Employment and Labour Law

A Labour Studies degree is ideal preparation for a career in employment and labour law, a wide area of practice which offers numerous interesting employment options. Most labour lawyers tend to work in the labour relations area, representing unionized workers, unions or companies in grievance arbitrations, Labour Board cases, and labour-related court cases. A good number of lawyers specialize as arbitrators (quasi-judges who resolve labour relations disputes).

 

Most of the law positions are in private practice with large or small law firms, but labour lawyers are also hired (in-house) by unions and corporations to advise and represent their organization’s interests in various ways. Some lawyers specialize in representing non unionized workers, either in private court actions (e.g. wrongful dismissal cases) or through claims/appeals to various government agencies. Employment standards legislation, occupational health and safety, workers’ compensation, employment and pay equity, human rights law and employment insurance are all areas of law in which employment lawyers may practice.