2026 CPILJ Symposium

THE CONNECTICUT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW JOURNAL 2026 SYMPOSIUM

EQUITY AT WORK: ADDRESSING WORKER RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE

April 10, 2026

University of Connecticut School of Law, William F. Starr Hall, Stuart F. Smith Reading Room

In today’s rapidly changing legal atmosphere, questions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), freedom of expression, and state employment law have become central to the modern workplace and the practice of law. This symposium will bring together a select group of leading academics, practitioners, and policymakers to explore how employers and employees can navigate these evolving issues. It will consist of three panels addressing key themes at the intersection of law, policy, and workplace dynamics: the history and legality of DEI initiatives in the workplace; labor organizing; and the capacity of state actors, practitioners, and worker advocates to sustain and innovate workplace equity amid shifting federal policies. We will discuss how law, as enforced today, advances or thwarts what “equity at work” ought to mean. The panel presentations will be followed by question-and-answer sessions with the audience.

For more information, please contact our Symposium Editors: Monique Johnson (monique.johnson@uconn.edu) and Felicity Wang (felicity.wang@uconn.edu).