Best Lawyers Near You in Pasadena, California for Employment Law - Individuals
With nearly 200,000 licensed attorneys across a state known for its massive industries, progressive laws and regional differences, finding the right legal help in California can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re facing a business dispute in Silicon Valley or a custody battle in San Diego, it’s critical to find a lawyer in California who not only understands the law but understands how it works where you live.
That’s where Best Lawyers comes in. Our platform is more than just a directory. Every lawyer listed has been thoroughly vetted through a rigorous peer-review process, so you can search with confidence no matter what practice area you need.
Using the Best Lawyers Directory in California
The Best Lawyers directory makes it easy to find top-rated legal talent across California’s many regions and industries. You can search by:
- Practice area (e.g., environmental law, immigration, tech and IP, family law)
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Each listed attorney has been recognized in the most recent edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a distinction earned through extensive peer feedback and professional evaluation. That means every name you see has already earned the respect of their colleagues—and likely their adversaries, too.
If you need to find a lawyer in California without wasting time on unverified referrals or endless Google results, start here. Our listings provide clear, up-to-date profiles that help you narrow down your options quickly.
California-Specific Legal Needs and Practice Areas
California law can be tricky. You need someone who knows the ropes. The state is a national leader in tech innovation, environmental regulation and entertainment law—and its legal landscape reflects that. Attorneys here must stay up to date not only with federal law but with fast-evolving state statutes, administrative rulings and court precedents.
Some of the most common practice areas where Californians seek legal help include:
- Real estate law, especially in high-cost markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orange County
- Family law, including divorce, child custody and support disputes, all governed by California’s unique family code
- Tech and IP law, a major concern for startups and established firms alike in the Bay Area and beyond
- Entertainment and media law, vital for clients in Los Angeles and surrounding creative hubs
- Environmental and land use law, which is especially important in light of California’s extensive regulations on development, conservation and climate compliance
California also has strict state bar licensing rules, making it essential to choose an attorney who is not just experienced in the area of law you need, but also well-versed in local procedures and precedent. That’s why using a trusted directory like Best Lawyers—where every listing has local context and professional vetting—can make the difference.
How to Find a Good Lawyer in California
Finding a good lawyer in California feels daunting. With so many billboards and online ads, don’t feel bad if you don’t know where to turn. The best results come from approaching your search with intention. Here are key things to consider:
- Know your legal issue. Attorneys often specialize. Make sure you’re looking within the right practice area.
- Check credentials. Always confirm that a lawyer is licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of California.
- Evaluate experience. Ask about similar cases the attorney has handled, especially in your city or county.
- Ask the right questions. When interviewing lawyers, consider asking:
- What is your experience with this specific type of case?
- How do you communicate with clients during the process?
- What outcomes have you achieved in similar matters?
- Read peer and client feedback. While reviews can be helpful, peer recognition carries additional weight. Lawyers know the strengths—and weaknesses—of their colleagues better than anyone else.
Choosing the right legal partner isn’t just about skill. It’s about trust, communication and shared expectations. That’s why using a curated directory that highlights attorneys recommended by their peers can help you filter out guesswork.
Why Peer Recognition Matters in Your Search
The Best Lawyers selection process is rooted in peer recognition—a factor that sets us apart from other platforms. Here’s how it works:
- Nominations come from fellow lawyers, clients and others familiar with a nominee’s work.
- Peer review follows, in which top attorneys confidentially assess the legal skill and professionalism of their peers.
- Analysis and vetting ensure lawyers meet strict ethical and professional standards before being listed.
This isn’t pay-to-play. Lawyers cannot buy their way into the directory and inclusion is never guaranteed. That’s why so many legal professionals and clients trust Best Lawyers as a reliable source of information.
In a field where reputation is everything, recognition from fellow attorneys carries exceptional value. It tells you a lawyer is respected not just by clients, but by those who face them in court or collaborate with them on deals.
