Janet E. Wise
Janet E. Wise is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by The Florida Bar since 2001, which recognizes her special knowledge, skills and proficiency in labor and employment law, along with her professionalism and ethical standards. As an attorney with the Sass Law Firm, she brings over 31 years of experience to the practice which primarily represents employees from both the private and public sectors in workplace disputes. Ms. Wise speaks frequently on employment law topics, especially in the area of attorney ethics, and serves on various committees, both locally and nationally. Janet has made the Florida Super Lawyer® list in Employment Law since 2014 as published by Thomson Reuters and was chosen by Lawdragon as one of its 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers since 2020.
Ms. Wise graduated cum laude from Newberry College before obtaining her law degree from Georgia State University College of Law, and she is admitted to both The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Georgia. Janet was 2020-2021 Chair of The Florida Bar’s Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, which is responsible for, among other things, determining whether applicants have met the minimum standards for Board Certification in Labor and Employment Law and developing and grading Labor and Employment Law certification examinations in Florida. Ms. Wise is a past President of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and past co-chair of NELA’s Ethics and Sanctions Committee, and she continues to support attorneys who practice in the area of labor and employment law by her work on NELA’s Ethics and Sanctions Advisory Council.
For a full list of Janet’s awards, publications, speaking engagements, associations and committees, check out the below categories or her Resume CV.
Janet Wise is recognized from the following independent sources:
Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law – The Florida Bar, since 2001
Florida Super Lawyers®, Labor & Employment: Employee – Thomson Reuters, 2014-present
Best Lawyers® in Employment Law for Individuals and in Litigation – Labor and Employment – The Best Lawyers in America®, 2024
500 Leading Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Lawyers – Lawdragon, 2020-present
Professional Involvement – Lawyer Legion, 2020-present
Who’s Who in American Law – Marquis Who’s Who®, 2017-present
Lead Counsel Verified in Employment Law – Thomson Reuters, 2020-present
Top Attorney – Superb 10.0 Rating, Avvo, 2006-present
Legal 2021 in Labor and Employment – USA – Finance Monthly, 2021
Lifetime Achievement Award – Marquis Who’s Who®, 2019
Janet Wise is admitted to the following
The Florida Bar, 1992
Florida Supreme Court, 1992
Florida District Courts of Appeal, 1992
State Bar of Georgia, 1992
Supreme Court of Georgia, 1992
Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1992
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 1993
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1994
United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, 1992
Advisory Council Member– Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2018-present
Committee Member – Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, Standing Committee, The Florida Bar, 2016-2022
Chair – Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, Standing Committee, The Florida Bar, 2020-2021
Vice Chair – Labor & Employment Law Certification Committee, Standing Committee, The Florida Bar, 2019-2020
Committee Member – Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2002-2018
Committee Member – Governance Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2015-2016
Co-Chair – Ethics and Sanctions Committee, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2008-2015
President – Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2007-2008
President-Elect – Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2006-2007
Director – Sanctions Committee, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2004-2006
Member – Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar
Member – National Employment Lawyers Association
Member – Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association
Janet Wise attended:
Georgia State University College of Law, and obtained her Juris Doctor in 1992
Newberry College, and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1989
The materials linked below are being made available for informational purposes only and are not to be relied upon as legal advice.
