Joseph M. Kraska
Biography
Joseph M. Kraska is a partner in the Little Rock office who specializes in labor and employment matters. Prior to joining HBS, Joseph was an associate for a local firm, where he primarily practiced in labor and employment matters with a focus on traditional labor law. He represented clients in collective bargaining, RC petitions, unfair labor practice charges, labor arbitrations, OSHA compliance matters, federal and state employment discrimination matters, and provided general employment advice. He also externed with the Honorable Judge Brandon Harrison with the Arkansas Court of Appeals.
Joseph served ten years on active duty in the United States Air Force before attending law school. Currently, Joseph is a Chief Master Sergeant in the Arkansas Air national Guard and serves as his wing’s Human Resource Advisor, where his primary duties include implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives, force development, and force management of over one thousand assigned personnel. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law. There, he served as President of the Student Veterans Organization and Executive Editor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review. He also earned his Bachelor of Arts with honors from the American Military University.
Credentials
Admitted
State Courts:
- Arkansas
- Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts:
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
U.S. Court of Appeal:
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Education
- J.D., University of Arkansas at Little Rock
- B.A., with honors, American Military University
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Arkansas Bar Association
Recognition
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Best Lawyers®, 2024-2025
- Awarded in: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Trusts and Estates
- Arkanas Rising Star, Super Lawyers®, 2021-2022
- Little Rock’s Best Lawyers, AY Magazine, 2020-2022
Presentations
- Sowing Success: Complying with Dramatic New Labor Standards Affecting H-2A Employers
HBS Webinar; May 24, 2024 - An Afternoon in HR
HBS Helping Businesses Succeed Series; September 21, 2023 - Labor and Employment Law Update
West Central AR SHRM; January 25, 2022 and July 26, 2022 - OSHA COVID-19 Guidance
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce; April 7, 2021
- OSHA: Inspections & Investigations
Employment Law Alliance Webinar; August 26, 2020 - Transgender Status Protection Under Title VII
Arkansas SHRM ELLA Conference; September 26–27, 2019
Publications
- Navigating the Changing Landscape of Labor Relations: An Update on Recent Developments for Employers
HBS Employment Updates Blog; November 16, 2023 - NLRB Issues Its Long-Awaited Decision on Employer Handbook Rules: Why All Employers Should Take Note
HBS Employment Updates Blog; August 8, 2023 - DOL Announces Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Update Joint Employer Test
HR Professional Magazine, August 2019 - The Fate of Transgender Status Protection Under Title VII
HR Professional Magazine, January 2019
- Important Developments with the EEOC in 2017
HR Professional Magazine, January 2018
In the Press
