"Two years ago, in the immediate aftermath of October 7, Biglaw firms started cutting ties with current and prospective lawyers over reactions to the attacks. Law firms have an interest in disassociating themselves from lawyers endorsing the killing of civilians, but as we cautioned at the time, the justifications for many of these firings read much closer to "being Muslim with opinions about geopolitics." The latter category, of course, made for a legal problem waiting to happen."
"Yasmeen Elagha, a 2024 Northwestern Pritzker graduate, filed a federal civil rights complaint in the Northern District of Illinois this week, alleging that DLA Piper fired her 26 days after she disclosed her Palestinian identity in onboarding paperwork. The complaint brings nine counts under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981 for race, national origin, and religion-based discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation."
"According to Elagha, she was the only hijab-wearing employee at the firm during her 2023 summer associate stint, and while the firm knew she was Muslim, it did not know of her Palestinian heritage. She alleges that she was "repeatedly subjected to unsolicited interrogation by partners and associates regarding her race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, and views concerning Palestine and Israel." She also alleges that she was told that another associate had been fired for supporting Palestine."
"For DLA Piper's part, they claim Elagha was fired for failing to disclose a criminal matter. Except... there is no criminal matter. There has, indeed, never been a criminal matter. Another student accused Elegah of assualt in connection with campus protests. Elagha "reported and dispute"
Biglaw firms cut ties with lawyers after October 7 based on reactions to the attacks, raising concerns that some firings targeted protected characteristics rather than legitimate conduct. Foley & Lardner faced a lawsuit from an associate fired before her start date after questioning about her father working at a mosque, and the firm lost a summary judgment motion. DLA Piper now faces a similar federal civil rights complaint filed in the Northern District of Illinois by a 2024 Northwestern Pritzker graduate. The complaint alleges DLA Piper fired her 26 days after she disclosed her Palestinian identity in onboarding paperwork and subjected her to interrogation about race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, and views on Palestine and Israel. It also alleges retaliation after learning another associate was fired for supporting Palestine. DLA Piper claims the termination was for failing to disclose a criminal matter, but the complaint states no criminal matter existed and references a campus protest accusation that was reported and disputed.
#employment-discrimination #title-vii #section-1981 #religious-and-national-origin-harassment #retaliation
Read at Above the Law
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