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If your employer treated you differently because of who you are, a Los Angeles employment discrimination lawyer can help you fight back. California law protects more than most people realize: not just race, sex, age, disability, and religion, but also marital status, medical condition, and military or veteran status.
At Derek Smith Law Group, we’ve recovered over $500 million for mistreated workers, and our lawyers take these cases personally. When we represent you, your fight becomes ours.
You don’t pay us anything unless we win. If you were punished at work for something that should never have mattered, reach out today for a free, confidential case review.
“Discrimination” covers a lot of ground, so it helps to know which kind of case you have. Different claims involve different laws, deadlines, and evidence, and matching your situation to the right focus is the first step toward a strong case.
Here are the main types of employment discrimination we handle:
Not sure which one fits? That’s fine. Many cases involve more than one type of discrimination at once, and part of our job is sorting that out for you. The Derek Smith Law Group will look at the full picture and tell you exactly where you stand.
A lot of people assume discrimination has to be obvious to count. It usually isn’t. It hides behind vague “business reasons,” and that’s exactly why it’s so hard to challenge on your own.
Workplace discrimination in Los Angeles can look like:
The common thread is that employers rarely admit the real reason out loud. A Los Angeles employment discrimination attorney knows how to pull the truth out of the timeline, the emails, and the pay records. Building that case is our job, not yours.
Here’s something that surprises a lot of workers: California’s protections go well beyond the federal minimum.
Under FEHA (the Fair Employment and Housing Act), most employers with five or more employees cannot discriminate against applicants or employees based on a long list of protected traits. Beyond the categories everyone knows, FEHA specifically protects things federal law often leaves out, including:
So what does that mean for you? It means a case that might go nowhere under federal law can be very much alive under California law. Knowing which rules give you the strongest footing is exactly the kind of thing a seasoned employment discrimination attorney serving Los Angeles handles from day one.
Discrimination can happen anywhere, but a few LA industries generate these disputes again and again.
Long hours and “we need someone who fits the vibe” culture get used to sideline older workers, people with disabilities, and anyone who doesn’t match an unspoken image.
“Culture fit” is a favorite cover for age and pregnancy bias, and opaque pay structures hide a lot of unequal treatment.
High-turnover, high-pressure workplaces are where harassment and retaliation often go unchecked, especially against lower-wage staff who fear speaking up.
Knowing how these workplaces actually operate lets us anticipate the excuses before they’re made. When a Los Angeles employment discrimination lawyer has seen the same playbook many times, it’s much harder for an employer to run it on you.
In California, employment discrimination claims are governed mainly by FEHA, which is broader and more protective than federal law.
Many cases start with a filing through the California Civil Rights Department, formerly known as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Workers in Los Angeles can file through CRD, request a right-to-sue notice, and pursue litigation in Los Angeles Superior Court when appropriate.
Under FEHA, you generally have three years to file that complaint, and one year from any “right-to-sue” notice to file suit. From there, litigation may end up in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Each step has its own deadlines, and missing one can sink an otherwise strong claim. You shouldn’t have to master any of this while you’re also dealing with lost income and stress. That’s the entire point of having a lawyer handle it. At Derek Smith Law Group, we manage the paperwork and the deadlines that come with it so you can focus on your life.
When employment discrimination is proven, the law lets you pursue real compensation, not just an apology. Depending on your situation, that can include:
Every case is different, and no honest attorney can promise a number. What we can promise is a straight answer about what your claim is realistically worth.
If you were treated as less than because of who you are, don’t second-guess yourself. What happened to you has a name, and it has a remedy.
The Derek Smith Law Group has spent decades taking on employers who assumed no one would fight back. We’ll review your situation for free, explain your options in plain English, and if we take your case, you won‘t owe us a dime unless we win.
Reach out today to get started.
