Date: October 24, 2025
The D.C. Bar will be hosting its annual three-hour CLE program, "Changing Currents in Employment Law," on October 28. The D.C. Bar and TELG's R. Scott Oswald, who will reprise his role as the event's moderator, discussed the purpose of "Changing Currents" and what attendees can expect from each panel.
Quoteworthy:
"I am steeped in these issues, and I learn something every time I do one of these programs. We have experts who are thinking about these issues in a very deep way, and they impart that knowledge to us."
R. Scott Oswald
[EXCERPT]
Previewing ‘Changing Currents in Employment Law’ CLE: A Deep Dive Into Cutting-Edge Issues
In light of the current employment situation for federal workers, implementation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and ripple effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, panelists of the D.C. Bar’s CLE course “Changing Currents in Employment Law 2025” will have a lot of ground to cover. This year’s program takes place on October 28 both in person and online from 6 to 9:15 p.m.
The D.C. Bar spoke with R. Scott Oswald, managing principal of the Employment Law Group, who will once again moderate the discussion. Oswald also heads the Bench-Bar Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association.
Here, Oswald offers a preview of the “Changing Currents in Employment Law” discussion, sharing how 2025 has been a busy year for attorneys practicing in this area.
D.C. Bar: What would you say is the general purpose of this CLE course?
Oswald: The concept is that we choose cutting-edge concepts [and] trends in employment law that are emerging. We then pick really good speakers from both the employee and employer sides to give their perspectives on the current status of the law and what folks should consider in the future. It is a good way to take a look at the crystal ball and see how these cutting-edge topics will develop over time.
D.C. Bar: How have the general trends changed in 2025 with the new administration?
Oswald: Well, in some areas, this new administration has turned employment law on its head. In particular, we will have as one focus the federal workforce. The current administration has put forth some dramatic actions, not only with ultimatums to reduce the federal workforce in the early days of the administration but now with furloughs. We are going to explore how that is impacting the federal workforce and talk about the current status of litigation that is being pursued by unions and other groups of employees that are pushing back.
The other area of dramatic change relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This was a topic, for example, that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), prior to the [current] administration, was focusing on. It was a way to diversify your workforce, be a resource for all your employees — a framing that corporations were implementing.
That is very different now. The Trump administration has its sights on what it calls “illegal DEI.” It is not entirely clear what that is, but what we do know is that it has turned this area on its head. And the administration has this perspective for a number of different areas, including with law firms, universities, and corporate America. Corporate America is trying to respond to this, and we’ll explore these issues.
[…]
D.C. Bar: Is there anything else you would like attendees to know about this program?
Oswald: What we feel really wonderful about is the fact that everyone will come away with new information. I will tell you that I am steeped in these issues, and I learn something every time I do one of these programs. We have experts who are thinking about these issues in a very deep way, and they impart that knowledge to us.
Another great thing about “Changing Currents in Employment Law” is that we have both sides, you get both perspectives. I am looking forward to it and coming away with some new information that I can use, and I am confident that those who attend will do the same.
