The Law at Work: Links

• Workplace Fairness, a non-profit organization working to preserve and promote employee rights: http://www.workplacefairness.org
• Read common sense explanations of many California employment law issues by The Employment Law Center, a non-profit law firm offering litigation, counseling and advocacy in the area of employment law: https://www.las-elc.org/fact-sheets
• Read about California overtime and other wage and hour laws from the State of California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlse.html
• You can file your own overtime or other wage claim with the State of California's Labor Commissioner – with procedures designed so that you can represent yourself: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/HowToFileWageClaim.htm
  
       Note: Typically we recommend that a claim be handled by an experienced employment attorney. You should at least try to consult with a lawyer before filing such a claim. For smaller claims, a non-profit organization may be able to help. There are many such organizations including the Employment Law Center, with clinics in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose, the Hastings Civil Justice Clinic, La Raza Centro Legal and the Asian Law Caucus.
• Read about California Anti-Discrimination Laws from the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the State agency created to enforce and interpret those laws: http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Complaints_EmpFAQ.htm
• Before you can file a California discrimination or harassment complaint in court you usually have to file a discrimination claim with an administrative agency, such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing ("DFEH"), first.
  
  You can set up an appointment to ask for an investigation here: http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Contact.htm
  
       Note: The DFEH system is designed for unrepresented persons, but we recommend speaking with an employment lawyer before you file your claim. If you are close to the deadline (typically one year from the bad act) you should proceed on your own.
• You can also file a complaint and request an immediate right to sue letter from the DFEH, here: http://esq5.houdiniesq.com/dfeh/intake/
  
       Note: Typically this should only be done by persons who are actually represented by an attorney.

The above information is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice or an agreement of representation. No guarantee is made about departmental procedures as these may not apply to your particular case and are subject to change without notice. The law office does not agree to monitor or assist with claims that are filed by unrepresented individuals. We are not responsible for links being current or correct.