Overview

Joycelyn Stevenson focuses a substantial part of her practice in the area of labor and employment litigation, workplace investigations, handbook review and workplace trainings.  Her specific employment experience includes serving as relationship manager for several clients, providing day-to-day counseling on personnel issues including revisions on handbooks, employment contracts, policies, noncompetition and separation agreements, leave compliance, discipline and termination of employees. She also conducts strategic risk analysis of business decisions as they relate to human resource management for companies of all sizes and works with Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute on policy and legislative initiatives for clients.

Joycelyn also regularly manages and serves as lead attorney in employment matters for small and multinational businesses related to employment litigation, administrative charges, mediations and arbitrations filed under state and federal law including the Tennessee Human Rights Act, Tennessee Public Protection Act, Title VII, FMLA, ADA, ADEA, and FLSA.

Joycelyn regularly participates as a featured speaker for local industry associations, Littler Nashville programs, local and state bar association events as well as programs for the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. She has been featured in a variety of print publications as a featured author on topics related to employment discrimination law and as a prominent community volunteer. She has extensive experience providing training to boards, executives and employees of all levels, as well as leading workplace investigations and risk assessments for clients.

Before rejoining Littler in 2022, Joycelyn served as the executive director of the Tennessee Bar Association and the Tennessee Legal Community Foundation where she was responsible for all business operations, government affairs, insurance partnerships, human resources, quality assurance and legal education programs for over 12,000 attorney members licensed in the state. In that role Joycelyn managed all contracts, financial reporting, governance documents and communications strategies including the work of 20 team members. She also managed the physical property of the state bar including its tenants and the sale of the downtown headquarters. Prior to her bar service, she served for 16 years as a Littler shareholder and as a partner at a regional law firm in Nashville representing companies in commercial and employment litigation, arbitrations, mediations, administrative hearings and immigration matters.

In 2012, Joycelyn was an adjunct professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School. During law school, Joycelyn was the music notes editor for the Journal of Entertainment Law & Practice and was a member and associate justice for intramural competition of the Moot Court Board.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Board Trustee

Nashville Bar Foundation

2024-2027

Chair, Board of Commissioners

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority

2023-2024

Commissioner and Vice Chair

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority

2020-2023

Master of the Bench

Harry Phillips American Inn of Court

2022-2025

President Elect

National Association of Bar Executives

2021-2022

President

Nashville Bar Association

2016

Member

Leadership Nashville, Class of 2014

Member

Nashville Farmers’ Market Board

2012-2015

President

Council on Aging of Greater Nashville

2012-2014

President

Lawyers’ Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter

2011-2012

Member

Tennessee Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Member

Napier-Looby Bar Association

Member

TBA Leadership Law

Tennessee Bar Association

2008

Recognition

Named, 10 People to Watch in Nashville Business

Nashville Business Journal

2024

Nominee

Nashville ATHENA Awards

2024

Named, In Charge - Legal

Nashville Post Magazine

2023

Named, Best of the Bar

Nashville Business Journal

2023

Recipient, Women of Influence Award

Nashville Business Journal

2022

Named, The Best Lawyers in America©

2016-2017

Nominated, Women of Influence Awards

Nashville Business Journal

2017

Nominated, Nashville Athena Awards

2017

Named, Super Lawyer

Mid-South

Super Lawyers

2016

Named, In Charge – Legal

Nashville Post Magazine

2016-2017

Named, Nashville Emerging Leader

Young Professionals Nashville and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

2015

Named, Best of the Bar

Nashville Business Journal

2013-2016

Named, Rising Star

Mid-South

Super Lawyers

2013-2015

Finalist, Nashville Emerging Leader Award in Legal Services

Young Professionals Nashville and Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

2014

Recipient, Young Professional Leadership Award

Nashville ATHENA

2013

Named, Forty Under 40

Nashville Business Journal

2011

Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation

2011

Recipient, First Place

Intramural Moot Court Competition

Vanderbilt University Law School

2000

Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society

Dean's List

Howard University

News, Analysis & Press

10 people to watch in Nashville business in 2024

Nashville Business Journal

January 12, 2024

Law firm execs on their business clients’ concerns

Nashville Business Journal

August 16, 2023

Women of Influence: Joycelyn A. Stevenson, Tennessee Bar Association

Nashville Business Journal

October 17, 2022

Joycelyn Stevenson Steps Down from the Tennessee Bar Association

Nashville Business Journal

October 13, 2022

Tennessee Bar Director to Lead Littler Office

Nashville Post

October 12, 2022

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Elects New Officers

FlyNashville.com

May 25, 2022

Three Tapped for Governor Bill Lee Consideration in Court of Appeals Vacancy

Tennessean

March 20, 2022

Nashville Leaders Share Steps for a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace

