How long will my employment lawsuit take?
The employment lawsuit can take different times based off of different factors. It's very hard to give an exact number without knowing the facts of the case cuz every fact is different. Every case is different.
Some of our cases resolve within a few months of being hired. Some within a few weeks. Some cases take two to three years, sometimes even longer depending on appeals, trial, and whatever litigation that it needs to take.
You should know that we don't take cases that we don't believe in. And if we believe in a case, we'll work it as long as we need to in order to make sure that you get the results that you're looking for. Whether that comes in a week or two weeks or a month or a year or two years or four years is all really dependent on the facts of the case.
And in order to get a realistic sense of where your case may lie and how long your case may take, you should schedule a free consultation to get an assessment from an attorney.
Why the timeline varies so much
Much of the variation comes down to procedure, not just the facts. Discrimination and harassment claims usually have to pass through an administrative agency before a lawsuit can even be filed, while some wage disputes can go through the Labor Commissioner instead of court entirely — two different starting points with two different clocks.
Plenty of cases resolve through negotiation once an employer sees the evidence and what it's exposed to, sometimes well before anyone starts talking about a trial date. Others don't settle, and that's what actually drives the longer timelines — not the initial filing.
What this means for you
Because most employee-side firms handle these cases on contingency, a case that takes longer isn't a case that costs you more out of pocket along the way. A consultation can at least tell you which of these paths your situation is likely to take.
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