Virginia L. Hardwick

Offers Video Calls | Open for Business
Virginia L. Hardwick: Attorney with Hardwick Benfer, LLC
Attorney Awards
About Attorney Awards

Biography

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.

Judicial Clerkship

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

Professional Recognitions

Lawdragon, 500 Prominent Plaintiff Employment Lawyers, 2018 Inaugural List

Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent, Peer Rate for Highest Level of Professional Excellence, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Thomson Reuters

Professional Activities

American Arbitration Association

Arbitrator Panel Member, 2018 – Present

American Bar Association, Section of Labor & Employment Law

Council, 2016 – Present

Co-Chair, 8th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference Planning Committee

Vice Co-Chair, 7th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference Planning Committee

Former Membership Co-Chair, Alternatives to Litigation Subcommittee

Former Membership Co-Chair, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee

American Bar Foundation

Fellow, 2017 – Present

Bucks County Bar Association

Member, Federal Courts Committee

College Of Labor & Employment Lawyers

Fellow, 2017 – Present

National Employment Lawyers Association

Member, National and Affiliates Sections for New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania

National Institute For Trial Advocacy

Faculty Member, Deposition Skills Program, 2009 – Present

Faculty, Deposition Skills for Attorneys of Southern Poverty Law Center, December 2018

Areas of Practice (19)

  • Labor and Employment
  • Litigation
  • Civil Rights
  • Employment Discrimination
  • Age Discrimination in Employment
  • Employment Disability Discrimination
  • Sex Discrimination
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Race Discrimination
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Trade Secrets
  • Restrictive Covenants
  • Employment Law
  • Discrimination & Harassment
  • Commercial Dispute
  • Contract in the State and Federal Courts
  • Negotiation of Contracts and Severance Agreement
  • Noncompetition and Non-Solicitation Agreements
  • Executive Severance Contracts

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
Cornell University, A.B., Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) National Training Institute: Certificate of Completion Program, 1981
Law School Attended:
New York University School of Law, J.D., 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), 1984
Year of First Admission:
1985
Admission:
United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; United States District Court, District of New Jersey; United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 1985, New Jersey; 1985, New York; 2006, Pennsylvania
ISLN:
906698974

Peer Reviews

4.9/5.0 (12 reviews)
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating Badge
  • Legal Knowledge

    4.8/5.0
  • Analytical Capability

    4.8/5.0
  • Judgment

    4.9/5.0
  • Communication

    4.9/5.0
  • Legal Experience

    4.8/5.0
  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 08/24/14 in Employment Law

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 08/18/14 in Employment Law

    An excellent attorney and a better person.

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Associate on 08/18/14 in Employment Discrimination

    Ms. Hardwick is an excellent attorney whom stands out among the bar. Highly recommended.

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Sole Practitioner on 08/16/14 in Employee Rights

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Judge on 08/16/14 in Labor Law

    Ms. Hardwick is an outstanding plaintiff's employment lawyer, always well prepared and very thorough.

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Partner on 08/16/14 in Employment Law

    Virginia was a tough adversary who truly cared for her clients. I respect her abilities and the manner in which she handled the matter on behalf of 12 very difficult clients.

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Sole Practitioner on 08/16/14 in Employment Rights

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Sole Practitioner on 08/16/14 in Employment Law

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Associate on 06/10/14 in Employment Law

  • 4.8/5.0 Rated by a Sole Practitioner on 08/16/14 in Employment Law

    She is a close personal friend. I have observed her on trial in federal court and arguing a federal appeal, and discussed many legal issues with her. she is very smart --and highly ethical. She always tries to do the right thing, and never takes unfa... Read more

    Read more
Peer reviews submitted prior to 2008 are not displayed.

Other Legal Directories

Avvo Client Review
5.0/5.0 (13 reviews)
Lawyers Client Review
5.0/5.0 (2 reviews)
 Client Champion

Virginia (Ginger) and her firm (Hardwick Benfer) should be on the top of your list if you're looking for an employment lawyer. Ginger is knowledgeable, calm, tough, focused. If you want your complai...

See more

Avvo Peer Endorsements

Client Reviews Write a Review

Location

Contact Virginia L. Hardwick

Required Fields

Required Fields


By clicking on the "Submit" button, you agree to the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms and Privacy Policy. You also consent to be contacted at the phone number you provided, including by autodials, text messages and/or pre-recorded calls, from Martindale and its affiliates and from or on behalf of attorneys you request or contact through this site. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Emails sent through this site do not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent though this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.