California Wrongful Termination Lawyers

Wrongful Termination Attorney in California, CA

Few things in life are more traumatic and challenging than losing your job. However, if there’s one circumstance that can make this experience even more frustrating, it’s the feeling that your termination was unfair or illegal. In California, employees have strong legal protections, even though the state follows an “at-will” employment system. When you work with California wrongful termination lawyers, they can help you protect your rights as an employee.

Our California Attorneys

Raymond E.Hane III

Our Founding Attorney

Nicholas A.Hane, Esq.

Trial Counsel

Meet Our Team

California Employment Counsel, APC, takes great pride in helping people challenge wrongful terminations with professionalism and confidence. Though you may feel outmatched and overpowered when a company treats you poorly by letting you go under unfair circumstances, we can help you use wrongful termination laws to your advantage. Our team is empathetic to your needs, strategic in our approach, and dedicated to fair resolutions.

Understanding At-Will Employment in California 

California is an at-will employment state. This means employers can generally terminate employees at any time with or without cause. This is designed to give companies flexibility to restructure, if certain positions are no longer needed or company finances no longer support their current roster. This is codified under California Labor Code Section 2922.

While at-will employment is designed to accommodate the fast-paced nature of changes in the business world, certain limitations apply. Companies are not allowed to terminate employees for illegal reasons. If you believe these protections were violated during your release, we can help you create a wrongful termination case and stand up for your rights.

Prohibited Criteria for Employment Terminations

According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there are limitations on the criteria employers can use to enact terminations, as well as layoffs and constructive discharges. For example, an employer may not make these determinations based on the following:

• Race
• Color
• Age
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy status
• Gender identity 
• National origin

Some employees find themselves targeted not because of personal characteristics, but professional actions. For example, reporting violations or misconduct in the workplace is often responded to with punishment, including termination. However, this is illegal, according to California Labor Code Section 1102.5. If you lost your job or began experiencing mistreatment because of these circumstances, we can help. 

Other prohibited reasons for termination include refusing to work in unsafe conditions, termination over serving jury duty, termination for taking legally protected medical leave, and termination for refusal to break the law.

How Can You Prove Wrongful Termination?

Wrongful termination cases require proof that the termination occurred due to prohibited reasons. This can involve direct evidence like statements in emails, texts, or written communications. It can also include observations made from changes in treatment, such as abnormally harsh discipline, or witness testimonies from coworkers or others within the organization.

Why Termination Isn’t Always Blatant and Immediate

Not only is an employer prohibited from terminating you outright based on prohibited criteria or protected actions, but they’re also prohibited from creating a hostile work environment that puts undue difficulty on you due to these characteristics. 

In addition, even “neutral” policies can be considered grounds for workplace harassment if they unfairly marginalize a person compared to everyone else and push them toward losing their job. Whether a termination was blatantly discriminatory or subtly unfair, contact our office to hire a wrongful termination lawyer. Together, we can assess your situation and determine if you have grounds for a wrongful termination case.

What Our Clients Say

Melissa M.

Ray and Nick were an amazing team to work with during a very hard time in my life. Both worked diligently on a resolution and I am happy to say…

Angelina M.

I was lost and calling around for advice to help me with my work situations. Nick was there to help me through it all even when he wasn’t my lawyer…

Emily B.

When I first reached out to Ray and Melissa, I had been terminated from my position for complaining of sexual harassment. Immediately I knew I was in good hands with…

Read More Reviews

California Employment and Wrongful Termination Statistics

In Q1 2026, California had about 18,154,200 nonfarm employees. However, this number is subject to change for many reasons, including layoffs due to potentially illegal decisions. In December 2025, layoffs were up 6.3% from the year before, showing an increase in the chance of wrongful terminations.

In 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sent out 5,099 charge receipts in California, indicating they had received complaints about discrimination from employers. This puts the state on the higher end of the national average, due to a combination of factors, including the population, industry types, and legal structure. 

Why Do Some People Neglect to Challenge Their Termination?

A termination can feel like an attack on your professional identity and your livelihood. Despite this, not everyone will challenge the nature of their termination. Even if they believe they’ve been discriminated against, some people will fail to stand up for their rights for the following reasons:

• Misunderstandings of the law. Some people assume California’s at-will employment structure means no employee has grounds to challenge a dismissal. However, you have rights, and our firm can help you protect them.
• A sense of powerlessness. The large-scale, well-organized nature of companies and their legal teams can make a lone ex-employee feel completely overpowered. However, wrongful termination laws exist for this reason, and our firm has helped to bring major companies to task according to these laws in many cases.
• Financial concerns. Especially after losing their job, many people are hesitant to reach out to a lawyer because of concerns about covering the fees. When you work with California Employment Counsel, APC, there are no fees unless we win, meaning you can feel confident in fair, financially accessible legal services focused on your needs.

If a termination seems malicious or even suspicious, our office is only a phone call or a few clicks away. We can handle all aspects of your case, including gathering evidence, handling paperwork, and accompanying you in court to advocate for your rights as an employee. 

Need to Hire a California Wrongful Termination Lawyer? Contact Our Firm 

Many people cherish their jobs, and almost everyone depends on them to sustain themselves financially. Being wrongfully terminated can impact you mentally and emotionally, affecting your ability to cover your basic needs. With California Employment Counsel, APC, you can take a professional approach to pursuing accountability regarding your termination. 

With a California wrongful termination attorney by your side, you can go from feeling jaded and helpless to calm and supported. Our experienced team has a strong track record in the California legal system, and we’ve recovered millions for clients who were wronged. 

While no case outcome is guaranteed, we can bring the same sense of diligence to your case that’s earned us many positive reviews. Contact our firm today to discuss your case and start with a free no-obligation consultation.

California Employment Law Resources

• What Are Common California Labor Law Violations?
• How Do I File a Labor Dispute in California?
• What Qualifies as Harassment in the Workplace in California?
• What Is the Penalty for Misclassification of Employees in California?
• Is It Illegal to Threaten to Fire an Employee in California?