Fundamentals of Employment Law: Solid Foundations for Practitioners
This professional course explores foundational concepts & practices in employment law for practitioners to provide sound advice and avoid litigation.
Employment law is complex and dynamic, and many issues derive from foundational concepts and practices. This course revisits these foundational concepts and practices to help practitioners recognize and master employment law in order to provide sound advice and avoid litigation.

"The Employment Law course was one of the most valuable components of the program. It has significantly enhanced my confidence in navigating legal challenges and advising leadership on employment-related matters."
Kristine Fisher (Pathways '24)
Academic and Faculty Affairs Manager
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

"The interactive discussion and real case scenarios were some of the most beneficial interactions of the program. The course is highly effective for any HR role."
Tami Sivils (Pathways '24)
HR Administrator
West Kern Water District

"Every HR Professional needs this course!"
Corina Marshall (Pathways '26)
Human Resources Manager
La Jolla Country Club
Program Details
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Location & Session Dates
2027 Session Dates:
- March-April, 2027 Dates TBD
Session Time: 6:00p-8:00p PT, 1-2x per week
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Course Format
All sessions will be held live online via Zoom.
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Course Sessions
Session 1: Overview
- Who is an employee?
- Alternative classifications of labor relationships (e.g., independent contractors; interns; volunteers; etc.)
- Which laws apply to whom? (A survey of Federal and state law and administrative regulations governing labor relationships)
Session 2: Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding (and Arbitration)
- What documents and trainings are required by law? What additional documents and trainings are recommended by practitioners?
- Should an organization have mandatory arbitration agreements?
- Reviewing one of the most impactful decisions on Arbitration: Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. and its progeny
Session 3: Social Safety Nets: Purposes and Eligibility
- Understanding the distinction between social safety nets as wage replacement and leaves of absence as permitted time off from work
- Employer coverage, employee eligibility, duration, and reasons for leave:
- State Disability Insurance
- Paid Family Leave
- Unemployment Insurance
- Workers’ Compensation
Session 4: Medical Leaves of Absence
- Understanding the interplay with social safety net wage-replacement programs
- Employer coverage, employee eligibility, duration, and reasons for leave:
- Family Medical Leave Act
- California Family Rights Act
- Pregnancy Disability Leave
- Disciplining or terminating employees on leave
Session 5: Paid Sick Leave, Vacation, PTO, and Miscellaneous Time Off
- Employer coverage, employee eligibility, duration, and reasons for leave
- Payment, recordkeeping, and reinstatement protections
- Required and optional leaves and legal implications
Session 6: Discipline, Termination, and Plant Closings
- At-will employment versus contractual employment: written, oral, implied-in-fact
- Avoiding wrongful termination lawsuits
- Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
- State (“Baby-”) WARN acts
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Course Instructor

Andrew J. Hoag, J.D., M.P.A.
Lecturer in Law
Partner at Fisher & Phillips, LLPAndrew Hoag is a partner at Fisher & Phillips, LLP, one of the largest U.S. law firms representing management in labor-and-employment law. He represents local and national employers on a wide spectrum of labor-and-employment matters. His practice includes advice and counsel, advanced transactional work, and litigation. His advice and counsel includes day-to-day compliance advice and prophylactic trainings for managers and supervisors, human resource professionals, and corporate counsel. His litigation includes defense of discrimination and harassment claims and class-action and Private Attorneys General Act wage-and-hour matters. Read his full bio here.
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Certificates and MCLE
Certificate of Completion
Participants who complete all required course elements will receive a certificate of completion from UCLA Law Executive Education.
MCLE
UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. This session has requested MCLE credit for 12 hours and is currently pending approval.
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Cost & Discounts
Pathways to HR Executive Participants: Included
Early Registration Deadline (by February 1st, 2027): $1,500
$2,000