Nashville Business Journal

November 9, 2020

Diversity at Work: Fortifying Your Inclusion Efforts in the Current Climate

Association of Corporate Counsel Newsletter

September 2020

Joycelyn Stevenson: Leading the Way

Attorney At Law Magazine

July 20, 2017

From the President: Final Countdown

Nashville Bar Journal

October 1, 2016

Expand: Be Creative to Bring Diversity to Your Office

Nashville Business Journal

September 8, 2016

From the President: Why We Serve

Nashville Bar Journal

May 1, 2016

From the President: A Day in the Life

Nashville Bar Journal

April 1, 2016

From the President: Valuing Diversity

Nashville Bar Journal

March 1, 2016

Treat Me Equitably and As I See Myself, Part 2

Executive Insight

February 29, 2016

Treat Me Equitably and As I See Myself, Part 1

Executive Insight

February 22, 2016

From the President: New Year, New Promise

Nashville Bar Journal

February 1, 2016

From The President

Nashville Bar Journal

January 1, 2016

Changes in the Ticket Distribution Industry: Is this the Beginning of the End for Ticketmaster?

Journal of Entertainment Law & Practice

3 Vand. J. Ent. L. & Prac. 53

Winter 2001

Changes in the Ticket Distribution Industry: Is this the Beginning of the End for Ticketmaster?

Vanderbilt Law School Journal of Entertainment Law & Practice

Winter 2001

Speaking Engagements

Raising the Bar: Recognizing Resiliency During Times of Change

Nashville, TN

November 10, 2022

Tennessee Bar Association and Tennessee Judicial Conference Bench Bar Program

Nashville, TN

June 16, 2022

19th Amendment at 100: Bold Women Change History

Knoxville, TN

August 19, 2020

Conversation with the Women of the Tennessee Supreme Court (Moderator)

Nashville, TN

February 10, 2020

Preparing Your Workplace for 2017’s Impending Legal Challenges

Nashville, TN

February 16, 2017

A Look Ahead: Employment Law Resolutions for 2017

Nashville, TN

November 17, 2016

The New Protected Class? What You Should Know About New Protections for LGBT Workers and Accommodations for Transgender Employees

MTSHRM – After Hours Workshop, Nashville, TN

June 21, 2016

EEOC Update on Protections for LGBT Workers and Accommodations for Transgender Employees

National Association of African Americans in Human Resources Statewide Meeting, 2016 Labor and Employment Symposium

June 16, 2016

Conducting a Lawful Investigation

Client Training, Nashville, TN

May 3, 2016

EEOC Update

National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, Nashville Chapter Meeting

April 14, 2016

Termination Best Practices

Client Training, Nashville, TN

March 22, 2016

Forecasting 2016: Essential Insight on a New Year of Labor & Employment Law Developments

Nashville, TN

February 18, 2016

The New Protected Class? What You Should Know About New Protections for LGBT Workers and Accommodations for Transgender Employees

Nashville, TN

November 10, 2015

2015 Southeast Employer Conference

Atlanta, GA

August 20, 2015

Basics of Immigration Compliance and Enforcement

Corporate Counsel Forum 2015 - Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville, TN

March 6, 2015

Conducting Lawful Investigations: An Interactive Program for Internal Investigators

Nashville, TN

October 8, 2014

The EEOC: Looking Back and Forward – Successes, Failures and Anticipated Trends

Nashville, TN

February 27, 2014

How to Keep Your CEO Out of Jail

Nashville, TN

November 18, 2013

Employment Law Update

Nashville, TN

May 21, 2013

Religious Accommodation in the Workplace

Diversity Summit - National Association of African Americans in Human Resources

December 6, 2012

Education

  • J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School, 2001
  • B.A., Howard University, 1998Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admission

Tennessee
District of Columbia

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan