NELC Academy

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 30, 2026

The National Employment Law Council (“N-E-L-C“) invites applications for selection as Fellows to the 2026 NELC Academy scheduled for April 29 through May 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Loews Midtown Hotel. NELC is a non-profit organization for management-side labor and management-side employment law attorneys, HR representatives and DEI leaders seeking to increase the ethnic and racial diversity of the field through innovative community and relationship-building, meaningful professional advancement, and dynamic mentoring.

The NELC Academy is open to attorneys with less than 4 years of experience practicing primarily management-side labor and employment law. Preference will be given to lawyers with 2-3 years in practice. The NELC Academy provides advanced skills training, exposes Fellows to NELC’s national network of experienced minority labor and employment attorneys, fosters mentoring relationships, and creates a pipeline for future NELC leaders.

All NELC Academy Fellows will have direct interaction with in-house attorneys and leading minority labor and employment defense lawyers from across the country, and they will be partnered with an experienced attorney mentor. Space in the 2026 NELC Academy will be limited to a maximum of 30 participants and is expected to be highly competitive. Great weight is given to personal statements and letters of recommendation.

To apply for the 2026 NELC Academy, submit the following items no later than January 30, 2026:

  • Personal statement (maximum 500 words, in PDF format)
    • How your background and lived experience will help you gain from, and contribute to, the NELC Academy;
    • Self-assessment of your career growth challenges;
    • Reasons why participation in the Academy is appropriate at this particular time in your career;
    • Ways in which you have used your unique background to expand opportunity for individuals with more limited access to the legal profession; and
    • A description of the qualities or characteristics that you are looking for in a mentor.
  • Resume (in PDF format).
  • Partner or client recommendation of applicant for the Academy (maximum 500 words, in PDF format).
  • The application must be endorsed by a member of the NELC Academy Coordinating Committee who does not work at your same employer.
    • Applicants should review NELC’s list of Academy Committee members and reach out to Christina Alabi at calabi@diligent.com by January 16, 2026 for assistance with contacting 1-2 individuals.
    • Although the deadline is January 16, 2026, you are strongly encouraged to contact Christina Alabi early to ensure your application is endorsed by the application deadline.
    • Only one endorsement will be considered per application.

A complete application package must be submitted  no later than January 30, 2026. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Late, incomplete or perfunctory application materials may not be considered. If you do not receive an email confirmation that your application has been received within 48 hours of submission, please contact Nasim Khansari at nkhansari@sheppardmullin.com

Academy participation is underwritten by NELC and its sponsors. Registration is $500. (Applicants should contact Megan Lawson at megan.lawson@aloyoga.com if their employer will not pay for their registration.)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 30, 2026

The National Employment Law Council (“N-E-L-C“) invites applications for selection as Fellows to the 2026 NELC Academy scheduled for April 29 through May 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Loews Midtown Hotel. NELC is a non-profit organization for management-side labor and management-side employment law attorneys, HR representatives and DEI leaders seeking to increase the ethnic and racial diversity of the field through innovative community and relationship-building, meaningful professional advancement, and dynamic mentoring.

The NELC Academy is open to attorneys with less than 4 years of experience practicing primarily management-side labor and employment law. Preference will be given to lawyers with 2-3 years in practice. The NELC Academy provides advanced skills training, exposes Fellows to NELC’s national network of experienced minority labor and employment attorneys, fosters mentoring relationships, and creates a pipeline for future NELC leaders.

All NELC Academy Fellows will have direct interaction with in-house attorneys and leading minority labor and employment defense lawyers from across the country, and they will be partnered with an experienced attorney mentor. Space in the 2026 NELC Academy will be limited to a maximum of 30 participants and is expected to be highly competitive. Great weight is given to personal statements and letters of recommendation.

To apply for the 2026 NELC Academy, submit the following items no later than January 30, 2026:

  • Personal statement (maximum 500 words, in PDF format)
    • How your background and lived experience will help you gain from, and contribute to, the NELC Academy;
    • Self-assessment of your career growth challenges;
    • Reasons why participation in the Academy is appropriate at this particular time in your career;
    • Ways in which you have used your unique background to expand opportunity for individuals with more limited access to the legal profession; and
    • A description of the qualities or characteristics that you are looking for in a mentor.
  • Resume (in PDF format).
  • Partner or client recommendation of applicant for the Academy (maximum 500 words, in PDF format).
  • The application must be endorsed by a member of the NELC Academy Coordinating Committee who does not work at your same employer.
    • Applicants should review NELC’s list of Academy Committee members and reach out to Christina Alabi at calabi@diligent.com by January 16, 2026 for assistance with contacting 1-2 individuals.
    • Although the deadline is January 16, 2026, you are strongly encouraged to contact Christina Alabi early to ensure your application is endorsed by the application deadline.
    • Only one endorsement will be considered per application.

A complete application package must be submitted  no later than January 30, 2026. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Late, incomplete or perfunctory application materials may not be considered. If you do not receive an email confirmation that your application has been received within 48 hours of submission, please contact Nasim Khansari at nkhansari@sheppardmullin.com

Academy participation is underwritten by NELC and its sponsors. Registration is $500. (Applicants should contact Megan Lawson at megan.lawson@aloyoga.com if their employer will not pay for their registration.)

Feedback from 2025 NELC Academy Fellows:

The 2025 NELC Academy was a transformative experience for me. It provided valuable insights into personal and professional development, and I appreciated the opportunity to connect with Fellows who share similar goals.

Overall, it was a 10/10 experience. I truly did not know what to expect going in, but it exceeded all of my expectations.

I feel immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of community of attorneys that look out for one another. It’s a rare thing to see, and I am determined to do my part to pay it forward.

This has been the most rewarding experience of my legal career and I am eternally grateful NELC exists. Before NELC, I was considering leaving the law altogether. Now, I am inspired and confident that my options in law are abundant and I am focused on seeking opportunities that align with my values and interests.

I loved my experience with the 2025 NELC Academy. It reenergized me and provided me with the confidence to work hard and keep my end goal at the forefront. 

I am incredibly grateful to have had this experience. I felt alone in this field on a small team where I am the only associate for my cases. The Academy was so helpful in getting me on the right track to bridge that gap and start to build community.

Excellent. Impactful. Necessary.

I was skeptical about this Academy. I thought it would be like any other networking/business development event. However, I was wrong. This Academy works because people buy in and are open and candid. I think that is the secret sauce.

I’m walking away from this experience filled with energy, tools, but more importantly a support system that I can count on to work through things.

APPLY TODAY

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 30, 2026

For more information, contact Megan Lawson at megan.lawson@aloyoga.com 
Click here for more information about NELC.