California Employment Lawyers

California Employment Lawyers Who Represent Only, Employees

Setyan Law, APC. is a plaintiff-side employment law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. We represent employees, not employers, in wrongful termination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, medical leave, and wage and hour cases throughout California. Consultations are confidential and free. Accepted cases are handled contingency, which means you pay no attorney fees until we recover money for you. 

Setyan Law at a Glance

  • Who we represent: Current and former employees in California. 
  • Primary case types: Disability discrimination, wrongful termination, workplace sexual harassment, discrimination based on a protected characteristic, retaliation for requesting an accommodation at work, whistleblower claims, CFRA and pregnancy leave violations, no breaks or missed breaks at work and unpaid wages.
  • Offices: Los Angeles (headquarters), Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Burbank and San Diego. 
  • Principal attorney: Samvel “Sam” Setyan, State Bar of California No. 3258
  • Recognition: Sam Setyan was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2027.
  • Languages: English, Spanish and Armenian 

Employment Cases We Handle

  • Disability Discrimination and Failure to Accommodate - California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) requires employers with 5 or more employees to reasonably accommodate a known disability and to engage in a good-faith interactive process. Firing or refusing to accommodate a qualified employee because of a disability is illegal.
  • Wrongful Termination - California employment is generally at-will, but a firing is unlawful if it is based on a protected characteristic, retaliation, protected leave, a violation of public policy, or a breach of contract.
  • Workplace Discrimination - FEHA prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age (40 and over), disability, religion, national origin, pregnancy, and other protected characteristics.
  • Harassment and Sexual Harassment - California's harassment protections apply to employers of every size. They cover harassment by supervisors, coworkers, and in some cases customers.
  • Retaliation and Whistleblowing - California Labor Code § 1102.5 and FEHA protect employees who report illegal conduct, complain about discrimination, or refuse to break the law.
  • Medical and Family Leave (CFRA, PDL, FMLA) - Eligible employees of employers with 5 or more employees may take up to 12 weeks of job-protected CFRA leave. Pregnancy Disability Leave provides up to four months. Employers cannot interfere with this leave or retaliate for taking it.
  • Wage and Hour Violations - These include unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest breaks, late final paychecks, and unreimbursed expenses. Many of these violations carry penalties in addition to back pay.
  • Employee Misclassification - Under California's ABC test, most workers are presumed to be employees rather than independent contractors, which entitles them to overtime, breaks, and benefits.

And Many More:

About Sam Setyan

Sam Setyan is the principal attorney at Setyan Law. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School. While in law school, Mr. Setyan was selected to participate in the prestigious Hobbs/Poels District Attorney Practicum, which highlighted his trial advocacy skills and understanding of the law. He was also selected by the American Board of Trial Attorneys to participate in its fellowship program. After law school, Sam Setyan practiced at one of Southern California’s largest employment litigation firms before founding Setyan Law in 2021. He has handled over 500 employment cases across California with a 99.99% success rate. In 2026, Sam Setyan was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2027. His results include a federal jury verdict against Costco Wholesale on behalf of a wrongfully terminated employee. Clients work directly with Sam Setyan rather than being passed on between staff. 

Areas We Serve


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue my employer for firing me in California?

Yes, if the firing was based on discrimination, retaliation, protected leave, whistleblowing, or another unlawful reason. At-will employment does not allow illegal termination.

How much does an employment lawyer cost?

Nothing up front. Setyan Law handles accepted cases on contingency, so attorney costs and fees come only from a recovery, should there be any. 

How long do I have to file an employment claim in California?

For most FEHA claims, you have 3 years to file with the Civil Rights Department (CRD). Once you have filed with the CRD, you have one year to file suit. Other claims have different deadlines, so it’s best to speak with a lawyer promptly.

Can I be fired for taking medical or family leave?

No. CFRA and FMLA prohibit employers from firing or retaliating against employees for taking protected leave.

What is my employment case worth?

Value depends on lost wages and benefits, emotional distress, the strength of the evidence, and whether punitive damages apply. FEHA also allows prevailing employees to recover attorney fees from the employer.

Does Setyan Law represent employers?

No. We represent employees only


Client Testimonials

“I had a great experience with Sam. He is extremely professional, knowledgeable and easy to work with. I will definitely be using him again as my attorney in the future! Thank you, Sam.” – Elizabeth Chaverri

“Thanks, Sam, for the hard work and dedication. Your assistance and guidance has helped bring close my case in a timely fashion. I will recommend you any chance I can.”
– Cole Calloway

“Sam was extremely professional throughout the process and responsive. What I like about him was that he handled the case himself from start to finish, which I believe was the reason he won my case in huge numbers.” – Linda Lau