More than an organization


National Employment Law Council (NELC) is more than an organization—it is a community of accomplished and talented attorneys and Human Resources professionals of color who care deeply—not only about employment laws and their application, but about each other.

For more than 25 years, NELC has provided support for its attorneys and HR professional community by providing a safe space – a space to celebrate our talents and accomplishments, find support for our dreams and aspirations, locate resources to support our work, and develop friendships for a lifetime.

During these challenging times, we need NELC more than ever and NELC needs our support.

Whether you are looking for a place to process your feelings about the institutional racism; resources to support your work, outstanding conferences, networking opportunities, or mentoring, we urge you to support NELC by: paying your dues, updating your profile (to enable us to have a current searchable directory); and volunteering to serve on committees.

As a member of NELC, you are a member of a vibrant, mutually-supporting community of the pre-eminent minority management-side labor and employment law practitioners and senior HR executives in the U.S. Members share best practices, participate in advanced-level CLE, and interact with leading practitioners, including federal judges, managing partners, leading trial lawyers, and agency leadership of the EEOC, NLRB, and DOL. Our members actively mentor and support one another and junior practitioners, provide business development opportunities.

NELC members include


  • McDonald’s
  • AT&T 
  • Facebook,
  • Chick-fil-A 
  • John Deere
  • Toyota 
  • Google 
  • the Fresh Market and dozens of other major corporations.
  • Arent Fox
  • Baker & Hostetler
  • Buchanan Ingersoll
  • Constangy Brooks
  • Cozen O’Connor
  • Davis Wright Tremaine
  • Dentons
  • Ford Harrison
  • Goldberg Kohn
  • Jones Day
  • Littler Mendelson
  • Locke Lord
  • Morgan Lewis
  • Nilan Johnson
  • Ogletree Deakins
  • Seyfarth Shaw
  • Smith & Prophete LLP
  • Troutman Sanders and other national regionals and boutique law firms.

Membership benefits include


Discounted Registration Fees

Members receive a discount to NELC’s signature annual conferences which feature unparalleled programming and networking opportunities. Members receive preference to participate as panelists for conferences.

Free Webinars

NELC has created a series of webinars on cutting edge issues. This series features leaders from agencies such as the EEOC, NLRB and OSHA and NELC members who are leaders in the profession.

Listing on Searchable NELC Directory

In early 2021, NELC will launch an easy-to-use searchable directory of members.

Access to Members Only Portal and Electronic Mailing Groups

NELC Members have access to the members only portal, including a library of Conference materials and white papers. All members have access to electronic mailing groups to allow Members to collaborate in real time.

Additional Outside Counsel Benefits


As an NELC member, you receive the benefits outlined above and:

Limited Access NELC Outside Counsel Email Group.

You will be a part of the Outside Counsel Gaggle Email Group. As a part of this group, you have the opportunity to exchange best practices, ideas, job opportunities, speaking opportunities with diverse experienced labor and employment counsel at top global labor and employment firms.

Access to reserved spots in the ABA’s Labor and Employment Law Trial Institute.

You can apply through NELC to participate in the ABA’s Labor and Employment Law Trial Institute (assuming eligibility). Through NELC’s partnership with the ABA, it has reserved several spots at its Labor and Employment Law Trial Institute specifically for NELC members. The program provides three days of intensive instruction on the nuances of trying a labor employment case from expert faculty practitioners and ends with a mock trial conduced at a U.S. Courthouse.

Additional In-House Counsel and Senior Human Resources Professionals Benefits


As an NELC In-House Counsel or Senior Human Resources Professional member, you receive the benefits outlined above and:

Limited Access NELC In-House Counsel/Senior Human Resources Professional Email Group

As a part of this group, you have the opportunity to exchange best practices, real time collaborations, ideas, job opportunities, and speaking opportunities with diverse experienced in-house labor and employment counsel and senior human resources professionals.

Eligibility to attend NELC’s ICAP Program.

New in-house counsel members with two years or less experience working in-house will also be eligible to attend NELC’s ICAP program. The program is designed to assist new in-house minority counsel in transitioning to and building a successful career as part of a corporate law department. As part of the ICAP program, participants will have an opportunity to enhance career advancement skills, participate in sessions with seasoned in-house practitioners, and gain exposure to NELC’s national network of experienced minority counsel and human resources professionals.

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