Labor and Employment Law
Prepared by Chris Byrne
Updated June 2023
BOOKS, GUIDES, and DIRECTORIES
Fighting for Workers: A Guide for Law Students, Matt Junker, Drea Nunez, and Rey Fuentes, University of California Berkeley School of Law , 2018. Written by Berkeley law students, this online guide provides tips on how students can embark on a legal career fighting for worker's rights. Although some of the tips use examples available at Berkeley, the guide remains useful for students at other law schools.
How to Build and Manage an Employment Law Practice, Mindy Farber, Chicago, Ill: ABA, 1997.
Although this book is intended for practicing lawyers, much of the author's advice is worthwhile for students exploring career options. Sections titled "What to Expect of Employment Law Today" and "A Day in the Life of an Employment Lawyer" are particularly useful.
RESERVE KF.299.L3.F37
The Labor and Employment Lawyer's Job: A Survival Guide, Dipanwita Deb Amar, Chicago, Ill: American Bar Association, 2007.
KF8925 .L33 A86 2007
Employment Law Stories, Samuel Estreicher, Gillian Lester, and Cynthia Estlund, eds., New York, NY: Foundation Press, 2007.
KF3457 .A7 E56 2007
Labor Law Stories, Laura J. Cooper and Catherine L. Fisk, eds., New York, NY: Foundation Press, 2005.
KF3368 .L34 2005
Inside the Minds: Leading Labor Lawyers: Labor Experts Share Their Knowledge on the Art & Science of Labor Law. Bedford, Mass: Aspatore Books, 2002 printing, c2001.
KF299 .L3 I57 2002
ONLINE DIRECTORIES
Find organizations, attorneys and firms involved in the area of labor and employment law using the sources below.
WESTLAW: West Legal Directory
SELECTED JOURNAL ARTICLES
Adcock, Thomas. "That's Life in a Small-Firm Union Practice: Young Lawyers Find Good Work, Autonomy in Representing Prison Guards' Group." 229(7) New York Law Journal 16 (col. 2) (Jan 10, 2003).
Adler, Steven I. "Musings of a Long-Time Employment Attorney." 220(1) New Jersey Law Journal 27 (April 6, 2015).
A practitioner with thirty-five years experience gives advice on how to become a good employment attorney.
Dailo, Nicole, et al. "Diversity in Defense: The Path to Management-Side Employment Law as a Diverse Attorney." 78(1) Bench & Bar of Minnesota 16 (Dec. 2021).
The article provides a better understanding of a management-side labor and employment attorney's career path and the positive impact that diverse attorneys can have in the field.
Marinelli, Carol Ann. "Strategy & Passion for Litigation and Employment Law." Law Practice Today, Sept. 2014, p. 8.
An interview with Donelle Buratto, an attorney at law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart in Birmingham, Michigan and a member of the American Bar Association, is presented. Topics covered include her reasons for choosing a career in employment litigation and employment law counseling, her work experience at the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Michigan, and how she found her first job after law school.
Shields, Joshua H. "A Swimming Legal Career." 34(6) ACC Docket, July/August 2016, p. 82.
Profiling Lori Middlehurst, the Asia Pacific employment director for VMware, this article covers her journey from law student to her current position where she telecommutes from her home in Sydney, Australia.
Stansky, Lisa. "Labor and Employment Law Gets Personal." 36 Student Lawyer 14 (September 2007).
Stanksy interviewed several labor and employment lawyers to obtain their perspective on what makes practicing labor and employment law so compelling.
Ward, Whitney. "Must Love People: Breaking into Labor and Employment Law." 36 Labor & Employment Law 13 (Summer 2008).
Panelists at the ABA program "Careers in Labor and Employment Law: A 'How to' Exploration of Options and Advice for Law Students on Finding the Right Job" discuss their experiences practicing labor and employment law and share their advice on how to get started in the field.
Weiss, Marley, S. "International Labor and Employment Law: From Periphery to Core." 25 The Labor Lawyer 487 (Spring 2010).
This Article summarizes some of the most important developments of the past twenty-five years in international labor and employment law.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
tel: (800) 285-2221
This section addresses all aspects of employment and labor law. It provides members with information about the substance and practice of labor law.
International Labour Organization
4 Route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 22
Switzerland
tel: +41 (0) 22 7996111
email: ilo@ilo.org
The ILO is the international organization responsible for drafting and overseeing international labour standards.
The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)
NELA Headquarters
1800 Sutter Street
Suite 210
Concord, CA 94520
tel: (415) 296-7629
email: nelahq@nelahq.org
Washington, DC Office
C/O AFL-CIO 815 Black Lives Matter Plaza NW
Washington DC, 20006
NELA provides assistance and support to lawyers in protecting the rights of employees against the greater resources of their employers and the defense bar. NELA publishes the Employee Advocate Newsletter quarterly.
Photo: Associated Press