Employment Advocacy Project (EAP)

The Employment Advocacy Project (EAP) works to protect the rights of workers by providing legal representation to low-income Philadelphians who were denied unemployment compensation benefits.

 

What we do:

We represent clients in trial-like administrative hearings and by writing appellate briefs to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review.

 

How we do it:

We partner with Philadelphia Legal Assistance’s Unemployment Compensation Unit to represent clients who were denied benefits. This representation takes two forms. At the first stage of appeal, we represent workers at administrative hearings against their former employers in front of a referee, who acts like a judge. These hearings are akin to short civil bench trials and involve testimony and documentary evidence. In preparation for hearings, we interview clients and get them ready for direct and cross-examination. At the next stage of appeal, we represent workers before the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review by writing appellate briefs.

This involves research into employment law and identifying legal errors that occurred during hearings. Advocates can indicate a preference for hearing or appellate advocacy, or both.

 

How and when can I join:

Interested students can complete an application at the beginning of fall semester. Please email us at employmentadvocacyproject@gmail.com with any questions, and copy EAP’s Managing Advocate, Jeremy Stein (jstein@pennlaw.upenn.edu).

 

We ask 2L and 3L advocates to make a one-year commitment to EAP and to have space in their schedules to handle two cases per semester. 1Ls join to shadow hearings in the fall semester and, if approved by our attorney supervisors, can take on a hearing in the spring.

 

What skills will I develop:

Interviewing and intake, client counseling, trial prep, working with clients, legal writing, legal research, oral advocacy, and the rules of evidence.

 

The work is likely to be New York Bar eligible.