Fundamentals of Employment Law: Solid Foundations for Practitioners

Learn the employment law fundamentals that keep your organization and employees protected from costly missteps.

Already enrolled in Pathways to HR Executive? This course is included in your program.

Six live sessions Online via Zoom 6:00 to 8:00pm PT 12 HRCI recertification hours Certificate of completion

Who this is for

The law changes. Your exposure changes with it.

This course is for HR leaders who want to stay on top of an evolving field, and who are the person their organization relies on to get employment questions right the first time.

Employment law is complex and dynamic, and many issues derive from foundational concepts and practices. This course revisits those foundations so practitioners can recognize and master employment law, provide sound advice, and avoid litigation.

No prior legal background is needed, and there is no admissions process. If the course is open, you can register for it.

The sessions

Six live sessions over three weeks.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 30 March to 15 April 2027, 6:00 to 8:00pm Pacific, online via Zoom. Taught live by Andrew J. Hoag.

Session 1Tuesday 30 March

Overview
- Who is an employee?
- Alternative classifications of labor relationships: independent contractors, interns, volunteers and others
- Which laws apply to whom, a survey of the federal and state law and administrative regulations governing labor relationships
Session 2Thursday 1 April

Recruiting, hiring and onboarding, and arbitration
- Which documents and trainings are required by law, and which are recommended by practitioners
- Should an organization have mandatory arbitration agreements?
- One of the most impactful decisions on arbitration, Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. and its progeny
Session 3Tuesday 6 April

Social safety nets, purposes and eligibility
- 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 across State Disability Insurance, Paid Family Leave, Unemployment Insurance and Workers’ Compensation
Session 4Thursday 8 April

Medical leaves of absence
- How these interact with social safety net wage replacement programs
- Employer coverage, employee eligibility, duration and reasons for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, the California Family Rights Act and Pregnancy Disability Leave
- Disciplining or terminating employees on leave
Session 5Tuesday 13 April

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 their legal implications
Session 6Thursday 15 April

Discipline, termination and plant closings
- At-will employment versus contractual employment, whether written, oral or implied in fact
- Avoiding wrongful termination lawsuits
- The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and state baby-WARN acts

What you leave with

12 HRCI recertification hours

Recertification hours toward your HRCI credential, for the course in full. New for 2027.
A UCLA Law certificate of completion

Participants who complete all required course elements receive a certificate of completion from UCLA Law Executive Education. It does not expire and never needs renewing.
The material, after the sessions end

Session recordings and materials stay in your dashboard for six months after the final session, so you can go back to them when the question comes up at work.

Who teaches it

A UCLA Law lecturer who defends these cases for a living.

Andrew J. Hoag, J.D., M.P.A.

Lecturer in Law, UCLA School of Law

Partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP

Andrew 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, and his practice covers advice and counsel, advanced transactional work, and litigation.

His advice and counsel work 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.

What participants say

“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

Cost and registration

Register by 1 February and the course is $1,500.

After 1 February 2027 the course is $2,000. General registration closes on 2 March 2027, four weeks before the first session.

Paying through an employer reimbursement plan, or enrolling several people from one organization on a single invoice? Both are straightforward. Email [email protected] and we will set it up.

Early registration

$1,500~~$2,000~~

USD, one payment. Deadline 1 February 2027.

The discount is already applied at checkout. There is nothing to type in.

Early registration closes
Monday 1 February 2027

Before you register

This course is also one of four in Pathways to HR Executive.

The four-month program includes this course and three more, plus mentorship, career advising, networking events and a UCLA Law Certificate of Completion. Worth a look before you buy one course on its own.

See Program Details

Questions

Are the sessions recorded, and what if I miss one?

Every session is taught live, and the recordings are provided to participants afterwards. If you miss one, ask the instructor whether there is anything you need to do to make up the work and still earn the certificate of completion.
How much time does it take outside the live sessions?

For every hour in a live session, expect one to two hours a week outside it.
Do I need a legal background?

No. The course is designed for working professionals, and no legal background is needed. Many executives whose work is affected by employment issues have found it beneficial without coming from HR at all.
Are MCLE credits available for lawyers?

UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider, and 12 MCLE credit hours are provided for this course. If you are a California-licensed attorney seeking MCLE credit, please contact us at least three weeks before the program begins.
Can I pay in instalments, or can my employer pay?

An individual course is a single payment. Payment plans are available on the full Pathways to HR Executive program rather than on one course. Employer reimbursement is welcome either way, and several people from one organization can go on a single invoice. Email [email protected].
What if I have to withdraw?

We would work with you to put together an extended plan of completion for the course. There are no refunds.

Something else?

Registration is open

Six live sessions with UCLA Law, starting 30 March 2027.

Taught live by a lecturer in law who practises employment law for a living. 12 HRCI recertification hours and a UCLA Law certificate of completion.