2024 How Much Does an Employment Lawyer Cost in California?

Regardless of whether you love or hate your job, you have certain workers’ rights, and California provides workers with a particularly robust set of legal protections. Your employer could violate these laws by wrongfully terminating you, not paying you overtime or minimum wage, or fostering a hostile work environment, among other illegal actions. If you believe your rights have been violated in some way, contact a California employment lawyer to find out if you may be able to pursue a claim.

What Do Employment Lawyers Do?

Employment lawyers cover so many different kinds of cases involving workers’ rights and labor laws. The main job of a Plaintiff’s attorney is to assist their clients in seeking compensation for any kind of worker rights violations by their employers. This can include a wide range of violations, from discrimination to lost wages to wrongful termination. It can be overwhelming if you don’t have an experienced attorney on your side guiding you through the many options you may not have even been aware of.

Starting a claim against your employer can be tricky. It all but guarantees that your relationship with your employer, whether it was good or bad, may now be overwhelmingly negative. You may accept that your working relationship will be considerably different, no matter how the suit is resolved. However, you can hold your employer accountable and seek much-deserved compensation. An employment lawyer can help you start the process of pursuing a suit against your employer:

1. Gathering evidence: In order to successfully argue a workers’ rights violation, you must first prove that such a violation has taken place. You will need to gather evidence that proves your claim, such as emails, text logs, transcriptions, performance reviews, disciplinary reviews, pay stubs, tax records, and more, depending on your case.
2. File your claim: Next, you will have to file your claim with the proper administrative agency, such as the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), which is a state agency, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which is federal. You may need their involvement to subpoena relevant documents, conduct proper investigations, and propose a mediation, depending on their findings.
3. Civil court: Your lawyer will make sure your claim is filed in civil court, as well as ensure that your case is within the statute of limitations, which is typically one to two years from the date of your last incident. Litigation can potentially drag on for years, depending on the case.

There is always the chance that your employer wishes to settle out of court, which is entirely up to you. Many claims are settled before they go to trial, and it’s likely that yours will follow the same pattern. However, your lawyer can also provide you with representation in the courtroom. By successfully arguing your case and winning, your lawyer can help you obtain lost wages, pain and suffering damages, emotional distress damages, and more, depending on your case.

How Much Will It Cost You?

Many California employment lawyers, including the attorneys at Hennig Kramer LLP, work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they don’t get paid unless they win your case. If they do win your case, their fee is a percentage of whatever compensation you have acquired.

The amount of attorneys’ fees is not set by law. The amount of attorneys’ fees will all be worked out between you and your attorney before you start building the case together.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does a California Lawyer Cost?

A: In California, the average cost of an attorney’s services is somewhere around $200 to $600 per hour, but a more well-known attorney will charge considerably higher fees. Luckily, most employment lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Basically, they only get paid if they successfully win your case. At that point, they will agree with you to be paid a certain percentage out of your compensation as their fee. The amount of attorneys’ fees is not set by law. The amount of attorneys’ fees will all be worked out between you and your attorney before you start building the case together.

Q: What Is the Employee Protection Law in California?

A: California state law is very protective of employees and provides them with many opportunities and avenues to fight back against unfair working conditions and situations. The law protects workers who stand up for themselves and refuse to submit to employers who seek to exploit or ridicule them. For example, workers’ compensation laws ensure that your employer must cover all of your medical expenses and cannot fire you for seeking compensation.

Q: What Are Three Rights Workers Have in California?

A: Workers in California have a considerable number of rights that all work together to make sure workers are not exploited or otherwise taken advantage of at any time. Three rights that California workers have thanks to labor laws are:

1. The right to minimum wage and overtime.
2. The right to mandated rest and meal breaks every workday.
3. The right to protection from retaliation of any kind.

These are just a few of the most important rights that workers in California have available to them.

Q: How Do I File a Complaint Against My Employer in California?

A: If you wish to file a complaint against your employer, for whatever reason, you must do so through the proper channels. You can file your complaint through the Department of Industrial Relations. You can submit your complaint online, in person, or by mail. If you are also seeking to file a wage claim, you can submit one through the same governmental entity.

Employment Lawyers Are Here to Help

Submitting a claim against your employer or former employer can be a stressful situation that you may not have been prepared for. Whether it’s seeking damages for discrimination, fighting against wrongful termination, or filing for workers’ compensation after an injury, fighting for your rights as a California worker can be an uphill struggle.

That’s why it is always a smart decision to enlist the help of an experienced employment lawyer like the attorneys at Hennig Kramer LLP. We understand what kind of help you need. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.