Introduction to Public Employment Law
- OnlineJune 12, 2025June 19, 2025June 26, 2025July 10, 2025July 17, 2025July 24, 2025July 31, 2025August 7, 2025August 14, 2025
- Chapel Hill, NCSeptember 16 - 18, 2025October 21 - 23, 2025
NOTE ON SCHEDULE:
- The nine-week online summer course will meet every Thursday (except July 3) from 1 pm - 5pm from June 12 - August 14.
- The two-week in-person fall course will meet at the School of Government from 8:30 - 4 on the specified days. There is no hybrid option.
OVERVIEW
Whether you are new to human resources, an experienced HR professional new to the public sector or looking to update your skills, or an attorney newly assigned employment issues for your agency, Introduction to Public Employment Law is the course for you! Held online via Zoom, this nine week online course provides a thorough grounding in the major legal topics relevant to human resources management. Topics include:
- Employment at will and its exceptions
- Antidiscrimination law
- Hiring
- 1st Amendment and Employee Free Speech
- 4th Amendment and Employee Drug Testing
- Property Rights in Employment
- The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
- NC’s Personnel Privacy Laws
- Discipline and Discharge
See the agenda under the Materials tab above.
Introduction to Public Employment Law is open to employees of North Carolina state and local governments and affiliated organizations who have responsibilities for human resource functions, and to attorneys in private practice who represent public sector clients in employment matters. The course is designed for those who are new to public employment law and human resource management but is also appropriate for those who are new to public-sector employment issues or are brushing up on recent changes to the law.
In previous years, enrollment in this course has been as diverse as the public sector itself. Participants have come from city and county government, state agencies, the staff of the General Assembly, Office of State Personnel and Administrative Office of the Courts, as well as from the community college system and the UNC system. Attorney participants have included city and county attorneys, police attorneys, social services attorneys, and attorneys representing area mental health authorities.
This course should be taken before the School of Government’s advanced offerings in employment law, including the Public Employment Law Update, Advanced FLSA course, Advanced FMLA course and Advanced ADA course and Employee Benefits Law.
NOTE: This course requires that you have your camera on at all times. To receive a Certificate of Completion, you must keep your camera on, complete all assignments and participate in all breakout sessions.
Members of Civic Federal Credit Union (Civic) and Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU), who are local government employees, are eligible to apply for a scholarship towards tuition for conferences, classes, and seminars offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:
- March 1 (for courses starting between April 1 and June 30)
- June 1 (for courses starting between July 1 and September 30)
- September 1 (for courses starting between October 1 and December 31)
- December 1 (for courses starting between January 1 and March 31)
CONTINUING EDUCATION: This course is approved with the North Carolina State Bar for 30 hours of CLE credit.
While Introduction to Public Employment Law is not a pre-approved program for IPMA, SHRM, or HRCI recertification, we will provide you with a certificate of completion and a syllabus which you can use to apply for your credits from those organizations. The course material is consistent with the continuing education requirements of all three organizations.
| General | 30.00 hrs |
| Total | 30.00 hrs |
- OnlineJune 12June 19June 26July 10July 17July 24July 31August 7August 14View Scholarship Information
Members of Civic Federal Credit Union (Civic) and Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU), who are local government employees, are eligible to apply for a scholarship towards tuition for conferences, classes, and seminars offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:
- March 1 (for courses starting between April 1 and June 30)
- June 1 (for courses starting between July 1 and September 30)
- September 1 (for courses starting between October 1 and December 31)
- December 1 (for courses starting between January 1 and March 31)
View Cancellation PolicyCourse participants who cancel their registration on or before June 04, 2025 will receive a full refund. No refund will be made for cancellations on or after June 05, 2025, but you will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. Click here to view the School’s full cancellation and refund policy.$850.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414. - Chapel Hill, NCSeptember 16 - 18, 2025October 21 - 23, 2025The School of Government
400 South Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514View Scholarship InformationMembers of Civic Federal Credit Union (Civic) and Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU), who are local government employees, are eligible to apply for a scholarship towards tuition for conferences, classes, and seminars offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:
- March 1 (for courses starting between April 1 and June 30)
- June 1 (for courses starting between July 1 and September 30)
- September 1 (for courses starting between October 1 and December 31)
- December 1 (for courses starting between January 1 and March 31)
View Cancellation PolicyCourse participants who cancel their registration on or before September 08, 2025 will receive a full refund. No refund will be made for cancellations on or after September 09, 2025, but you will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. Click here to view the School’s full cancellation and refund policy.
Course Fee: $850
A copy of the publications A Comprehensive Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act for Public Employers, by Diane Juffras and An Introduction to the Family and Medical Leave Act by Diane Juffras is required and included in the registration fee.
