National Employment Lawyers Association - New York Chapter (NELA/NY)

What National Employment Lawyers Association - New York Chapter (NELA/NY) does

The National Employment Lawyers Association/New York (NELA/NY) is a New York-domiciled nonprofit professional membership organization operating as the local NY affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), founded in 1985. NELA/NY serves two primary customer segments: (1) approximately 400+ employment-side lawyers in New York who join for networking, CLE programming, publications, legislative advocacy support, and access to the NELARS referral panel, and (2) individual workers in New York seeking legal representation in employment matters (discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour, FMLA, whistleblower, and related claims). The organization delivers value through four core programs: the NELARS referral service (the only NY-state referral service dedicated exclusively to workers' rights), an Amicus Action program that files briefs in NY appellate and federal courts, a Legislative Advocacy program that monitors and lobbies on NY and federal employment legislation, and ongoing professional development via bi-annual conferences, monthly NELA Nite @ Noon CLE webinars, and annual fundraising galas.

NELA/NY's underlying technology stack is modest and association-typical: MemberLeap powers membership management, event registration, and the donation portal; LawRuler provides online intake for NELARS referrals; Zoom Webinar supports virtual CLE programming; and Stripe and PayPal process payments. The organization's revenue model blends recurring membership dues, event registration fees ($25 members / $50 non-members for NELA Nite at Noon), bi-annual conference sponsorships ($1,500 per event sponsor), referral-driven transactions through NELARS, and donations. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on direct membership outreach, professional networking, earned media (WNYC, WSJ, Politico, City & State NY, Times Union), and bottom-of-funnel referrals through NELARS. The organization is governed by an Executive Board plus dedicated Amicus and Legislative Advocacy Committees and is staffed by a small team of approximately 6 employees, including a supervising attorney and administrator for NELARS.

Name

National Employment Lawyers Association - New York Chapter (NELA/NY)

Legal name

National Employment Lawyers Association/New York

Website

https://nelany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NELA/NY is a NY-based nonprofit professional membership organization and affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, serving 400+ plaintiff-side employment lawyers and individual workers through continuing education, amicus briefs, legislative advocacy, and the NELARS referral service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Professional Association Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Legal & Compliance Direct Hire (BPACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Employment law association
• Lawyer referral service
• Workers rights advocacy
• Continuing legal education
• Professional membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for lawyers who join NELA/NY to access networking, educational programs, publications, technical support, referral service, and other member benefits.
2. Conference Sponsorships: Event sponsorship opportunities at bi-annual Spring and Fall full day conferences. Sponsors receive advertising on marketing materials, social media, email blasts to over 500 members, and potential 30-60 second commercial slots during hybrid conferences.
3. Event Registration Fees: Registration fees for CLE programming. NELA Nite at Noon events: $25 for NELA and affiliate Members / $50 for Non-Members.
4. Referral Service Referrals: The NELARS referral service connects individuals seeking employment attorneys with panel attorneys. Initial 15-minute consultations are free; further consultations may be charged at discounted rates for NELARS clients.
5. Donations: The organization accepts donations through website portal supporting their mission of advocating for workers' rights.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NELA/NY is a nonprofit professional membership organization that supports plaintiff-side employment lawyers through networking, CLE programming, publications, and a lawyer referral service (NELARS) that connects members of the public with attorneys experienced in workers' rights. The organization also promotes workplace rights through legislative advocacy and the filing of amicus briefs in significant employment law cases in New York courts.

Product overview

NELA/NY operates as a professional membership organization for employment lawyers rather than a software product company. The organization offers a suite of member services centered on legal advocacy and professional development: the NELARS referral service connects individuals with employment attorneys; the Amicus Action program files briefs in significant employment cases; Legislative Advocacy promotes worker protections through legislative monitoring and lobbying; Professional Development Programs provide CLE credits and networking; and annual events including galas and conferences serve both fundraising and community-building purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NELARS (National Employment Lawyers Association Referral Service): The NELA/NY referral service established as a public service to provide individuals with the ability to find knowledgeable lawyers in specific areas of employment law. It is the only lawyer referral service in the state dedicated exclusively to helping people find attorneys experienced in workers' rights.

Products and services

• NELARS Lawyer Referral Service A public-facing lawyer referral service that connects individuals needing employment law representation with experienced NELA/NY member attorneys. It is the only lawyer referral service in New York State dedicated exclusively to helping people find attorneys experienced in workers' rights. Initial 15-minute consultations are free; further consultations are offered at discounted rates for NELARS clients.
• Legislative Advocacy Program Monitoring and advocacy on federal and state employment legislation, including issuing legal memoranda and promoting improvements to New York State Human Rights Laws. Includes a published legislative agenda and press engagement.
• Amicus Action Program Filing amicus briefs in significant employment law cases before New York State Supreme Court and appellate courts to advocate for workers' rights and influence case law.
• Professional Development and CLE Programming (NELA Nite @ Noon) Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programming for member lawyers, including monthly NELA Nite @ Noon webinars offering CLE credit (e.g., 1.5 CLE Credit for Professional Practice), plus bi-annual Spring and Fall full-day conferences.
• Annual Gala Events Annual fundraising and recognition galas honoring courageous plaintiffs, counsels, and advocates in the employment law field.
• Conference Sponsorship Program Sponsorship packages for bi-annual Spring and Fall conferences, including advertising on marketing materials, social media, email blasts to over 500 members, and 30-60 second pre-recorded commercial slots during hybrid conferences. Event Sponsorship priced at $1,500.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of people calling each year seeking employment lawyers through NELARS
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNELA/NY is the local affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association. NELA was founded in 1985 and is the country's only professional organization comprised exclusively of lawyers representing individual workers. NELA has over 2,000 lawyers in 50 states and DC, with 50 state and local affiliates.
• Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm whose attorneys Russell Kornblith, Kate MacMullin, Susannah Cohen, and Miranda Katz serve as Amicus Committee members, filing amicus briefs in employment law cases in federal and state courts.
• Event Sponsors (Bi-annual Conferences)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsors advertising on all marketing materials, social media, and email blasts to over 500 members, with potential commercial slots during hybrid conferences.
• Workers' Rights Coalition PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of workers' rights groups that NELA/NY participates in to support legislation like the EmPIRE Worker Protection Act.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Legal Aid Society: Major New York-based legal services nonprofit providing free civil legal representation to low-income residents. Comparable to NELA/NY as a nonprofit legal-advocacy organization in New York addressing workplace and employment matters, though it provides direct representation rather than referrals.

Emerging players

• Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: National nonprofit civil rights organization of lawyers providing legal representation and amicus advocacy. Comparable to NELA/NY in nonprofit advocacy structure, amicus filings, and policy engagement, though focused on civil rights broadly rather than employment law.
• National Employment Law Project (NELP): National nonprofit advocacy organization focused on low-wage and unemployed worker rights through policy research and litigation support. Comparable to NELA/NY in mission and amicus/legislative activities, though NELP is organizationally driven rather than lawyer-membership-driven.
• Workplace Fairness: Nonprofit organization providing employment law information and a lawyer directory for workers. Comparable to NELA/NY in serving consumers seeking employment attorneys, though its lawyer-matching is informational rather than referral-panel based.

Direct peers

• National Lawyers Guild (NLG): Progressive bar association providing legal support, training, and advocacy for attorneys serving progressive movements. Comparable to NELA/NY in nonprofit legal-association structure and member-supported advocacy programming.
• National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA): The national parent organization of NELA/NY, also a nonprofit membership association for plaintiff-side employment lawyers. Directly comparable as the umbrella body governing NELA/NY's operations and brand standards.
• American Association for Justice (AAJ): National plaintiff-side trial lawyer association offering membership, CLE, amicus briefs, and legislative advocacy. Comparable to NELA/NY as a similarly structured nonprofit professional association serving lawyers who represent individuals against corporate defendants.
• National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA): Nonprofit membership organization for attorneys representing consumers in litigation and advocacy. Comparable to NELA/NY in operating model, mission-driven focus, and member services including referral panels and legislative work.

Broad incumbents

• New York State Bar Association (NYSBA): The principal statewide professional organization for New York lawyers. Comparable to NELA/NY as a lawyer membership body offering CLE, sections, and advocacy, though far broader in scope and not plaintiff-side specific.
• American Bar Association (ABA): The largest national voluntary professional association for lawyers. Comparable to NELA/NY as a lawyer membership organization offering CLE and section-based advocacy, though far broader and not employment-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=kkr6x2W4fXw
• Facebookfacebook.com/NELANewYork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-employment-lawyers-association-new-york-chapter-nela-ny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Employment Lawyers Association - New York Chapter (NELA/NY)