News

LAS-ELC board gains three new members

Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center is honored to announce that three prominent lawyers have joined its board of directors. Their varied talents and background will be enormously helpful to LAS-ELC as we celebrate 100 years of providing free legal services to low-income people and their families across California this year and into the future. Jacqueline Mottek, … Continue reading “LAS-ELC board gains three new members”

Legal Aid Staff Give Keynotes at Title IX Conference

The Fair Play for Girls in Sports team, Elizabeth Kristen, Tamika Butler (former Levin Fellow), and Kim Turner (current Levin Fellow), recently attended the Title IX at 40 conference hosted by the Western Society for Physical Education of College Women in Pacific Grove, California. Over ninety years old, the Western Society is comprised of educators, researchers, and … Continue reading “Legal Aid Staff Give Keynotes at Title IX Conference”

Governor Signs Bills Protecting Workers

This week, Governor Brown signed several important bills that protect the rights of low-wage workers, including: SB 299—Protecting Health Care Coverage for Pregnant Women and New Mothers AB 1236—Prohibiting the Mandated Use of the E-Verify System by Private Employers in California AB 1403—Recovering Costs of Court Interpreters for Indigent Persons AB 22—Curtailing Use of Job … Continue reading “Governor Signs Bills Protecting Workers”

Highlights of 2015 at LAS-ELC

It’s gratifying to see the nation’s attention turning to issues that LAS-ELC helps clients tackle year in and year out, including income disparity, wage theft, family and medical leave, discrimination, and retaliation.  Here are a few of our notable achievements of this year. Our Workers’ Rights Clinic has served more than 1,200 people across California fighting unpaid wages, unjust … Continue reading “Highlights of 2015 at LAS-ELC”

New state laws address gender pay gap, child care, disability leave

National chain Safelite AutoGlass sued for race, disability discrimination

An Alameda County married couple claim their employer violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and discriminated and retaliated against them. They filed two lawsuits today against Safelite AutoGlass, which has 550 stores nationwide, with help from Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center.  Christina Castillo — who worked processing inventory paperwork — alleges she was fired from … Continue reading “National chain Safelite AutoGlass sued for race, disability discrimination”

Excellent lawyering is something everyone needs

When you read about legal services for low-income people, you probably expect to hear about unlawful employment practices and our deep commitment and the thousands of people we help. But you also should know that some of the very smartest lawyers anywhere are doing this work.  A two-time graduate of Stanford University and a new lawyer admitted … Continue reading “Excellent lawyering is something everyone needs”

National coalition pushes Supreme Court to hear DACA/DAPA case

Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center is among 224 groups nationwide, including legal organizations, unions, and social service groups, that are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case brought in 2014 by 26 states led by Texas over the Obama administration’s immigration reforms. The 224 groups argue in their amicus brief, filed Dec. 1, that the reforms President Obama announced a year ago will help millions … Continue reading “National coalition pushes Supreme Court to hear DACA/DAPA case”

Remember low-income workers on Giving Tuesday

Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center advises thousands of people each year like Hai Sheng Hu, who cannot afford the representation they need to realize their rights.  A mover and truck driver, Hu needed medical leave to undergo treatment for lung cancer, but when he asked for it he was fired. He couldn’t fight his termination at first, no matter … Continue reading “Remember low-income workers on Giving Tuesday”