction even if it meant not getting more work from me on an appeal case. I think her advice shows creative problem solving and a real concern about the client, not just gaining work. I hope it isn't necessary, but I'll definitely be returning to Jill if I ever have another issue with employment related issues.

Posted by Rebecca | January 04, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor

Client

JIll Havens was my lawyer for my Pandemic Unemployment Appeal hearing. She is an excellent Employment/ Unemployment lawyer, With Jill's advise and expertise my case was reversed in my favor very quickly.

See All Client Reviews

Jill Havens's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Jill
Andrea Charna Kramer headshot
Andrea Kramer

Employment and labor lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jill is my go-to person for unemployment law when clients need referrals or need some help on unemployment law. Recently a client I referred used Jill's services, and the client was thrilled. And always I get accurate, useful information from her. Jill is the best!"

J.W. Londergan headshot
J.W. Londergan

Discrimination lawyer | Oct 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse Attorney Havens! I am an attorney myself, and whenever I have employment law issues and questions - be it for wage and hour, overtime pay, discrimination, sexual harassment, unemployment, severance agreements and the like - Jill is my go to attorney."

Rachel Benedict headshot
Rachel Benedict

Employment and labor lawyer | Jun 16

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. We worked together at the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Board of Review. She is smart, unflappable and a zealous advocate, someone you definitely want on your side."

Matthew P. Poppel headshot
Matthew Poppel

Employment and labor lawyer | Nov 09

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Time and again, Jill Havens has provided critical advice regarding the unemployment aspects of resolving a matter. She responds immediately and provides the info one needs to know before closing the deal. Top notch."

Stefanie Fisher headshot
Stefanie Fisher

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. We have called her for expert advice when our clients encounter employment issues. She has always given thoughtful and helpful advice. I trust that she would be as excellent to her own clients as she has been to ours."

Corine K. Claxton headshot
Corine Claxton

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Attorney Havens. Recently I consulted with her regarding an employment law related issue. She was able to provide me with valuable information."

View All Endorsements
Rachel Benedict headshot
Rachel Benedict

Immigration lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.8 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Best Lawyers - Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers

2024

SuperLawyer, SuperLawyers

2021

Honoree as a COVID-19 Response Leader, The Arts and Business Council

2019

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2018

Super Lawyer - Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Work Experience

2022 - Present

Partner, Workplace Justice Law Group LLC

2021 - 2021

Adjunct Professor, Northeastern University School Of Law

2012 - 2022

Principal Attorney, Law Office of Jill Havens

2011 - 2012

Review Examiner/Staff Attorney, Mass Department of Unemployment Board of Review

2009 - 2011

Business Agent, SEIU Local 1199

Associations

2012 - Present

Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association

Executive Board Member

2024 - 2025

National Lawyers Guild

Sample of Legal Cases

Debra Davidowicz v. 4M Fruit Distributors Inc.

$888,036 jury verdict in favor Plaintiff, Debra Davidowicz

See More Legal Cases

Education

2009

Northeastern University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1989

Randolph-Macon Woman's College

BA - Bachelor of Arts

N/A

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

MA/Ph.D. course work

Speaking Engagements

2025

2023

Understanding Unemployment Law and Benefits - workshop presentation Massachusetts Unemployment Law

2020

Advising Employers & Employees on Off-Duty Conduct & Privacy in the Workplace Employment Decisions Based on Employee Use of Social Media, In and Out of the Workplace

2020

"1st Look" at Handling COVID-19–Related Leaves, Layoffs & Unemployment Unemployment Benefits, Regular and Enhanced under the CARES Act

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution