Nicole Alexandrea Nguyen

I'm passionate about helping people understand and exercise their rights. I enjoy my work because it lets me make a difference in people's lives, at a juncture when they often feel stressed, scared, angry, or confused. Law is a tool, which I'm happy to utilize for the primary goal of providing my clients a measure of peace and justice. 

Before I attended Columbia Law School, I worked in other professions, including aerospace and marketing. As a lawyer, I've practiced in specialty areas other than employment. I've also defended companies and served as outside in-house counsel before coming to the plaintiffs' bar. My varied experience provides me insight into what "the other guy" might be thinking -- not just defense lawyers, but laypeople, expert witnesses, and other individuals whose paths cross with my client. Understanding people makes me a better negotiator and lawyer. 

My caseload runs the gamut of employment law: harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, breach of contract, and wage and hour. The cases nearest to my heart are sexual harassment and pregnancy cases; it takes so much courage to be a plaintiff in those kinds of matters. My work is 100% plaintiff-oriented.

I'm fortunate to be in the professional position where I'm able to carefully select my cases. I take cases I believe in. For cases where I don't see a good fit, I'm happy to refer potential clients to other lawyers -- there's a lid for every pot.

I'm proud of the fact that a high percentage of my caseload comes from referrals of past clients. In fact, I think that's the ideal outcome of a negative employment situation: for a wronged employee to find a great advocate who achieves a positive result, such that one would recommend the same path to others.  

Legal rights don't exist in a vacuum. They live and breathe and change, as people interpret and apply the law. It's a pleasure to proactively define and underscore those rights. After all, most of us are employees or have been at one point!