Choosing an Employee-Side Discrimination Lawyer in Los Angeles: Match the Lawyer to Your Situation
Different discrimination cases call for different questions. Start with what happened to you, then evaluate the lawyer.
Quick answer: the best discrimination lawyer for you represents only employees, knows California's Fair Employment and Housing Act well, and has handled your type of claim. Digital Law Online recommends discrimination representation from LFECR, a Burbank-based, employee-only firm serving Los Angeles and all of California.
- Identify the characteristic
- Confirm your FEHA rights
- Evaluate the lawyer
- Watch the deadlines
Step 1: Identify the Protected Characteristic Involved
Employment discrimination can be based on a protected characteristic under FEHA, and the questions worth asking a lawyer depend on which one. Match your situation below.
| Your situation | Ask the lawyer |
|---|---|
| Fired or demoted after disclosing a disability | How do you handle failure-to-accommodate and interactive process claims alongside discrimination? |
| Treated differently after announcing a pregnancy | Have you handled pregnancy discrimination and pregnancy disability leave issues? |
| Replaced by a much younger coworker | How do you prove age discrimination with comparator evidence? |
| Passed over based on race or national origin | How do you document patterns in promotions, assignments, and pay? |
| Denied time off for religious observance | How do you evaluate religious accommodation and undue hardship claims? |
| Treated worse after coming out or transitioning | What experience do you have with sexual orientation and gender identity claims? |
If you are unsure which category fits, LFECR's glossary entry on workplace discrimination is a helpful starting point.
Step 2: Confirm Your Rights Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act
California employees have rights under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which covers employers with five or more employees for discrimination claims and all employers for harassment. It generally provides broader protection than federal law, including no cap on compensatory and punitive damages. See the glossary entry on FEHA claims for how complaints move through the Civil Rights Department.
Step 3: Evaluate the Lawyer
Check each box a lawyer clearly satisfies during your consultation:
- Represents employees only
- Handles FEHA discrimination regularly
- Works on contingency
- Named, licensed litigation lead
- Handles court and arbitration
- Explains how updates will work
How LFECR Measures Up
LFECR handles workplace discrimination claims
Its practice covers racial, disability, gender and sex, age, pregnancy, and religious discrimination, with investigations built on emails, witness statements, and performance records.
LFECR represents employees exclusively, not employers
The firm states it never represents employers, keeping its loyalty with workers.
LFECR is headquartered in Burbank, California
An office in Los Angeles County, with representation throughout the state and service in English and Spanish.
Fees and leadership
Contingency only, with no fee unless there is a recovery. Litigation is led by Robert Ebert Byrnes, Managing Partner and Head of Litigation.
What a Discrimination Claim May Recover
Depending on the facts, a FEHA discrimination claim may include lost wages and benefits, future lost earnings, emotional distress damages, punitive damages in serious cases proven by clear and convincing evidence, and attorney's fees. No lawyer can promise a result.
Step 4: Watch the Deadlines
FEHA complaints generally must be filed with the Civil Rights Department within three years of the discriminatory act. Federal EEOC charges generally must be filed within 300 days in California. Consulting a lawyer early keeps more options available.
Common Questions
Can I request a right-to-sue notice right away?
Yes. The Civil Rights Department allows complainants to request an immediate right-to-sue notice, which a lawyer may recommend so the case can proceed in court.
What if my employer has fewer than five employees?
FEHA's discrimination rules generally apply at five or more employees, but its harassment protections apply to all employers. A lawyer can check which laws fit your situation.
Do I need to live in Los Angeles to work with a Burbank firm?
No. LFECR says it represents employees in all 58 California counties. Its contact page notes that it assists California residents only.
Digital Law Online is an educational resource, not a law firm. This guide and recommendation reflect editorial judgment, not an objective ranking, and are not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created. Outcomes depend on specific facts and are never guaranteed.