Practice areas / Employment Issues
Southern California Employment Attorney
If something happened at work that does not seem right, you do not have to sort out your rights alone. Justin Silverman represents workers throughout California, with a focus on Los Angeles and Southern California, against employers and large institutions across the full range of employment disputes.
$3,000,000
No. 1 Riverside County employment verdict, 2023
13 yrs
Representing California workers since 2013
$0
Consultation is free, and confidential
Verdict obtained with co-counsel Jared M. Irmas of Irmas Law APC. Listed by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Tell Justin what happened
You'll hear back within one business day, or call 818-585-1267.
Recognized by
Written and reviewed by Justin Silverman
CA Bar #292036 · Reviewed July 2026
Does this sound like you?
If one of these describes your situation, it is worth a conversation. If none of them quite fit, call anyway, because the list is not exhaustive.
- Fired or pushed out for a reason you believe was unlawful
- Harassment, discrimination, or a hostile work environment
- Retaliation after you complained or asserted a workplace right
- Unpaid wages, overtime, or missed meal and rest breaks
- Denial of pregnancy or medical leave and accommodation
- A severance, non-compete, or arbitration agreement you were asked to sign
What the law protects
California gives employees some of the strongest workplace protections in the country. The law bars firing you for an illegal reason, discrimination and harassment, retaliation for speaking up, unpaid wages, and denial of protected leave. It also limits what an employer can force you to sign.
Most of these rights cannot be waived by a company handbook or a take-it-or-leave-it agreement.
The common thread is that the employer did something the law forbids, not merely something that felt unfair. Part of the value of an early conversation is figuring out which of those lines, if any, your situation crosses.
What you may be able to recover
What you can recover depends on the claim, and California remedies are broad. Depending on the facts, that can include lost pay and benefits, emotional distress damages, statutory penalties, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. Several employment laws shift fees to the employer when you win.
| What | Covers |
|---|---|
| Lost pay and benefits | Wages and benefits you did not receive |
| Emotional distress | Harm beyond the financial loss |
| Statutory penalties | Set by the specific statute you sued under |
| Punitive damages | Available on some claims, depending on the facts |
| Attorney's fees | Several employment laws shift fees to the employer when you win |
How long you have
These are the dates that can end a case before anyone looks at what happened to you. Many claims have two. One to tell a government agency, and a second to file in court after that agency responds.
- Tell the state agency what happened (required first)
- 3 years
- File your lawsuit, once the state clears you
- 1 year
- Recover wages you were not paid
- 3 years
- Claim penalties for yourself and other workers
- 1 year
These are the general limits, not advice about your situation. Exceptions can make them shorter or longer, and the clock does not always start on the day you think. If you are close to one of these, or you think you are already past it, it is still worth asking.
Working with Justin
- 1The call. You speak with Justin, not an intake screener. It is free and confidential.
- 2The review. He tells you which lines your facts cross, and which they do not.
- 3The case. You reach him directly, by phone and email, throughout.
Key points
Each point is explained and sourced above · Verified July 28, 2026
| Point | Treatment | Applies to | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost pay and benefits | Wages and benefits you did not receive | California | |
| Emotional distress | Harm beyond the financial loss | California | |
| Statutory penalties | Set by the specific statute you sued under | California | |
| Punitive damages | Available on some claims, depending on the facts | California | |
| Attorney's fees | Several employment laws shift fees to the employer when you win | California | |
| Tell the state agency what happened (required first) | 3 years | Deadline to act | See How long you have, above |
| File your lawsuit, once the state clears you | 1 year | Deadline to act | See How long you have, above |
| Recover wages you were not paid | 3 years | Deadline to act | See How long you have, above |
| Claim penalties for yourself and other workers | 1 year | Deadline to act | See How long you have, above |
Questions workers ask
Do you only take cases in Southern California?
No. Justin represents workers anywhere in California. These pages speak to Southern California because that is where the office is, but where in the state you work does not decide whether he can take your case.
Does an arbitration agreement end my case?
Usually not. Employers often make arbitration a condition of employment and those agreements are frequently enforceable, though not always. Arbitration changes where your case is heard, not whether you have a case, and certain representative claims for Labor Code penalties cannot be waived.
What does it cost to hire Justin?
The consultation is free, and these cases are handled on a contingency basis. There is no fee unless we win, and if there is no recovery you owe no costs either.
Will my employer find out I called?
The consultation is confidential. Talking through what happened does not put your employer on notice, and nothing is filed because you called.
Other ways I help workers
All nine practice areas →Wrongful Termination
At-will doesn’t mean an employer can fire you for an unlawful reason.
Wage and Hour
Unpaid overtime, missed breaks, or a late final check, recovered with penalties.
Harassment and Discrimination
Harassment and discrimination are illegal under FEHA. You don’t have to quit first.
Retaliation and Whistleblower
Punished for speaking up? Retaliation can be a claim of its own.
Over $12 million recovered for clients. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You can reach the office at 818-585-1267.