NELC 2026 Annual Conference

NELC In-House Career Accelerator Program (ICAP)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS PASSED
2026 NELC In-House Career Accelerator Program (ICAP)

April 28, 2026 – FordHarrison (Atlanta, GA office)

The National Employment Law Council (“NELC”) invites applications to participate in the seventh annual In-House Counsel Accelerator Program (“ICAP”), to be held in advance of the 2026 NELC Conference in Atlanta, GA on Tuesday, April 28th, the day before the annual NELC Conference, which will be from April 29 – May 1, 2026. NELC is a non-profit organization charged with enriching 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.

ICAP is designed to assist new in-house counsel in transitioning to and building a successful career as part of a corporate law department. ICAP is open to attorneys practicing management-side labor and employment law with four years or less experience working in-house.

ICAP will provide participants with career advancement skills in an intensive and interactive day long series of panels, sessions, and round tables with seasoned in-house practitioners while exposing participants to the NELC’s national network of experienced labor and employment attorneys. All ICAP participants will be matched with more senior in-house mentors. Space in the 2026 ICAP cohort is competitive and limited.

To apply for the 2026 NELC ICAP, submit the following items no later than March 7, 2026.

  • Personal statement on what the applicant hopes to achieve by participating in ICAP (maximum 750 words, in pdf format). The statement should include:
    • a self-assessment of the applicant’s career growth challenges;
    • a paragraph describing the qualities the applicant is looking for in an NELC mentor relationship;
    • the specific information the applicant hopes to learn from ICAP; and
    • a description of the applicant’s connection to the NELC.
  • Applicant’s bio or resume (in PDF format)

A complete application package must be submitted online no later than March 7, 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 two business days of submission, please email Vanessa Griffin at vgriffin@nelc-law.org to follow up.  

ICAP participation is underwritten by the NELC and its sponsors. Registration is $750.00, which includes the cost of the ICAP program and the NELC Annual Conference registration. ICAP Participants or their employers are responsible for travel and accommodations.

If cost is a concern, please contact Vanessa Griffin at vgriffin@nelc-law.org for information regarding how to apply for funding to support your attendance. Please note that potential funding is limited and will be granted based on availability and the applicant’s need.

I don’t think I ever absorbed so much information in a more effective way in my life. I made long lasting connections with everyone. I am grateful for this experience.

This was a transformative experience!.​
I don’t know how else to emphasize how grateful I am for this opportunity. Thank you all for creating an impactful and career-changing program..​
The most important takeaway is that there is a strong community that I can be part of as a junior and as I grow in my career. I hadn’t realized I was missing a sense of community. Everyone was so warm and welcoming and connected and supportive of each other.
The Academy shed light on aspects of diversity that are not often discussed and always overlooked. My experience has made me more mindful that there are others who share the same struggles I have and that is empowering because it demystifies the unrelenting nature of the legal profession and it makes success within it seem that much more attainable..
I LOVED the Academy. It’s the first time since graduating in 2019 that I felt excited about the practice of law and felt like I could belong in this community.
I truly feel that everyone I’ve met is part of my extended family now and I have lifelong friendships that will continue to grow from both a personal and professional level.
I loved seeing so many attorneys, and knowing that we share similar experiences, and that we care for each other. That makes being in this profession 100 times better.
I really appreciate the authentic connections I made and the safe space that was created to allow people to share their authentic selves. On top of that, I learned how to be a better lawyer, and I am forever grateful for that.
I felt affirmed by the various people I spoke to about the challenges I have been facing in my current work environment and the next steps I should consider as I look to the next chapter of my career.

So honored to be a Fellow. I needed the instruction, insight, and perspective provided. Everything was right on time.

We were exposed to a lot of different topics, trainings and mentorship opportunities and although it made for a busy week, it was productive and really maximized the limited time we had together.

I really think the 2023 Academy has the potential to redefine my career and take it in a different trajectory.

APPLY TODAY
Application Deadline: March 7, 2026

For more information, contact Vanessa Griffin at vgriffin@nelc-law.org