New York Labor and Employment Law Education and Training

Get the right training to protect your business with NYS labor law

By Emmet McMahan
New York state labor law deals primarily with the relationship between employers and unions. New York labor and employment law education and training includes a broad range of issues, such as hiring and firing practices, medical leave, overtime, worker safety standards and wages.

New York labor law is prohibited from interfering with federal labor laws or guidelines produced by federal agencies. Employer/employee relations were brought to the federal level in 1935 with the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA). Employers and employees may have their relationships governed by state laws if they are not subject to the NRLA. There are three steps to learning about labor and employment laws in New York:
  1. Formal education. An attorney who practices New York employment law will typically need at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
  2. Specialization. Attorneys can choose to specialize by taking legal training that is specific to labor and employment law in New York.
  3. Membership in professional organizations. There are many organizations of attorneys based on their area of specialty, such as labor and employment law.

 

Attend a law school that specializes in labor laws in New York

There are a variety of universities in New York that provide training in labor and employment law, such as specific coursework, a formal concentration or legal clinics.
Try: Cornell University Law School offers a labor law clinic for students who wish to improve their understanding of labor law in New York. New York University Law School has a center for labor and employment law.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for employment lawyers in New York

New York requires attorneys to stay current on changes in employment law with CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in New York that provide CLE credit in labor and employment law.
Try: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York provides several CLE courses in labor and employment law for New York. The National Employment Lawyers Association/New York holds two conferences each year in New York that provide CLE credit.

Learn through professional training associations on the New York labor code

Professional associations frequently offer formal training such as conferences, seminars and workshops in employment and labor law. These organizations also provide more casual meetings that allow attorneys to exchange tips on building and maintaining a practice.
Try: The New York State Bar Association offers many training products on employment law, such as Employment Law for the General Practitioner and Corporate Counselor. The Onondaga County Bar Association offers CLE courses on a variety of topics, including employment law.

 

  • Labor lawyers in New York should also be alert for educational opportunities that do not provide CLE credit but nevertheless provide important information on labor and employment law. A typical event of this type might consist of watching a specific legal issue being reenacted by actors followed by a legal analysis in a relaxed atmosphere.