Discrimination at work can leave lasting damage professionally, financially, and emotionally. You might be showing up early, delivering results, and still find yourself mistreated or pushed out because of something unrelated to your work, experience, or skill- like your age, race, or disability.
If you’re like most people in this situation, you’re left wondering what your legal rights are, and what your options are going forward. At Consumer Justice Law Firm, we understand how frustrating and isolating this experience is. That’s why our experienced employment discrimination lawyers work hard to provide real answers and genuine support while they fight to get the justice you deserve. Keep reading to learn more.
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What Kind of Lawyer Do You Need for Discrimination?
You need an employment discrimination lawyer, someone who specifically handles cases where people have been treated unfairly due to protected characteristics.
Protected characteristics include things like age, disability, race, sex, pregnancy, or religion. These attorneys focus on employment law and are trained to understand both federal and state-level protections. A strong employment discrimination lawyer can help you navigate the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) process and any state-specific agencies that oversee discrimination claims.
In California, for instance, attorneys often use the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which goes beyond federal protections. In Texas, New York, and Florida, there are similar agencies and legal frameworks. Having a lawyer who understands both is crucial to getting the best possible outcome.
For a more information, please visit our Employment Discrimination practice page to learn how we help workers just like you.
Federal Employment Discrimination Laws
Several federal laws protect employees from employment discrimination. The most commonly used include:
- The Civil Rights Act – Title VII – protects against discrimination that is based on characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, and national origin
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) – protects workers 40 and older
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – protects individuals with disabilities
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act – protects pregnant employees and those recovering from childbirth
Many states also have laws that expand these protections, sometimes covering additional traits like sexual orientation. The combination of federal and local protections gives a good lawyer the tools needed to build your case.
What Type of Evidence Do You Need for an Employment Discrimination Case?
Building a strong employment discrimination case means having documentation to back up your experience.
Once you’re working with an employment discrimination lawyer, they will guide you through gathering the right materials (or if a lawsuit is filed, they may directly request these materials), but here are a few examples of what can be useful:
- Written communications: Emails, text messages, chat logs, memos, or any other communication that evidences the treatment or experience in question or contradicts any negative claims from the employer
- Performance reviews: Positive performance reviews (formal and informal) that contradict negative claims from the employer
- Timeline: A clear timeline of events, that includes when you reported issues to HR
- Witness statements: Witness statements from coworkers and other observers
- Outside records: Medical records, religious discrimination documentation, or anything else that supports accommodation requests or similar
The more detail you can provide, the better your chances of reaching a strong outcome.
How Long Do You Have to File an Employment Discrimination Claim?
The clock starts ticking fast in employment discrimination cases. You generally have 180 days from the date of the incident to file a claim with the EEOC. Some states may extend that to three hundred (300) days if local laws also apply.
In California, for example, you may have more time under FEHA, but it’s still critical to act quickly.
Top Tip! Waiting too long to file an employment discrimination claim could make you ineligible for compensation.
If you’re unsure about your deadline, talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. At Consumer Justice Law Firm, our attorneys for workplace discrimination focus on everything from ancestry discrimination to gender bias. And we help optimize and file EEOC complaints for our clients so deadlines aren’t missed.
How Much Does an Employment Discrimination Lawyer Cost?
Understandably, cost is often one of the first things people worry about when considering legal help. Some attorneys and law firms charge flat fees or hourly rates for specific services, hold retainers (paying upfront), or bill for services upon completion.
Here are a few questions you can ask to understand potential costs:
- Do you offer contingency-based representation?
- Are there upfront fees or filing costs?
- Will I owe anything if we don’t win?
Knowing these answers can help you make an informed decision without adding financial stress to an already difficult time.
At Consumer Justice Law Firm, we offer FREE consultations so you can learn about your rights with no pressure and no commitment. If we take your case, you don’t pay out of pocket for any of our services. We only get paid if we win, and our fees are paid by the employers and companies we sue. You will not owe anything for your consultation, you will not owe anything out of pocket, and you will not owe anything if we don’t win.
What Does an Employment Discrimination Lawyer Do?
Employment discrimination lawyers handle more than just paperwork. They act as advocates, investigators, and negotiators. Their job is to help you build a solid case and stand up to employers who have broken the law. Many employment discrimination layers are well versed on issues such as national origin discrimination, FMLA benefits, religious practices and accommodations, gender bias, ADA lawsuits, and many other forms of discriminatory practices in the workplace.
They typically start by evaluating your case and helping you identify whether the behavior you experienced qualifies as discrimination under the law. From there, they assist with gathering evidence, filing claims, and representing you during communications, disputes, negotiations, and litigation.
You can also count on your employment discrimination lawyer to protect you from retaliation. If your employer tries to punish you for filing a complaint or speaking up, that’s illegal. A good attorney will step in quickly and file an additional claim if necessary.
How to Find an Employment Discrimination Lawyer
Finding the right lawyer can feel intimidating, especially when you’re already dealing with stress at work. But there are some helpful ways to narrow your search.
