Kim James
Counsel
Lou Genia Mills
713.223.2300 x2477
Kimberly M. James represents public and private schools, as well as community colleges, universities, municipalities and other governmental and private entities. Ms. James advises clients on a wide range of legal matters, including labor and employment personnel issues, employee grievances and terminations, and employment contracts; affirmative action; student discipline; real estate; elections; contracts; competitive bidding; and policy development. Ms. James has extensive experience defending public and private entities before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and in state and federal courts.
Ms. James is a former law school professor and regularly conducts training for clients on a variety of employment and management issues, including privacy, harassment, discrimination, equal employment regulatory issues and open meetings legislation.
Publications and Speeches
Co-author, "Documentation of Employee Performance," National School Boards' Association Digest, March 1997.
Co-author, "The Americans with Disabilities Act: How Much Accommodation is Reasonable?" Texas School Administrators' Legal Digest, April 1996.
"Employee Misconduct Issues Related to Technology," Workplace Compliance and Law Update – Odyssey OneSource, September 2006.
"Listening Skills:A Mediator's Guide to Discerning Real Issues v. Stated Positions," 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, June 2006.
"Active Listening:Hearing What's NOT Said," Client Counseling Seminar, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, October 2005.
"Judicial (Mis)Construction of Certain Sexual Harassment Claims Under Title VII's Sex Discrimination Prohibition," National People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference, October 2004.
"Point/Counterpoint:A Plaintiff's Perspective of Employment Discrimination Claims," Legal Eagle Ministry, Covenant Glen United Methodist Church, October 2004.
"Non-Compete Clauses and Contract Employees," Music World Music, July 2003.
"Termination of Contract Employees," Music World Music, March 2003.
"The Family Medical Leave Act and Returning Employees," Music World Music, January 2003.
"Discipline, Documentation, and Termination Issues," Medrx LLC, May 2001.
"Sexual Harassment," Medrx LLC, February 2001.
"Employers’ Duties Under the Family Medical Leave Act", Medrx LLC, November 2000.
"An Introduction to Employment Discrimination Law," University of Houston, June 2000.
"Nuts and Bolts of Public Education Law," Thurgood Marshall School of Law, November 1999.
"An Introduction to Employment Discrimination Law," University of Houston, June 1999.
"An Introduction to Employment Discrimination Law," University of Houston, July 1998.
"Sexual Harassment of Employees," Region IV Educational Service Center, November 1997.
"Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Update," Houston Baptist University, July 1997.
"Discipline, Documentation, and Termination Issues," Harris County Department of Education, June 1997.
"Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA," Employment Law Seminar, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, February 1997.
"Sexual Harassment," Employment Law Seminar, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, February 1997.
"Sexual Harassment," Harris County Department of Education, November 1996.
"Student Search and Seizure," Harris County Department of Education, November 1996.
"Responding to Employees’ Requests for Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA," Region IV ESC, October 1996.
"Individual and Governmental Immunity," Fort Bend ISD, August 1996.
Education
J.D., with honors, Texas Southern University, 1995
B.A., Texas Southern University, 1991
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Affiliations
American Bar AssociationNational Bar Association
U.S. Law Firm Group, Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Education Law Association
National Association for Community College and University Attorneys
Texas Association of School Boards, Council of School Attorneys
State Bar of Texas, African-American Lawyers; College of the State Bar; School Law, Employment Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections
The Downtown Group, Founding Member
Houston Bar Association
Houston Lawyers' Association