New York Paralegal Blog

Ever wondered how lawyers became "lawyers"? Today, we picture grand universities with ivy-covered buildings. But legal education wasn't always like that. In fact, the way law schools developed in America reveals a less-than-rosy history, one where the push for "professionalism" was often a thinly veiled excuse to keep out Black people and other minorities. The Old Way: Learning on the Job For centuries, if you wanted to become a lawyer, you'd apprentice with an experienced attorney. Think of it like a hands-on internship. You'd learn the ropes by working in their office, reading law books, and observing court cases. There were also a few early law schools, but they weren't the norm. This "learn-by-doing" approach, while imperfect, allowed for a more diverse group of people to enter the legal field, regardless of their wealth or background. The "Professional" Shift: Raising the Bar (and Barriers) As the 19th century tur...

The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with Imagine Schools Inc., resolving allegations that the company discriminated under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, when it fired an employee at its Imagine School in Groveport, Ohio, in connection with a “reverification” of his employment eligibility.

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the takedown of an elaborate criminal network that set up bogus nursing schools throughout New York City and Long Island. Hundreds of students collectively paid more than $6 million to enroll in the programs that claimed would qualify them for careers in nursing. However, the certifications and transcripts the schools provided were fraudulent.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has obtained an agreement for Maryland's Prince George's County Public Schools system to pay $4,222,146 in back wages due 1,044 workers to resolve violations of the H-1B temporary foreign worker program. Investigators from the department found that PGCPS illegally reduced the wages of the H-1B workers by requiring them to pay fees that the school system was required to pay. The H-1B program allows employers to hire foreign professionals in certain specialty occupations to work temporarily in the U.S. Workers hired under the H-1B program must be paid at least the same wage rates and benefits as those paid to U.S. workers doing the same job in the same area, so that the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers are not adversely affected. "The Labor Department has the responsibility for ensuring that employers who use the H-1B program follow the law and do not place U.S. workers at a disadvantage to H-...

UPDATE: Prince George’s County Public Schools agrees to pay $4.2 million in back wages for violations of H-1B temporary foreign worker program Thursday, July 07, 2011 WASHINGTON — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found Maryland's Prince George's County Public Schools system in willful violation of the laws that govern the H-1B temporary foreign worker visa program. Investigators found that PGCPS illegally reduced the wages of 1,044 foreign teachers hired under the H-1B program by requiring the payment of $4,224,146 in fees. The Labor Department is responsible for ensuring H-1B workers are paid in accordance with the law and that employers do not misuse visa programs in ways that adversely affect U.S. workers. The H-1B program allows employers to hire foreign professionals to work temporarily in the U.S. So that the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers are not adversely affected, workers hired under the H-1B program must be...