Lucas J. Kaster, Nichols Kaster, PLLP

What are the biggest challenges you currently see in employment law?

The biggest challenge I see is the time it takes to get a case to trial. In my opinion, all parties are best served if the case can proceed to trial in a timely fashion. It encourages pre-trial resolution when possible and helps ensure that both parties have a positive experience with our justice system.

What are the biggest misconceptions about the field of employment law?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that you can sue simply because the employer’s decision might be wrong or unreasonable.

Without revealing the names of a client, what is the most interesting case you’ve worked on lately?

The most interesting case I have worked on in the past few years has to be the case on behalf of the Ramsey County correctional officers who alleged that they were discriminated against when former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was housed at the facility. Along with Bonnie Smith from Smith Law, and Matt Morgan from our firm, we represented eight correctional officers of color who were prevented from interacting with Chauvin and then reassigned off of the floor where Chauvin was housed. It was an honor to represent the officers who had the courage to step forward and speak out against the discrimination they experienced during an unprecedented time in our community.

How do you manage work/life balance?

For me, it comes down to planning and communication. My wife and I both work and we have two girls under 3 so life is chaotic to say the least. Every Sunday night, we have a weekly planning discussion where we walk through our schedules, meal planning, and other events. All the credit goes to my wife for coming up with the idea because it keeps us organized.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Before law school, my older brother and I traveled to the Middle East and Africa. He quit his finance job in New York City and I quit my marketing job in California and we traveled for three months through Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Kenya. It was an incredible experience and such an amazing time to spend with my brother.