vhardwick@hardwickbenfer.com

Virginia (“Ginger”) Hardwick is an experienced litigator who concentrates her practice in cases concerning discrimination, harassment, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, commercial disputes, and contracts in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She also represents employees in the negotiation of contracts and severance agreements, and counsels employers on compliance and best practices to avoid litigation.

Ginger’s experience includes commercial litigation at major law firms, as well as representation of individuals. In law school, she was an intern for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. She was formerly on the clinical faculty of Seton Hall Law School, where she was the director of the Housing and Homelessness Clinic, representing the interests of persons who were in danger of losing their homes. She has also served as a volunteer attorney for the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia, which provides legal services for children in the foster system.

Ginger is admitted to the bars of New Jersey (1985), New York (1985), and Pennsylvania (2006), as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for New Jersey, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.

Ginger is a frequent presenter at national Continuing Legal Education panels on issues involving employment law, and is very active in the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association. She is a former law school professor of Legal Writing, Appellate Advocacy and Trial Skills. She is on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, teaching deposition skills.

In 2017, Ginger was elected by her peers as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Fellows are chosen by their peers as exemplifying the highest levels of professional qualifications, ethical standards, integrity, professional expertise, and leadership.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

New York University School of Law, J.D. 1984
N.Y.U. Law Review, Note and Comment Editor
Note, “Punishing the Innocent: Unconstitutional Restrictions on Prison Marriage and Visitation,” 60 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 275 (1985)

Cornell University, B.A. (History and Economics) 1981

Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) National Training Institute: Certificate of Completion Program

JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP

Hon. John J. Gibbons, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1984 – 1985

BAR ADMISSIONS

Pennsylvania – 2006
New Jersey – 1985
New York – 1985
United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court, District of New Jersey
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES