Concord, Calif. – March 13, 2023 – After an extensive nationwide search, the National Institute for Workers’ Rights (the Institute) and the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) are pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Solomon as the Institute’s inaugural director.

In his role as director, Solomon will lead the Institute in identifying, responding to, and advocating for the evolving needs of workers.

“We found Jason to be uniquely qualified to oversee the progress of the Institute due to his extensive background in policy and mission-driven organizations,” said Diane King, acting president of the Institute’s Board of Directors. “We are confident that, with Jason at the wheel, the Institute will drive progress for workers’ rights and shine a spotlight on the journey to eliminate abuses that impact workers.”

Solomon’s appointment comes at a particularly critical time for workers and the attorneys who represent them against illegal treatment in the workplace, including discrimination, harassment, wage theft, safety issues and more. Despite meaningful advances in protections for workers there is still significant work to be done to bring about a future in which all workers are treated with dignity and respect in equitable and diverse workplaces.

“I am honored to be entrusted with this new role at the National Institute for Workers’ Rights,” Solomon said. “The Institute has had a significant impact on policy and education around workers’ rights, and there is still plenty of ground to cover. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside advocates and coalition partners who are dedicated to advancing workers’ rights, particularly for workers from marginalized communities who have been disproportionately affected by injustice.”

Solomon most recently served as the executive director for the Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford Law School, leading research, policy, and advocacy on increasing access to justice for people of modest means. Before joining Stanford, he was a tenured professor at William and Mary Law School, and has taught Employment Law at three law schools. Earlier in his career, Solomon was an aide at the U.S. Treasury Department and the White House, where he worked on the effort to secure universal health coverage.

Solomon also worked as chief legal officer, and senior director of advocacy and engagement, for Summit Public Schools, a school network serving students from diverse backgrounds in California and Washington. His pro bono clients have included habeas petitioners challenging criminal convictions and immigrants seeking relief from deportation. In law school, Solomon represented unemployment claimants, worked at the union-side labor firm Bredhoff and Kaiser, and externed at the National Employment Law Project and Brooklyn Legal Services. He is a member of the New York and Massachusetts bars and clerked for both the Hons. Chester J. Straub of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and John Gleeson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

About the National Institute for Workers’ Rights (The Institute)

Founded in 2008, the National Institute for Workers’ Rights is the related charitable public interest organization of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA). The Institute advances workers’ rights through research, thought leadership, and education for policymakers, advocates, and the public.
niwr.org.

About the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) is the largest professional membership organization in the country composed of lawyers who represent workers in employment, labor, and civil rights disputes. Founded in 1985, NELA’s mission is to empower workers’ rights attorneys through legal training, promoting a fair judiciary, and advocating for laws and policies that level the playing field for workers.
nela.org.