Does the Opposition Clause Have Only Selective Application? The Use of the Manager Rule by Defendants to Limit Retaliation Claims, Survey of Eleventh Circuit Case Law – Empower | Educate | Excel, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2019
Ethics Tips for NELA Lawyers – Labor Day Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, September 2016
Avoiding Sanctions – Celebrating 30 Years of Employee Rights Advocacy, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2015
“Objection as to Form” – Obstructionist Conduct or an Exercise in Restraint? – Midwinter Meeting, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association, March 2015
Issues to Consider When Providing Internship Programs – Establishing a Winning Internship Program for the Company and Student: Legal Issues, Tampa Bay Technology Forum: Grow Tampa Bay Tech and the University of Tampa, August 2013
Obtaining Attorneys’ Fees Practically & Ethically – The Summit for Workers’ Rights, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2013
Top Five Ethical Dilemmas Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyers Face – Soaking Up the Sun: Employment Law Exposure in Florida, Annual Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, September 2012
Professionalism and Avoidance of Sanctions – Tips for Litigating Plaintiffs’ Employment Cases, State Bar of Georgia, October 2011
Maternal Wall Bias and Related Claims – Litigation Perspectives from Start to Finish, Winter Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, February 2010
NELA’s Ethics Survival Kit: The Rules, Opinions & Decisions All NELA Members Should Have at Their Fingertips – 20th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2009
Preparing or Coaching the Witness: Where is the Ethical Line? – Connect | Explore | Energize, 18th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2007
Who Can We Talk To? Ex Parte Communications and Ethical Concerns – Advocating the Rights of Employees in the 21st Century, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association, April 2007
Motions for Sanctions in Federal and State Court – Employment Law at its Best!, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar, September 2006
Survey of Rule 11 Case Law from 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and D.C. Circuits – Bridging the Divide: Strategies for Fairness in the Workplace, National Employment Lawyers Association, June 2006
Ethics of Interviewing Defendants’ Employees and Candor to the Court – Community | Learning | Excellence, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Virtual), July 2020
Does the Opposition Clause Have Only Selective Application? The Use of the Manager Rule by Defendants to Limit Retaliation Claims – Empower | Educate | Excel, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (New Orleans, Louisiana), June 2019
Ethics Topics – Labor Day Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (St. Pete Beach, Florida), September 2016
Ethics Tips from the Experts – Celebrating 30 Years of Employee Rights Advocacy, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Atlanta, Georgia), June 2015
“Objection as to Form” – Obstructionist Conduct or an Exercise in Restraint? – Midwinter Meeting, Section of Labor and Employment Law, American Bar Association (Naples, Florida), March 2015
USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 15th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), January 2015
USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 14th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), January 2014
Internship Roundtable – Establishing a Winning Internship Program for the Company and Student: Legal Issues, Tampa Bay Technology Forum: Grow Tampa Bay Tech and the University of Tampa (Tampa, Florida), August 2013
Obtaining Attorneys’ Fees Practically & Ethically – The Summit for Workers’ Rights, Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Denver, Colorado), June 2013
USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 13th Labor and Employment Law Annual Update and Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), February 2013
Top Five Ethical Dilemmas Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyers Face – Soaking Up the Sun: Employment Law Exposure in Florida, Annual Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (St. Pete Beach, Florida), September 2012
USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) – 12th Annual Labor and Employment Law Certification Review, Continuing Legal Education Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Orlando, Florida), February 2012
Professionalism and Avoidance of Sanctions – Tips for Litigating Plaintiffs’ Employment Cases, State Bar of Georgia (Atlanta, Georgia), October 2011
Maternal Wall Bias and Related Claims – Litigation Perspectives from Start to Finish, Winter Conference, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (Lake Buena Vista, Florida), February 2010
NELA’s Ethics Survival Kit: The Rules, Opinions & Decisions All NELA Members Should Have at Their Fingertips – 20th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Rancho Mirage, California), June 2009
Welcome – Trial and Appellate Advocacy, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (St. Petersburg, Florida), September 2008
The Life Cycle of the Attorney Client Relationship: Practice Tips from NELA’s Ethics and Sanctions Committee – 19th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (Atlanta, Georgia), June 2008
The Care and Feeding of Witnesses: Fact Pattern – Preparing or Coaching Witnesses: Where Is The Ethical Line? – Connect | Explore | Energize, 18th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (San Juan, Puerto Rico), June 2007
Who Can We Talk To? Ex Parte Communications and Ethical Concerns – Advocating the Rights of Employees in the 21st Century, Florida Chapter, National Employment Lawyers Association (Stuart, Florida), April 2007
Motions for Sanctions in Federal Court – Employment Law at Its Best!, Labor and Employment Law Section, The Florida Bar (Plantation, Florida), September 2006
The Ethical Conundrum: Sanctions Against Plaintiffs and Their Attorneys – Bridging the Divide: Strategies for Fairness in the Workplace, 17th Annual Convention, National Employment Lawyers Association (San Francisco, California), June 2006