A legislative proposal from Gov. Nathan Deal’s criminal justice reform council to protect employers who hire ex-offenders from lawsuits may not move the needle on helping former convicts find employment as much as supporters hope, say some area labor and employment lawyers.

“It is helpful, but I don’t think it’s all that significant,” said Robert Sands, a partner in the Atlanta office of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart who represents employers.