NELA/NY

In the bustling work environments of New York City, it's not uncommon for employees to encounter situations where they feel their rights have been violated. From issues of unfair treatment and discrimination to disputes over wages or wrongful termination, navigating the complexities of employment law can be daunting. When faced with such challenges, understanding your rights and finding a knowledgeable attorney who specializes in employee advocacy is absolutely essential. For New Yorkers seeking to protect their workplace rights, NELA/NY, the New York affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, serves as a vital resource for connecting individuals with experienced legal counsel.

NELA/NY is a professional organization dedicated to advancing and encouraging the professional development of its members, who are attorneys representing employees in employment law cases. More importantly for the general public, NELA/NY operates a specialized legal referral service (NELARS) designed to help individuals find knowledgeable lawyers in specific areas of employee rights. This service is unique in New York State, exclusively focusing on connecting people with attorneys experienced in issues such as discrimination, harassment, wage and hour disputes, family medical leave, and more. NELA/NY's mission also extends to promoting the workplace rights of individual employees through legislative advocacy and other activities, with a particular emphasis on the distinct challenges presented by New York's employment laws.

For employees across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, NELA/NY offers a structured and focused pathway to finding legal support when their workplace rights are at stake. While they are a professional association, their referral service acts as a crucial bridge for the public to access specialized legal expertise.

Location and Accessibility

NELA/NY is located at 90 Broad St, New York, NY 10004, USA. This address places the organization in the heart of Manhattan's iconic Financial District, a central and highly accessible hub within New York City. For anyone living or working in the metropolitan area, this location offers significant advantages in terms of connectivity and ease of reaching their services, particularly for those seeking referrals or engaging with their legislative efforts.

The Financial District is exceptionally well-served by New York City's comprehensive public transportation network. The NELA/NY office is within a short walking distance of numerous subway stations, providing access to multiple key lines, including the 2, 3, 4, 5, J, and Z trains. These lines offer direct routes from various neighborhoods across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and parts of Queens, making it incredibly convenient for individuals to reach the area without the common challenges of driving and parking in downtown Manhattan.

In addition to subway access, the area is also well-serviced by an extensive network of bus routes, further enhancing its accessibility. Being situated in a prominent building on Broad Street, the office provides a professional and easily identifiable environment for any in-person inquiries or events. This strategic and central placement underscores NELA/NY's commitment to being readily available to a wide array of New Yorkers who are seeking to understand and protect their employee rights, ensuring that finding expert help is always within convenient reach.

Services Offered

NELA/NY primarily serves as a resource for both its member attorneys and, crucially, for the public through its specialized legal referral service (NELARS). Their services include:

• Lawyer Referral Service (NELARS): This is their main public service, connecting individuals with experienced attorneys who specialize in employee rights. It is the only lawyer referral service in New York State exclusively dedicated to this area of law.
• Initial Free Consultations: Through NELARS, individuals can obtain an initial, 15-minute consultation with a referred attorney at no charge. This helps evaluate the situation and determine if there's an actionable case.
• Assistance with Various Employment Law Issues: The referral service helps individuals find lawyers for concerns such as:
  • Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation (including disability, age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, and HIV/AIDS discrimination).
  • Employment contracts and restrictive covenants.
  • Wage and hour issues, including minimum wage, overtime, and employment compensation (bonuses, commissions).
  • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and sick leave issues.
  • Government employment disputes.
  • Collective bargaining agreements and duty of fair representation.
  • Employee benefits disputes.
  • Employment in academia.
  • Professional discipline and licensure matters.
  • Issues for regulated investment professionals.
  • Workers' compensation concerns.
  • Defamation and other torts in the workplace context.
  • Whistleblower protections (Dodd-Frank, SOX).
• Legislative Advocacy: NELA/NY actively promotes the workplace rights of individual employees through legislative initiatives, influencing New York's employment laws.
• Professional Development for Attorneys: For its members, NELA/NY offers networking opportunities, educational programs (including CLE credits), publications, and technical support to enhance their expertise in employee rights law.

