Links
Aiman-Smith & Marcy encourages readers to take advantage of online resources and has provided links to some helpful sites. For more information, please contact our firm at 888.445.2334 or use our email form.
Legal Aid Society Employment Law Center
The site’s Fact Sheets found on the homepage under the Resources tab offer concise explanations of the legal rights of Californians.
The Bay Area Legal Aid Society’s Employment Law Center also has a Workers Rights Clinic
California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA)
CELA members are employment lawyers who represent employees. The site includes a searchable master list of all CELA members.
State Bar of California Lawyer Referral Services
www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/LawyerReferralServicesLRS.aspx
The California State Bar maintains a very useful site with links to every county’s lawyer referral services, plus links to many other related agencies that may assist you. Be sure to check this valuable resource.
Most county bar association referral services will match you to an attorney who provides the kind of legal help you are looking for. Initial consultations are provided at a greatly reduced rate, typically $30.
Small Claims Courts
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/smallclaims/
The California State Court’s site links to every California county’s small claims division and offers information about filing a small claims action.
The advantages of small claims court are that costs are very low, you can represent yourself and neither side is permitted to be represented by an attorney. Small claims cases are limited to a recovery of $7,500 in most cases (lower limits apply in some situations). Even when a case is worth more than $10,000 (or $7,500 on bodily injury claims from automobile accidents where there is liability insurance), some people still use small claims court and give up recovering any amount over this because of the lower costs, speed and simplicity of the process compared to other forms of litigation. Most counties’ small claims courts have a court officer who will help you get your claim filed.
California Department of Industrial Relations, also known as the Department of Labor or the Labor Board, provides assistance to those who want to pursue an employment matter on their own against their employer.
California Employment Development Department, also known as the Unemployment Department
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
U.S. Department of Labor
For California cases, the California-based sites are probably more useful, but this site contains useful information also.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