Start Your Search with Confidence
Whether you’re seeking representation for a business dispute, criminal matter, estate plan or high-asset divorce, California’s legal market offers no shortage of options. But knowing how to find a lawyer in California—one who brings both credibility and local expertise—is the key to moving forward with clarity.
At Best Lawyers, we make it easier to connect with attorneys who have already earned the respect of their peers. You can explore by practice area, browse by city or search for a specific lawyer using our intuitive filters. No matter where you are in the Golden State, trusted legal help is just a click away.
Find a lawyer in California today and move forward with confidence—backed by a directory built on excellence and trust.
Practice Area Overview
Employment attorneys who focus on individuals specialize in the many areas where legal conflicts can arise between organizations and their employees. These disputes stem from issues with local, state or federal employment laws.
Employees or ex-employees who feel they were treated unfairly based on these laws can seek out an employment lawyer to provide support and representation.
Common concerns relate to wages, hiring practices, workplace safety and injuries, hours worked and discrimination in the workplace. However, there are many other types of labor laws that could lead to an individual working with an employment law lawyer.
Lawyers for employees may assist with negotiations and settlements, filing complaints with relevant administrative agencies and litigation in the courtroom. They also provide an initial consultation and follow-up discussions about the best course of action. That includes many considerations, such as the viability of the complaint itself and whether to pursue it at the federal or state level.
Their in-depth knowledge of this area of practice can help to address employee and ex-employee concerns. Attorneys may specialize in certain areas of employment law, such as workplace injury.
Employment law is a complex area of practice. Federal employment laws only apply to businesses that engage in interstate commerce, although in practice this covers the majority of employers. The size of a business, specifically the number of individuals it employs, can also lead to exemption from certain requirements.
State employment laws are limited to a specific state and the companies that do business within it. Employees can also be exempt from certain federal protections that would otherwise apply to them, depending on their role and level of compensation.
Working with an attorney who has a deep understanding of a specific area of employment law can be valuable. Examples include lawyers for employment rights and employment discrimination lawyers.
The Basics of Employment Law
Employment law is based on local, state and federal laws that govern the relationship between an employee and employer. This area of practice covers all of the rights and responsibilities of both of these parties.
Attorneys who work with and represent employees can be seen as practicing employment law for individuals. Attorneys who work with companies and organizations can be viewed as practicing employment law for employers.
Although not unique to employment law, jurisdiction plays an especially important role in this area of practice. Local and state laws can be more restrictive or impose more requirements than those enforced federally.
For example, some municipalities and states have laws that require payment of a higher minimum wage than the federal standard of $7.25 per hour. Employees covered by these laws are entitled to earn the higher, local- or state-level minimum wage.
Specific Areas of Focus for Employment Lawyers
Workplace Discrimination and Workplace Harassment
Various federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace, based on protected classes. States have a range of laws related to workplace harassment and discrimination, Federal laws and regulations include:
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act.
- The Fair Labor Standards Act.
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Such laws intend to prevent national origin discrimination and religious discrimination. They also prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, sex and sexual orientation and protect other classes of workers as well.
An employment dispute lawyer or similar attorney can provide representation to individuals who feel their employer did not comply with these laws.
Worker’s Compensation
Employees who face an injury or illness related to their work and work environment may be eligible for worker’s compensation. The claims process can be complex and denials of benefits are possible. An employment lawyer can help an individual employee navigate this process.
Wage and Hour Concerns
Various laws and regulations dictate the minimum rate of pay for employees. These rules also explain the conditions in which overtime must be paid and similar requirements.
Federal law additionally offers exemptions from specific wage and hour regulations for certain categories of employees. This categorization, part of the Fair Labor Standards Act, is based on their amount and type of pay (i.e. a salary as opposed to an hourly wage) and the type of work they typically perform.
Workers who feel their rights have been violated can work with an employment lawyer to file a complaint and seek restitution. In certain cases, a single employee filing a complaint can lead to a class-action lawsuit that involves all affected employees.
Select a location from the list below to find some of the best employment lawyers for employees in your area.
Employment Law Legal Guide 2025
View Legal GuideOur Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.