News
NELA Internships Offer Opportunities To Undergraduate and Law Students Interested In Equality & Justice In The American Workplace
NELA Legislative & Public Policy Internships
The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) offers opportunities for dynamic
interns (undergraduate and/or law students) to assist with important projects related to NELA’s
core mission of advancing employee rights and serving lawyers who advocate for equality and
justice in the American workplace. Internships are available for every academic term, including
summers. NELA requires that prospective interns simultaneously participate in for-credit
academic programs. Legislative & Public Policy Internships are based in NELA’s Washington,
DC office.
NELA Interns May:
- Research, draft, and revise work product;
- Assist with outreach to coalition partners and allies;
- Foster NELA’s new grassroots advocacy program;
- Plan and organize events promoting NELA legislative and public policy initiatives,
including NELA’s annual Lobby Day; - Provide support for the organization’s online presence and contribute to NELA’s blog;
- Attend and report on Congressional hearings, markups, and coalition meetings; and
- Help with occasional administrative tasks.
Qualifications Sought In Ideal Candidates:
- Reliable, strong self-starter and creative, independent worker and thinker;
- Academic and/or work background in and knowledge of workplace/employment issues,
politics, the federal judiciary; - Experience working on public advocacy or political campaigns;
- Excellent written and oral communications skills;
- Campus or other press/social media experience;
- Strong commitment to NELA’s legislative
NELA Comments On NPRM Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs
Submitted electronically
The Honorable Betsy DeVos
Secretary
U.S. Department of Education
Room S-3502
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202
Re: National Employment Lawyers Association’s Comments On NPRM Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance: RIN 1870-AA14, Docket ID ED-2018-OCR-0064
Application of Proposed Regulations to Sexual Harassment of Employees
Dear Secretary DeVos:
The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) respectfully submits the following comments opposing issuance of the Department of Education’s (DOE’s) Proposed Regulation referenced above.
NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country of lawyers who represent employees in labor, employment, wage and hour, and civil rights disputes. NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. NELA and its 69 circuit, state, and local affiliates have a membership of over 4,000 attorneys who are committed to working on behalf of those who have been illegally treated in the workplace. Ending discrimination and ensuring adequate remedies for individuals who face discrimination in the workplace are NELA priorities.
NELA’s members litigate workplace harassment cases all across the country in all kinds of employment sectors. Many of our members represent employees of … Read More
NELA Applauds Rare Forced Arbitration Victory at U.S. Supreme Court
Contact: Terry O’Neill
Executive Director
(415) 296-7629
toneill@nelahq.org
NELA Applauds Rare Forced Arbitration Victory at U.S. Supreme Court & Urges Greater Employee Protections
Statement Of NELA Executive Director Terry O’Neill
OAKLAND, Calif., January 16, 2019 — For decades, NELA has advocated for ending forced arbitration in employment contracts. Today we celebrate as the U.S. Supreme Court rightly sided with workers in New Prime, Inc. v. Oliveira.
While the Court correctly determined that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) does not apply to transportation workers classified as independent contractors, this decision does not go far enough to protect all employees. Nearly 20 years ago, the Court wrongly ruled that the Federal Arbitration Act applied to all employees except transportation workers. Since then, the number of employees silenced by forced arbitration provisions has grown to 60 million.
More than half of all Fortune 100 companies now require employees to forgo a public legal process after suffering workplace harassment, discrimination, wage theft, & other employer wrongdoing. Instead, these corporate employers force claims to be resolved behind closed doors by a for-profit arbitrator using rules chosen by the company. This is not what the authors of the FAA had in … Read More
NELA Statement On The Confirmation Of Brett Kavanaugh To The U. S. Supreme Court
Contact: Laura M. Flegel
NELA Legislative & Public Policy Director
(202) 898-2880 x.115
lflegel@nelahq.org
Statement Of the National Employment Lawyers Association
On The Confirmation Of Brett Kavanaugh To The United States Supreme Court
As lawyers, we are officers of the court. We take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of the state in which we practice. We know there is no sugar-coating the ascent of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. His confirmation represents the Senate majority’s betrayal of workers, women, those who rely on the Affordable Care Act to access health care for themselves and their families, and of the foundational right to vote. Perhaps most of all, Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation represents a betrayal of the Senate’s duty to protect, through the confirmation process, the integrity of the Supreme Court itself. As lawyers, as officers of the court, and members of the National Employment Lawyers Association, we will find productive responses to this travesty.
