How Much Does an Employment Lawyer Cost in California?

If you have experienced mistreatment in your workplace, or if your employer recently wrongfully terminated your employment, this can be a distressing and frustrating experience you may not know how to handle. You have the right to hold your employer accountable for discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and a California employment lawyer is the best asset to have in this situation. However, if you are struggling financially due to lost income, lost benefits, and job insecurity, it’s natural to be hesitant about the potential cost of hiring an attorney.

Most employment attorneys in California charge their clients by the hour. The attorney will propose an hourly rate and typically record their time spent working on a client’s case in 10- or 15-minute increments. The more time the lawyer spends working on a case, the more expensive it will be for the client. If you need to hire an employment attorney in California, make sure you fully understand their billing policy before signing a contract for their representation.

Clark Employment Law, APC, understands that most people do not have the financial flexibility to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for legal counsel. Our firm’s promise is there is no fee if we do not secure a recovery on your behalf. We’ll carefully review our billing policy with you during an initial consultation, so you know precisely what our representation will cost once we win your case.

Why Should I Hire an Employment Attorney?

If you have faced discrimination at work or lost your job for an illegal reason, you need legal counsel to help you hold your employer accountable. The right attorney can make a tremendous impact on the outcome of your case, helping you secure compensation for damages and guiding you through the complex proceedings your case is likely to entail. Additionally, you cannot simply file a civil claim against an employer for harassment, discrimination, or wrongful termination in California. You must first file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The EEOC is the federal agency responsible for upholding workplace regulations throughout the US and investigating claims of employer misconduct. If you believe you have experienced harassment or discrimination due to your race, religion, sex, age, medical status, or any other protected personal quality, you have the right to file a claim with the EEOC to hold your employer accountable. The EEOC will investigate your claim and issue you a Notice of Right to Sue if they find your claim valid. The EEOC may even initiate legal proceedings against your employer on your behalf if the employer’s behavior is severe enough.

While the EEOC claim process may seem straightforward at first, it will be much easier to complete your complaint and secure the Right to Sue you need with the help of an attorney. Some employment attorneys will offer flat-fee pricing for specific services. For example, if you need help preparing a claim form, an attorney may be willing to provide this service for a set fee. However, if your case requires any ongoing legal counsel, you should expect to pay hourly legal fees to your attorney.

FAQs

Q: Is It Worth Hiring an Employment Attorney?

A: It’s possible to obtain a sizeable settlement from the EEOC if it determines your complaint is valid, and your employer violated federal workplace regulations. Securing this settlement will be much easier with the help of an attorney, and the total cost of their legal fees may only form a modest portion of your final case award. It is always best to have legal counsel for any complex employment case. Legal counsel significantly increases your chance of success with an EEOC claim and a subsequent civil claim against your employer.

Q: What Is the Average Cost to Defend an Employment Lawsuit?

A: If an employer must defend itself against an employment lawsuit from an employee, it can be highly costly to the employer. It’s possible for an employer to spend upward of $100,000 to defend against a single claim. The longer the case continues, the more it will cost. Swift settlement is typically preferable for employers in this position. Having the right attorney represent your employment claim is more likely to result in a speedy resolution because your employer will want to save as much money as possible on its legal fees.

Q:  How Do I Sue a Company I Work For?

A: If you need to file a civil suit against your employer, you must first file an EEOC complaint and obtain the approval of the EEOC to proceed with your claim. This is very difficult in many cases, and it’s natural to feel lost when it comes to completing your claim forms and compiling the information you must submit to support your claim. Your employment attorney will be instrumental in your success with your EEOC complaint.

Q: How Much Can I Obtain From an EEOC Complaint?

A: The EEOC can award up to $50,000 if an employer has up to 100 employees. This limit extends to $100,000 for employers with 101 to 200 employees and up to $200,000 for employers with 201 to 500 employees. About 10% of EEOC settlements exceed $1 million, and this level of resolution is typically reserved for severe employer misconduct in large organizations. The EEOC can potentially negotiate various resolutions with an employer, including reinstatement, promotion, pay increases, additional benefits, and more.

It’s understandable to be hesitant about hiring an attorney when you are already struggling with missing income and benefits and the emotional distress of mistreatment at work. Attorney Tyler Clark and the team at Clark Employment Law, APC, strive to make our legal services accessible to the clients who need them most. We offer a simple promise to every client we represent. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. We will only take legal fees once we secure your recovery. If you are ready to discuss your employment case with an experienced attorney, contact Clark Employment Law, APC, today to schedule your consultation with our team.