City Bar to Begin Receiving Department of Labor Referrals

Beginning today, the New York City Bar Association’s Legal Referral Service is one of 38 lawyer referral services across the country certified to have experienced employment lawyers receive referrals from the Department of Labor for violations of the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The ABA Approved Attorney Referral System was announced on November 19th at a White House ceremony attended by Vice President Joe Biden, Attorney General Eric Holder, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Senior Counsel for Access to Justice Laurence Tribe.

To access the ABA Approved Attorney Referral System, potential clients will call a toll- free number at the Department of Labor (DOL)—1-888-300-4998—and, if DOL cannot provide direct representation, it will direct callers to the participating bar association lawyer referral service in their area. The DOL has asked for help from the ABA to handle the tens of thousands of complaints they receive each year.