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Legal staffing firm settles age discrimination lawsuit

July 13, 2015

Strategic Legal Solutions, a national legal staffing and legal project management services firm, will pay $85,000 to settle an age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency announced.

The EEOC in September 2014 alleged Strategic Legal Solutions violated federal law when it rejected a 70-year-old attorney after discovering her age. According to the suit, Strategic Legal Solutions withdrew an offer for temporary work from the attorney shortly after learning of her date of birth. When the attorney asked whether the withdrawal of the offer was based on her age, the company told her she would be put on the “do not use” list, according to the EEOC.

“Age discrimination is a particular concern given the aging of the workforce,” said Robert D. Rose., the EEOC New York District Office’s regional attorney. “The EEOC will continue to vigorously litigate cases in which employees or applicants suffer discrimination or retaliation because of their age.”

Under the consent decree settling the suit, Strategic Legal Solutions will pay $85,000 to the victim. The company will also implement an anti-discrimination policy; provide annual training to all management and staff; post a notice regarding the case; and report annually to the EEOC for a three-year period. Strategic Legal Solutions will also implement a training program called the Strategic Senior Counsel Program, which will provide free training to attorneys age 60 and over on how to conduct document review using eDiscovery software and technologies.