WorkLife Law is thrilled to welcome two new leaders to our Advisory Board: Katz Banks Kumin partner Colleen Coveney and obstetrician-gynecologist Ryan Yoshimura Shields, MD.

Colleen and Ryan bring extraordinary experience, expertise, and wisdom to WorkLife Law’s Advisory Board.

A big welcome to Nanjibah Khan, our new Pro Bono Intern! Nanjibah is a 3L at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she has served as President of Women of Color and currently participates in the Youth Advocacy Clinic. Before law school, she worked as a paralegal in mass tort defense.

Nanjibah earned her B.A. in Philosophy from Virginia Commonwealth University. Outside of law school, she enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her little sister.

WorkLife Law’s efforts to secure justice for working people and students who are pregnant, postpartum, or caring for family members took on new dimensions this year. We’ve had to defend federal rights we previously took for granted, while expanding what’s possible at the state and local level. While our work may have shifted, we’re still creating wins for pregnant people and family caregivers nationwide. 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a Committee Statement today with guidance for ob-gyns on supporting their patients’ workplace safety during pregnancy and postpartum. The guidance, also published in the medical journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, was co-authored by WorkLife Law Co-Director Liz Morris. 

On June 23, 2026, WorkLife Law Co-Director Liz Morris was invited to address the full California Civil Rights Council — the state body responsible for drafting and adopting the regulations that interpret and enforce California’s powerful anti-discrimination laws. The timing was significant: four of the Council’s seven members — including Chair Candice Cho — were appointed by Governor Newsom earlier this year and were attending their first meeting.

Staff Attorney Leah Kennedy testified before the California Senate’s Governmental Organization Committee on June 23 in support of AB 1729 (Lee), a bill to modernize the state’s telework policy and require agencies to provide written justification before limiting remote work for state employees.

WorkLife Law is excited to welcome two Summer Legal Fellows to our team: Morgan Gaspar and Jenna Harris. 

As temperatures rise, workers across the country are increasingly vulnerable to unsafe conditions on the job. To help protect pregnant workers from the dangers of extreme heat in the workplace, WorkLife Law has produced new resources.

WorkLife Law filed a formal comment urging the U.S. Department of Labor to withdraw a proposed worker classification rule that would strip working mothers and family caregivers of critical workplace protections.

The New York Times highlighted that too many employers are still denying pregnancy accommodation requests – especially for low-wage and retail workers – and how WorkLife Law’s free legal helpline is making a difference.