NELA

Empowering Workers' Rights Attorneys

Join NELA

As the premier national bar association for workers’ rights attorneys in the country, NELA is more than a membership organization—it is a strategic investment in your practice and your principles. Since 1985, we have fought alongside our members for fairness, dignity, and accountability in the workplace. Whether you are just beginning your journey in plaintiffs’ employment law or have decades of experience fighting for workers’ rights, NELA is here to support, connect, and empower you every step of the way.

Your Career-Long Partner in Protecting Workers’ Rights

As your career evolves, NELA evolves with you, providing professional development
and growth opportunities designed to meet you at every stage.

Paraprofessionals

  • Sharpen your acumen with tools and training
  • Find connection in a welcoming community
  • Get support for your work on the front lines of workplace justice

Law Students

  • Gain exclusive access to career resources
  • Connect with experienced workers' rights advocates
  • Join a national network of advocates

Emerging
Attorneys

  • Build your skills with CLEs and volulnteer opportunities
  • Engage with practice and interest groups
  • Access real-time support
  • Grow a lasting professional network

Mid-Career
Practitioners

  • Deepen your expertise in the field
  • Pursue leadership pathways to help shape NELA
  • Expand your advocacy experience
  • Help strengthen the pipeline of workers' rights advocates

Established
Practitioners

  • Shape the field through committee leadership
  • Champion NELA's voice and advocate on behalf of the profession
  • Mentor the next generation of attorneys

Retired
Practitioners

  • Stay connected to the workers' rights community
  • Share your expertise with others
  • Continue contributing to the practice
Membership Rates
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NELA membership fuels your work with the tools, resources, and connections that elevate your advocacy and expand your impact.

  • The NELA Exchange: Our members-only online community where members strategize, find co-counsel, and share information and resources.
  • Substantial Member Discounts on CLE: Designed by and for plaintiffs’ employment lawyers, NELA’s Annual Convention, Trial Boot Camp, Wage and Hour Update, seminars, and webinars build expertise, expand your nationwide network of colleagues, and strengthen advocacy no matter where you are in your career.
  • Essential Tools and Resources: Enjoy exclusive NELA member pricing on tools like Syllo, a cutting-edge eDiscovery platform; Employee Rights Litigation: Pleading and Practice, NELA’s own employment law treatise; and more. 
  • Advocate on the Hill for What Matters to Your Clients: Fight forced arbitration, wage theft, damage caps, and support a fair and diverse judiciary.
  • Public and Member-only Directories: Reach workers who need your help, grow your visibility, and find exceptional co-counsel. NELA’s Find-A-Lawyer Directory is open to visitors looking for help and attracts approximately 3,500 potential clients each month. 
  • Technical Assistance: Get the support you need—from the Ethics and Sanctions Hotline to amicus assistance and expert insight on emerging legal issues.

Generally, membership dues are not refundable. If there are extenuating circumstances you would like us to consider, please reach out to Tacarra Andrade, NELA Membership Director, at tandrade@nelahq.org.  All refund requests must be submitted in writing.

NELA has given me a strong sense of community by connecting me with attorneys who share the same commitment of protecting workers and challenging workplace discrimination. It has also broadened my knowledge by consistently organizing continuing legal education programs that directly support and enhance my work and skills as a plaintiffs’ employment lawyer.

Thalia Pacheco
Workplace Law Partners, P.C.
Member since 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I join NELA?

Joining NELA connects you with the nation’s largest community of plaintiffs’ employment lawyers, giving you access to the resources, expertise, and support that elevate your practice today and strengthen your career for the long term.

Who is eligible to join NELA?

Membership is open to attorneys, law students, and legal professionals who primarily represent workers. Because NELA is a plaintiffs‑side organization, members must certify that they do not regularly represent employers in employment‑related matters. Membership requirements can be found on the Membership Rates page.

How much does membership cost?

Membership dues vary based on your years of practice and professional role. Full details are available on the Membership Rates page.

Are my NELA membership dues tax deductible?

Eighty percent of your membership dues may be deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. The remaining portion is not tax-deductible because it relates to NELA’s lobbying expenditures (see Internal Revenue Code 6033(e)). Law Student membership dues are exempt from this limitation.

What do I get when I join NELA?

New members gain immediate access to:

  • The NELA Exchange, our members‑only discussion and resource‑sharing platform
  • Access and discounts to resources and tools to enhance your practice
  • CLE programs at discounted rates
  • Advocacy updates and policy insights
  • A nationwide network of experienced plaintiffs’ employment lawyers

How does NELA support my professional development?

NELA offers a wide range of opportunities to help you grow as a plaintiffs’ employment lawyer. Members can participate in national and regional CLE programs, skills‑building seminars, and the Annual Convention. In addition to educational programming, NELA provides meaningful speaking opportunities, leadership roles through working groups, committees and board service, and mentorship connections with experienced practitioners across the country. The NELA Exchange also serves as a powerful resource for learning from colleagues, staying current on emerging issues in workers’ rights advocacy, and building a network.

Does NELA offer discounted CLE for members?

Yes. Members receive reduced rates for webinars, seminars, and the Annual Convention. Many programs also offer scholarships through the National Institute for Workers’ Rights.

Who can I contact if I have questions about joining or using my membership benefits?

Our membership team is happy to help with anything you need. Reach out to Tacarra Andrade, NELA’s Membership Director, or Alberto Sandoval, NELA’s Membership and Development Coordinator.