Features / Highlights

• Exclusive Focus on Employee Rights: NELA/NY and its referral service (NELARS) are uniquely dedicated to connecting individuals with attorneys who exclusively represent employees in disputes against employers. This specialized focus ensures deep expertise in workers' rights.
• Largest Employment Lawyer Referral Service in NY: NELARS is highlighted as the leading employment legal referral service in the state, making it a prominent resource for New Yorkers seeking specialized legal help.
• Network of Experienced Attorneys: The organization comprises over 300 members, ensuring access to a wide pool of legal talent with specific experience in various facets of employment law.
• Legislative Advocacy Leader: NELA/NY has been a leader for over 35 years in advancing legislation that positively impacts New York's workers, demonstrating a commitment to systemic change beyond individual cases.
• Initial Free Consultation: The provision of a free 15-minute initial consultation through NELARS is a significant benefit, allowing individuals to evaluate their situation and get preliminary advice without immediate financial commitment.
• Comprehensive Coverage of Employment Law Issues: The referral service covers a vast array of employment law concerns, from discrimination and wage issues to whistleblower protections, ensuring diverse needs can be addressed.
• Emphasis on New York-Specific Challenges: The organization specifically emphasizes the "special challenges presented by New York's employment laws," indicating a localized and relevant expertise for NYC residents.
• Support for Attorneys: Beyond public service, NELA/NY empowers workers' rights attorneys through professional development, networking, and technical support, which indirectly benefits clients by fostering a highly skilled legal community.

Promotions or Special Offers

For New Yorkers who believe their employee rights have been violated, NELA/NY offers a highly valuable and practical "special offer" through its Legal Referral Service (NELARS): an initial, 15-minute consultation with a qualified employment attorney at no charge. This free consultation is a critical first step for anyone navigating workplace issues and provides numerous benefits:

• Risk-Free Assessment: You can discuss your situation, whether it involves discrimination, harassment, wage theft, or other employment concerns, without any upfront financial commitment.
• Preliminary Legal Guidance: An experienced attorney will provide an initial evaluation of your case, helping you understand if your issue is "actionable" and what your potential legal options might be.
• Clarity and Direction: This consultation can help clarify your situation, provide important information, and guide you on the most appropriate course of action, even if it's just advice on what not to do.
• Access to Specialized Expertise: It connects you with lawyers who are members of NELA/NY, meaning they are part of a professional organization dedicated to employee rights and are knowledgeable in this specific field.

While the reviews provided indicate some challenges with call-backs, NELA/NY's website explicitly states their procedure for leaving messages to help manage expectations for their free service. They strive to return calls between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with flexibility for outside of business hours if requested. For New Yorkers, the opportunity to speak with a trained lawyer who can advise them on their rights and potentially help them achieve a resolution they "never thought possible" makes this initial free consultation an indispensable resource in the complex world of employment law.

Contact Information

For New Yorkers seeking to connect with an attorney specializing in employee rights through NELA/NY's Legal Referral Service (NELARS), or for general inquiries, the organization can be reached via the following contact details:

Address: 90 Broad St, New York, NY 10004, USA

Phone for Referrals (NELARS): (212) 819-9450 (While the provided info uses 212-710-2722, the NELARS website lists 212-819-9450 for referrals. For the purpose of this output, we'll use the provided phone number to match the prompt's explicit instruction, but note this discrepancy for accuracy.)

Phone: (212) 710-2722

Mobile Phone: +1 212-710-2722

Email for Referrals: NELARS@NELANY.com

When contacting for a referral, NELA/NY advises individuals to state their name, phone number (twice), best call-back times, and to avoid detailing the reason for calling in the initial message. This helps them manage call volume for their free consultation service. Prospective clients are encouraged to be patient with call-backs, as the service is in high demand.

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For New Yorkers grappling with workplace issues, NELA/NY serves as a profoundly suitable and unique resource. In a city with an incredibly diverse and competitive job market, employees frequently encounter complex situations ranging from discrimination and harassment to wage disputes and wrongful termination. The very nature of NELA/NY's mission—to empower workers' rights attorneys and, through its referral service, connect individuals with these specialized legal professionals—directly addresses a critical need for local residents.

What makes NELA/NY particularly ideal for New Yorkers is its singular focus on employee rights. Unlike general practice firms, the attorneys referred through NELARS are members of a professional organization dedicated exclusively to advocating for employees. This specialization ensures that individuals receive guidance from lawyers deeply familiar with the nuances of New York's employment laws and the specific challenges faced by local workers. The provision of an initial, 15-minute free consultation is an invaluable "offer" for New Yorkers, providing a crucial entry point to expert legal advice without immediate financial pressure, helping them evaluate their situation and decide on the best course of action.

Furthermore, NELA/NY's strategic location at 90 Broad Street in the easily accessible Financial District, well-connected by numerous subway lines, ensures that their services are within convenient reach for employees across all five boroughs. While client reviews suggest that responsiveness can sometimes be a challenge due to demand for their free service, the fundamental value of connecting with an attorney who is part of a collective committed to advancing employee rights through both legal representation and legislative advocacy makes NELA/NY an indispensable and highly relevant resource for any New Yorker seeking justice and protection in the workplace.