California Employment Lawyers Association

CELA EXISTS TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ALL CALIFORNIA WORKERS AND TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY OF LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT THEM. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR WORKER JUSTICE.

CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION ("CELA") HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,100 MEMBERS. CELA EXISTS TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ALL CALIFORNIA WORKERS AND TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY OF LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT THEM. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR WORKER JUSTICE.CELA'S COMMITTEES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION AND FURTHER SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THE COMMITTEES ARE COMPRISED OF MEMBER VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE MEMBERSHIP TO NETWORK, SEEK ADVICE, AND DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN IN THEIR LAW PRACTICES. CELA CURRENTLY HAS 19 ACTIVE PRACTICE AREA AND WORKING COMMITTEES: AMICUS; ARBITRATION; BARRISTERS; DFEH; DIVERSITY OUTREACH; EDUCATION; ELIMINATION OF BIAS IN THE JUDICIARY; FEHC; IMMIGRANT EMPLOYEE RIGHTS; LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT; LEGISLATIVE; LISTSERV MONITORING; MENTOR; POLITICAL/JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS; PUBLIC EMPLOYEES; RACIAL JUSTICE; WAGE AND HOUR; WOMEN; AND WORKER OUTREACH. MANY OF THESE COMMITTEES ORGANIZE SPECIFIC PRACTICE AREA EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, SUCH AS WEBINARS, SEMINARS AND PANELS AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE HELD MONTHLY AND BI-MONTHLY.OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE: (1) A MEMBERS ONLY BRIEF BANK ON THE WIKI, WITH OVER 2,000 EMPLOYMENT LAW RELATED BRIEFS, SUCH AS MEMORANDA OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES, COMPLAINTS, DISCOVERY AND TRIAL MATERIALS; (2) THE CELA LISTSERV, AN ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUM, WHERE MEMBERS CAN ASK OTHER CELA MEMBERS FOR BRIEFS AND PRACTICAL ADVICE ABOUT THEIR CASES; (3) A CELA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY WHICH LISTS ALL CURRENT MEMBERS AND THEIR PRACTICE AREAS; (4) A MENTOR PROGRAM, WHICH MATCHES SEASONED PRACTITIONERS WHO WILL GENEROUSLY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE WITH NEWER LAWYERS AND LAW STUDENTS.

CELA HAS ADVANCED THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS MEMBERS BY CONDUCTING SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES ON A WIDE RANGE OF EMPLOYMENT LAW AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021, CELA CONDUCTED NINE WEBINARS; A 4-PART WAGE AND HOUR WEBINAR SERIES; AND A VIRTUAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WHICH CONSISTED OF FOUR DAYS OF PANELS FULL OF PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR EMPLOYEE ADVOCATES ON TOPICS SUCH AS AN ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE; EMERGING ISSUES IN TRANSGENDER LAW AND INCLUSIVITY; UNDERSTANDING, ATTACKING AND CO-OPTING EMPLOYER INVESTIGATIONS; ADVOCATING FOR IMMIGRANT CLIENTS IN LITIGATION FROM START TO FINISH; AI, ALGORITHMS, AND WORKER RIGHTS; DEFENDING DEFAMATION: WHEN YOUR #METOO CLIENT GETS SUED; LESSONS LEARNED: THE TRIBULATIONS OF TRIAL; ADMINISTRATIVE EXHAUSTION: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE CALIFORNIA TORT CLAIMS ACT WHEN LITIGATING AGAINST CITIES, COUNTIES, AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA; AND MORE. CELA'S DIVERSITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE ALSO CO-SPONSORED EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR LAW CLERKS AND A LEADERSHIP SUMMIT FOR LAW STUDENTS AND NEW LAWYERS WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LAW SCHOOLS.

CELA PUBLISHES A MONTHLY BULLETIN FOR ITS MEMBERS WHICH INCLUDES CASE SUMMARIES OF EVERY SIGNIFICANT PUBLISHED CALIFORNIA CASE, STATE AND FEDERAL, ON CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT LAW, AND MORE, ALL FROM THE EMPLOYEE ADVOCATE'S PERSPECTIVE. THE BULLETIN ALSO INCLUDES FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORY UPDATES, PRACTICE GUIDES, COMMITTEE UPDATES, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND GENERAL NEWS RELEVANT TO THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS MEMBERS.