The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs is thrilled to announce our merger with the D.C. Employment Justice Center. From its inception in 1968, the mission of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee has been to provide legal assistance to individuals and communities who experience violations of their civil rights, including issues of economic injustice. The Employment Justice Center, founded on Labor Day 2000, has as its mission to secure, protect and promote workplace justice in the District of Columbia metropolitan area.
This merger represents a significant advancement for the rights of low-income workers in the metro D.C. area, particularly addressing the widespread problem of wage theft. Both the Washington Lawyers’ Committee and the Employment Justice Center have long and successful track records in securing unpaid wages for low-income workers whose earned wages have been illegally withheld, as well as addressing other discriminatory employment practices. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee is well-known for its impact litigation and policy work on employment, housing, prisoners’ rights and immigrant rights. The Employment Justice Center is known for its Workers’ Rights Clinics, seven times a month, where volunteers and staff provide advice and legal assistance to low-income workers on employment matters, and its policy advocacy work on issues affecting low-income workers.
Our merged organizations will operate under the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs name. The Workers’ Rights Clinics will continue as they have for the last 15 years, at the same locations in Northwest and Southeast D.C. If you are interested in volunteering at a clinic, please contact Kiva Zytnick at [email protected].
We are extremely grateful to DC Bar Foundation for supporting our newly expanded employment justice efforts with a grant from their Access to Justice Grants Program for $325,000. This award is instrumental in allowing for the seamless integration of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee and Employment Justice Center.
We look forward to serving our clients and communities together.