Photo not that of the actual client.
Fulfilling a longtime dream, “Shu-Ching,” a first-generation Taiwanese immigrant, was hired in 2018 by a Northeast Florida law enforcement agency as a fingerprint technician trainee. Through no fault of her own, Shu-Ching’s training extended far beyond the scheduled year from her date of hire, and because of the delay, she was unable to complete the last phase of the training. Instead of offering her additional training, the agency chose to terminate Shu-Ching’s employment. Shu-Ching, who was the only Asian in her unit, believed that the agency’s decision to terminate her was based on unlawful discrimination, and she filed a notice of appeal. She then sought representation from JALA. Her JALA attorney concluded Shu-Ching had insufficient evidence to show the agency’s actions were unlawful. However, she was able to negotiate a deal with the agency that involved withdrawing the appeal in exchange for reinstatement and an opportunity to transfer to a different job. As a result, Shu-Ching was offered a position in another unit. The agency also agreed to bridge her seniority by recognizing her original hire date. And in the end, Shu-Ching’s American dream came true.