Kavanaugh’s confirmation process was the most corrupt in recent history. Working hand in glove with the White House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) trashed the Senate’s constitutional duty of “advice and consent” … Read More
Kavanaugh Allegations Must Be Investigated By FBI
Submitted Via Email:
Oliver_Mittelstaedt@judiciary-dem.senate.gov
The Honorable Charles Grassley, Chairman
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
152 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein:
On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, I write to express our strong opposition to the scheduled confirmation vote of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. NELA members have represented thousands of sexual harassment and assault survivors. Our members know from working very closely with survivors how common it is for a survivor to take a very long time to find the safety and support and to arrive at the difficult decision to report harassment and assault. Our members are also extremely familiar with the unfortunate fact that such misconduct often if not always, has dramatic and life-long effects on the survivor.
We urge that any confirmation vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court be delayed. When the Senate votes on a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Supreme
Kavanaugh Confirmation Process Must Be Halted In Wake Of Assault Survivor’s Courageous Disclosure
National Employment Lawyers Association Calls On Senate To Halt Kavanaugh Confirmation Process, In Wake Of Assault Survivor’s Courageous Disclosure
The Executive Board of the National Employment Lawyers Association voted to oppose Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court over a month ago on the basis of his record on employment law, civil rights, and law pertaining to access to health care for working people. Since then, based on records that were available for review during his confirmation hearing, we learned that Kavanaugh likely misrepresented his positions on substantive issues including reproductive rights, and actively misled senators about his role in Bush-era “war on terror” policies, and receiving stolen emails. The hearing raised doubt about his honesty and integrity.Now, in the face of Christine Blasey Ford’s courageous disclosure, we are outraged that Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has not moved to halt the nomination process pending an investigation. Christine Blasey Ford disclosed her experience of sexual violence by Brett Kavanaugh when they were both high school students. Ford did not set out to make her story public, but after her letter was leaked to the media she has bravely come forward to tell her story.… Read More
Brett Kavanaugh Places The Interests Of Employers Over The Rights Of Employees
Submitted Via Email: Oliver_Mittelstaedt@judiciary-dem.senate.gov
The Honorable Charles Grassley, Chairman
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
152 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chair Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein:
On behalf of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), and its 4,000 circuit, state, and local affiliate members across the country, I write to express our strong opposition to the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court.
NELA is the largest professional membership organization in the country comprising lawyers who represent workers in labor, employment and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA advances employee rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. Our members litigate daily in every circuit, affording NELA a unique perspective on how employment cases actually play out on the ground. NELA strives to protect the rights of its members’ clients, and envisions a workplace in which employees will be paid at least a living wage in an environment free of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and capricious employment decisions; employees’ safety and livelihood … Read More
NELA Statement On SCOTUS Vacancy
Contact: Laura M. Flegel
NELA Legislative & Public Policy Director
(202) 898-2880 x.115
lflegel@nelahq.org
Statement Of NELA Executive Director Terry O’Neill
On The United States Supreme Court Nomination
Terry O’Neill, Executive Director of the National Employment Lawyers Association, released the following statement in anticipation of Donald Trump’s nomination to fill the vacancy on the United States Supreme Court.
The United States Supreme Court profoundly affects every important issue that touches the lives of working people: wages, protection from discrimination and harassment, access to the courts to seek redress for illegal treatment, voting rights, immigrant rights, and the list goes on. Working people across the U.S. deserve a fair-minded, independent nominee dedicated to upholding the rule of law and equal protection for all.
The politicization of the judicial nominations process at the hands of the Senate Majority Leadership must end. In 2016, Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) prevented the Supreme Court nominee of our previous President from getting so much as a hearing, an unprecedented political maneuver. Since early 2017, the leadership has rammed through dozens of district and circuit court nominees at breakneck speed. In doing so they have prevented … Read More
NELA Applauds Introduction Of Empower Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Terry O’Neill, Executive Director
(415) 296-7629
toneill@nelahq.org
The Supreme Court turned its back on workers in Murphy Oil/Epic Systems
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Terry O’Neill, Executive Director
(415) 296-7629
toneill@nelahq.org
U.S. Supreme Court Deals Major Blow To Employees’ Basic Rights
Statement of Terry O’Neill, Executive Director of the National Employment Lawyers Association
OAKLAND, Calif., May 21, 2018 – The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) is appalled by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, Ernst & Young, LLP v. Morris, and National Labor Relations Board v. Murphy Oil, USA(“Murphy Oil”), allowing employers to sidestep federal labor laws intended to guarantee workers’ rights. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg aptly put it in her dissent from the majority opinion, the decision in this case is “egregiously wrong.”
Nearly 100 years ago, workers fought and died for the right to act collectively to resolve grievances and improve working conditions. Today, as more comes out about the systemic abuses—including harassment, discrimination, wage theft, and others—that pervade America’s workplaces, courts should expand employees’ ability to challenge unlawful practices, not suppress them as a bare majority of the Supreme Court has done.
The employers in the Murphy Oil trio of cases stood accused of illegally withholding overtime pay or other compensation, in violation of … Read More
