The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society.
Legal Action for Gender Equity
NWLC uses the law to protect and expand the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ people. We represent a limited number of people in legal matters that have the potential to make widespread change for the equity, health, and economic security of women, girls, and all who are harmed by sex discrimination.
Some of Our Recent Cases
100+ Organizations Urge Sen. Schumer to Prioritize Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Dear Majority Leader Schumer, As organizations that promote economic security, civil rights, public health, and gender…
NWLC Signs 75 Million Campaign Letter Directed at the Trump Administration’s OIRA Concerning Regulatory Rollbacks Impacting Working Women
September 2, 2025 Russell Vought Director Office of Management and Budget 725 17th Street, N.W. Washington,…
Reproductive Rights & Health Care
Reproductive Rights & Health Care
NWLC litigates cases to protect and expand reproductive rights and improve access to health care, including abortion care, birth control, fertility care, and other pregnancy-related care. We often represent people and groups of people who have been prevented from accessing the care or health care coverage they need, as well as individuals and organizations harmed by unlawful federal, state, and local policies limiting access to care.
- Where a hospital or other health care provider has refused to provide treatment to a person experiencing a pregnancy-related medical emergency.
- Where a pharmacy has refused to dispense birth control (including emergency contraception) or medication to manage a miscarriage.
- Where a health insurance plan excludes coverage for pregnancy-related needs, such as maternity care, birth control (including emergency contraception), sterilization, fertility treatment, or abortion, or the health insurer otherwise discriminates against women, pregnant people, or LGBTQ+ people.
- Where a hospital, doctor, nurse, or other medical provider has discriminated against or mistreated a patient because of their abortion history or desire to obtain an abortion.
- Where a hospital, doctor, nurse, or other medical provider has sexually harassed or assaulted a patient.
- Where a school or university has disciplined a student for seeking or having an abortion or seeking or using contraception, or supporting someone else doing the same.
- Where an employer has disciplined or denied leave to an employee for seeking or having an abortion or seeking or using contraception, or supporting someone else doing the same.
- Where a public school, public employer, or other government entity has placed limitations on speech or counseling related to contraception or abortion.
Usually Not in Scope
- Criminal cases, or complaints about a person’s attorney in a criminal case, including when domestic or sexual violence is alleged.
- Housing disputes.
- Denial of certain public benefits, such as workers’ compensation or unemployment benefits
- Family law matters, such as child custody or divorce cases.
- Medical malpractice cases.
Workplace Justice
Workplace Justice
NWLC represents clients in lawsuits to protect and advance their rights to be free from sex-based discrimination at work. We have represented individuals and organizations whose employers, supervisors, and/or coworkers have subjected them to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or who have experienced unequal treatment because of discriminatory federal or state government policies.
- Where an employer has fired, refused to hire, demoted, or paid someone less because of their sex or gender identity (including in combination with other traits, such as race, age, disability, or caregiver status).
- Where a worker has experienced harassment or abuse at the hands of coworkers, superiors, or clients because of their sex or gender identity (including in combination with other traits, such as race, age, disability, or caregiver status).
- Where an employer denies certain benefits to some workers, but not to others, based on the workers’ sex or gender identity (including in combination with other traits, such as race, age, disability, or caregiver status).
- Where a federal, state, or local government withholds a benefit or takes punitive action against an organization because of the organization’s position on or advocacy for gender justice (including in combination with other issues, such as racial justice).
Usually Not in Scope
- Claims of mistreatment at work without a link to sex-based discrimination.
- Anti-SLAPP cases (i.e., defending against frivolous lawsuits intended to censor, intimidate, and silence critics) without a link to sex-based discrimination.
- Wage and hour claims without a link to sex-based discrimination.
Education
Education
NWLC represents clients in lawsuits to protect and advance their rights to be free from sex-based discrimination at school. We have represented individuals and organizations whose schools, teachers, or fellow students have subjected them to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or who have experienced unequal treatment because of discriminatory federal, state, or local government policies.
- Where a school fails to comply with Title IX’s requirements to provide equal educational opportunity for all students on the basis of sex. Examples might be a school ignoring a student’s report of sexual assault because it was made against a well-known student athlete, or a teacher dissuading pregnant students from taking a course they teach because the teacher doesn’t think they can handle it.
- Where a student experiences harassment or abuse at school because of their sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics e.g. intersex traits, pregnancy, or related conditions; could also be in combination with other traits, such as race or disability).
- Where a teacher gets fired, disciplined, or harassed on the job because of the teacher’s sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, or related medical conditions).
- Where a school fails to allow transgender and nonbinary students to access facilities or participate in activities consistent with their gender identity.
- Where a federal, state, or local government withholds a benefit or takes punitive action against a school because of the school’s inclusive bathroom or athletics policies for transgender students.
Usually Not in Scope
- Student discipline cases without a link to sex-based discrimination.
- Cases about disparate financial compensation of student athletes, even when there is a link to sex-based discrimination.
