Nonprofits depend heavily on volunteers and interns to drive their missions forward. However, managing these programs can come with legal challenges, from misclassification lawsuits to liability issues. Join us on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024, from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm with Casey Williams, Partner at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, who specializes in employment law for nonprofits. We’ll break down the legal distinctions between volunteers, interns, employees, and contractors. We’ll also cover strategies to mitigate risks, such as background checks, waivers, and training programs.
Nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes rely on volunteers and interns for a variety of reasons. Volunteers help maximize community involvement and are a critical part of completing programmatic activities, allowing organizations to stretch their resources. Interns perform many of these same functions while also helping nonprofits further their programmatic goals. Importantly, volunteers and interns often serve as some of the greatest advocates for our organizations in the community.
However, there are a number of legal complexities and pitfalls associated with operating volunteer programs and internships. Employment concerns, such as misclassification lawsuits and harassment claims, can arise. There are also liability issues related to volunteers or interns getting hurt or causing harm to others, as well as questions about the necessary training for volunteers and interns. Nonprofit organizations need to be mindful of this complex legal landscape to protect themselves, the work they do, and the communities they serve.
This webinar will cover the legal distinctions under California and federal law between volunteers and interns, as well as other individuals who work for nonprofits, such as employees and contractors. From there, we will discuss the unique legal risks raised by volunteer and internship programs and ways to reduce those risks. Strategies may include background checks, waivers, training programs, evaluating stipend programs, and oversight. Attendees will leave better prepared to implement measures that reduce risks and increase compliance with volunteer and internship programs while furthering their organizations’ programmatic needs and mission objectives.
Casey Williams is a Partner with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, a California law firm that exclusively represents mission-driven nonprofits and public entities, focusing on employment, business, and education law. Casey has practiced employment law for more than 12 years, including as a litigator, and now as an advice and counsel attorney. Casey’s work with nonprofits emphasizes employment, governance, crisis management, and business matters, helping organizations stay compliant and navigate complex challenges, particularly regarding employment issues. She has collaborated with a diverse array of nonprofit organizations, including advocacy organizations, health and human services providers, independent schools, after-school providers, youth advocacy organizations, community clinics, affordable housing providers, funders and fiscal sponsors, museums, and community college foundations. All of her nonprofit clients engage volunteers, and she assists many in developing policies and procedures for running their volunteer programs in compliance with federal and California employment laws. She also regularly drafts volunteer waivers, internship agreements, and other forms to mitigate liabilities. In unfortunate situations, such as harassment complaints involving volunteers, Casey and her colleagues at LCW are there to help their nonprofit clients respond, investigate, and develop systems to reduce similar circumstances, such as Codes of Conduct and reporting systems.
If you’re having trouble with this registration form please contact us at events@calnonprofits.org.
