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AARP Foundation Attorneys Are Investing in the Future of Workers' Rights
The next generation of employment lawyers needs mentors, skills and inspiration. Our attorneys showed up to provide all three.
What does it take to fight for a worker who has been discriminated against, pushed out, or denied the retirement security they earned? It takes more than legal knowledge — it takes skill. It's the type of skill that can only come from practice. And until you get that significant amount of practice, you can only learn the skill from mentors who have been in the courtroom, who know how to prepare a traumatized client for a hostile deposition, and who have won cases that changed the rules — and who are willing to share what they've learned.
That kind of mentorship is exactly what AARP Foundation attorneys brought to New Orleans at the 2026 National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Annual Convention.
How AARP Foundation Is Investing in Workers' Rights Advocates
AARP Foundation was the key sponsor of NELA's Law Students & New Practitioners Program — a dedicated track designed to help law students and early-career attorneys find their footing in plaintiffs' employment law. This isn't a pipeline we invest in passively, but intentionally. The cases we take today are won by the lawyers we help develop tomorrow.
The conference theme — Leading with Vision. Rooted in Justice. — drew plaintiffs' employment lawyers from across the country for sessions, community-building, and the kind of peer learning that can reshape a career. For newer attorneys, a NELA convention is often where theory meets practice for the first time.
Six Attorneys. Six Sessions. One Mission.
At this year's NELA Annual Convention, AARP Foundation attorneys didn't just attend — they led. Across six sessions spanning some of the most important issues in employment law today, our team shared their varying expertise with the lawyers who will carry this work forward.
David Yellin moderated a candid discussion on building a plaintiffs' employment law practice — the kind of career guidance that no law school class covers, but every new practitioner desperately needs.
Rachel Lokken tackled one of the most emotionally demanding skills in employment law: preparing a client who has experienced significant trauma - resulting from harassment, abuse, discrimination — to relive that experience under oath in a deposition. Her session gave practitioners a concrete framework for protecting their clients while building the strongest possible record.
Lauren Naylor co-led a practical session on organizing a case ahead of deposition — the preparation work that can often determine whether a case is won or lost before anyone sets foot in a courtroom.
Victoria Williamson shared lessons from recent trial victories, including the landmark St. Clare's case, offering newer attorneys a rare look inside trial preparation, and the strategy behind significant courtroom wins.
Rebecca Rodgers addressed the growing and often underserved area of representing neurodiverse clients in litigation — helping practitioners understand how to be a more effective and authentic advocate for clients whose needs may not always be visible.
Sam Wehrle led a timely conversation on something the legal profession often ignores: how to build a sustainable career in public interest law without burning out. The session qualified for wellness credit — a reminder that taking care of ourselves is part of taking care of our clients.
Why This Work Matters
AARP Foundation' legal advocacy team exists to fight for people who have been pushed to the economic margins — older adults facing age discrimination often resulting in the loss of stable employment, workers denied the retirement security they earned, and employees whose right to fair and just compensation have been ignored.
As Rachel Lokken put it after the convention: "It was an honor to be part of NELA 2026 and to connect with so many dedicated advocates from across the country. I returned inspired by the thoughtful presentations, new connections, and shared commitment to advancing workers' rights."
We couldn't agree more. The future of workers' rights is being built right now — in law school classrooms, in convention halls in New Orleans, and in the courtrooms where our attorneys fight every day. We're proud to be part of all of it.
FAQ's
A: NELA's Law Students & New Practitioners Program is a dedicated conference track that helps law students and early-career attorneys build careers in plaintiffs' employment law through skills training, mentorship, and peer networking.
A: AARP Foundation sponsors NELA to invest in the next generation of workers' rights advocates — attorneys who will fight age discrimination, disability rights violations, and economic injustice on behalf of vulnerable workers.
A: AARP Foundation attorneys use impact litigation to protect older adults and workers with low income facing discrimination, denial of their hard-earned benefits, along with compensation and other workplace rights violations.
Learn how AARP Foundation attorneys are fighting for the rights of older adults and giving older people a voice in the nation’s courts.
Read the latest news on how AARP Foundation's legal advocacy work is defending the rights of older adults.
Fighting for You in the Courts
See how AARP Foundation attorneys fight in court every day for the rights of workers and people 50 and older.
Fighting for You in the Courts
See how AARP Foundation attorneys fight in court every day for the rights of workers and people 50 and older.