Start with trusted legal directories like the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) or the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA). These platforms allow you to filter by practice area and location, so you can find someone who focuses on employment discrimination law near you.
Search terms like “disability discrimination attorney in California” or “EEOC lawyer in Florida” can also point you in the right direction.
Once you’ve found a few options, look at their reviews, case outcomes, and whether they offer free consultations. This helps you get a sense of how they operate before committing.
What to Look for in a Discrimination Attorney
Not every attorney is the right fit. Here’s what to prioritize when evaluating someone to take your case:
- Stated focus on employment discrimination law, including a dedicated practice page
- Experience with your specific type of discrimination
- Willingness to listen, not just talk
- Clear communication about the process and expectations
- A history of favorable outcomes, in and out of court
Choosing the right lawyer is just as important as choosing to speak up. Call today and ask away. Our experience and record as employment discrimination lawyers speaks for itself and we’re happy to answer any questions you have. Let us help you get fired up and fight back!
A Real Story – When Pregnancy Led to an Unfair Dismissal
Carla was five months pregnant when everything changed. Once Carla revealed her pregnancy, her supervisor’s tone shifted. Projects were reassigned. Meetings no longer included her. And soon, she was terminated under vague “performance” claims, despite glowing reviews from just a month earlier.
Carla did what many people don’t. She documented everything. Emails, meeting notes, comments, HR reports. She even kept track of calendar invites she was suddenly left off of and noted the dates she reported these concerns to HR. When she reached out to our firm, we walked her through every step, from filing a complaint with the EEOC to negotiating a strong settlement that acknowledged both the harm and the lost income she faced.
What made Carla’s case especially powerful was the paper trail she kept and the emotional toll she was willing to speak about. It wasn’t just a job she lost, it was her professional momentum, her confidence, and her sense of security during a major life transition. She wanted accountability, not just compensation, and with the right legal team, she got both.
Carla’s story isn’t unusual. Discrimination often shows up in subtle ways. A missed opportunity. A sudden performance warning. A joke that crosses the line. But with the right support, you can fight back – and win.
Did You Know? Employment discrimination is anything but rare. The EEOC receives thousands of complaints every single year and that’s just what gets reported.
Employment Discrimination Statistics & the EEOC
In 2023, the EEOC was sent over 80,000 discrimination complaints. That’s more than 200 every single day. And those are just the people who spoke up. Experts estimate that for every complaint filed, many more workers quietly endure employment discrimination because they’re afraid to lose their jobs, think they can’t afford an employment discrimination lawyer, or don’t know where to turn.
The most common complaint probably isn’t always what you’d expect. While some forms of race discrimination, color discrimination, and sex discrimination are consistently major issues, retaliation actually tops the list most years. That means more people are being punished for standing up for their rights than for the discrimination they originally reported. It’s completely backward and completely illegal.
The EEOC doesn’t just collect complaints. It investigates, negotiates settlements, and even files lawsuits in cases where employers really drop the ball. In 2023, the agency secured over $660 million for workers who experienced employment discrimination, including $440 million recovered in private and federal sector cases.
To read more about what employment discrimination is, check out this brief guide compiled by the EEOC.
Get Justice: Stop Employment Discrimination Now
Still think your story won’t matter? Think again. Every complaint filed builds a paper trail. Every case won sends a message. And every person who speaks up helps make workplaces safer and and more equitable for the next person.
So if you’re sitting with that gut feeling that something isn’t right, trust it. You’re not being dramatic or imagining things. And you’re definitely not alone.
Whether you’re in California, Texas, New York, Florida, or anywhere in between, Consumer Justice Law Firm is a great place to start.
Ready to speak with an employment discrimination lawyer who listens, believes you, and knows how to take action? Call or click now to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t people report discrimination? Why should I?
It’s no secret that many employees remain quiet in the face of discrimination. Fear of being labeled a troublemaker or getting fired keeps countless workers from filing complaints. Some are told to “just let it go.” Others feel gaslit into believing the behavior wasn’t serious enough to matter.
But here’s the truth – silence protects no one. When you speak up, you’re not just fighting for yourself, you’re protecting future employees from experiencing the same mistreatment. And when you hire an experienced employment discrimination lawyer, you don’t have to fight alone. From gathering evidence to protecting you from retaliation, your legal team is your shield and your voice.
Can a lawyer help prevent retaliation?
Yes, and this is one of the most important reasons to speak with an attorney early.
Fear of retaliation like being demoted, reassigned, or fired keeps many people silent. But retaliation is illegal. A workplace discrimination attorney can help you feel safer by contacting your employer directly and monitoring how you’re treated moving forward.
If retaliation happens, your attorney can file a separate claim and increase the stakes for your employer.
It doesn’t matter if you are treated unfairly for your ancestry, religious beliefs, race, or something else, we can help.
You’re Not Alone! Reach Out Today! Facing employment discrimination is painful, but you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. At Consumer Justice Law Firm, you pay nothing out of pocket.