Detroit Employment Lawyer
What Can a Detroit Employment Attorney Do for You?
If you’ve been treated unfairly at work, you probably know something is wrong, but you’re just not sure what to do about it. Maybe you were passed over for a promotion after reporting a problem. Maybe you were fired right after you complained about harassment or discrimination. Maybe you’ve been working overtime for months without ever seeing it on your paycheck, or you feel like you’re not even earning the minimum wage you’re owed. Whatever happened, you don’t have to figure out what it means or what your options are on your own.
At FairLaw Firm, we have a long history of representing individuals and businesses in employment law matters. Founded by attorney Brian Pollock, the firm has been fighting for workers in Florida since 1999, and expanded by opening an office right here in Detroit for Michigan workers dealing with unpaid wages, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and non-compete agreements that may not even hold up.
How We Can Help You Fight Back
Most workers aren’t sure whether what happened to them was actually illegal, or what their options are if it was. That gap is exactly what employers count on.
You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to guess whether what happened to you was even legal. Tell us what happened, and we’ll tell you honestly where you stand.
The longer you wait, the harder your case gets. Evidence disappears. Emails get deleted on a schedule. And deadlines close doors you didn’t know existed. In Michigan, you generally have 180 days to file a discrimination complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, or three years if you go straight to state court. If your claim runs through the EEOC instead, that window is generally 300 days. Miss it, and it won’t matter how strong your case was.
Federal Law Protections
Federal law sets a baseline of protection for workers nationwide. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects workers 40 and older, and the Americans with Disabilities Act protects qualified employees with disabilities. The Fair Labor Standards Act sets minimum wage and overtime requirements and protects employees who report violations from retaliation. These federal protections apply in Michigan, but they don’t cover everything, which is where Michigan’s own laws come in.
Michigan Laws
Michigan law also protects more than federal law does. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act covers traits federal law doesn’t touch at all: height, weight, marital status, and familial status. If you were discriminated against by being passed over for a job or promotion, paid less than someone who doesn’t share your protected trait(s), demoted, written up or reprimanded, or terminated because of a protected trait, you may be able to pursue a claim here in Michigan that federal law wouldn’t give you anywhere else.
What About Michigan’s Minimum Wage and Prompt Pay Protections?
Michigan law requires that you be paid at least minimum wage for every hour you work, and that your regular wages and any earned overtime arrive on time, every pay period. If your paycheck has come up short, whether that’s unpaid overtime, unpaid regular wages, or pay below minimum wage, we can walk you through exactly what you’re owed and how to recover it.
Speaking up about a problem shouldn’t cost you your job. If you reported unpaid wages, discrimination, unsafe conditions, or other illegal conduct, and your employer responded by cutting your hours, demoting you, or firing you, that retaliation is its own separate violation under Michigan and federal whistleblower protections.
Either way, we move fast, gather what matters before it disappears, and put your employer on notice that you’re not handling this alone anymore.
Why Choose FairLaw Firm
FairLaw Firm has spent more than 15 years focusing on employment law matters. Attorney Brian H. Pollock started practicing law in Florida in 1999 and founded the firm in 2004, and is licensed to practice law in both Michigan and Florida. Our team of attorneys has successfully handled wage claims, discrimination and harassment cases, retaliation matters, wrongful termination disputes, and non-compete disputes at various stages, including at trial and on appeal.
Brian and the other attorneys at our firm also routinely advise and counsel employers on employment-law issues, which gives our team insight into how companies evaluate a claim, build their defense, and decide whether to fight or settle.
Brian Pollock was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2013 and 2014, and has been selected as a Super Lawyer every year from 2021 through 2025. Other attorneys regularly consult us for advice on handling issues that arise in employment law matters, seek representation from us, and direct their clients to us..
Clients consistently mention two things: being kept informed at every step, and the team following through even when a case was difficult. One client described a case that had stalled with a different attorney for years before Brian Pollock and the team took over, moved it to a court date within months, and reached a settlement soon after.
Credentials only tell you so much. Here’s what actually matters once you hire us:
- You get direct, personal attention, not a rotating cast of unfamiliar staff
- Most wage and discrimination cases are handled on contingency: we only get paid our fees from your recovery – so no recovery, no fee.
- We offer support in English and Spanish
- We move quickly, while records and evidence are still easy to get
- Your first conversation with us is free
- We’ll tell you the truth about your case, good or bad
Before we start any case, we have a written fee arrangement so there’s no confusion later. In many employment law cases, including those involving wages and discrimination/harassment, the law actually requires your employer to pay our fees if you win.
What to Expect When Working With a Detroit Employment Lawyer
Here’s how a case with us actually moves, step by step.
Step 1: Free Initial Case Review
You tell us what happened. We ask questions, look at the basic facts, and conduct an initial case assessment.
Step 2: Consultation
We will have an attorney meet with you, discuss your situation in more detail, tell you honestly whether your case looks like a case worth pursuing, and if so, get a written fee agreement in place – and then send you a copy of it once signed.
Step 3: Document Review
Once we agree to move forward and sign a written fee agreement, we go through your pay records, employment documents, emails, and anything else relevant, both to your claim and to whatever defense your employer might raise.
Step 4: Demand or Filing
Depending on the claim and timing, we may suggest starting by sending a letter to your former employer to try to settle before initiating a formal legal process. In the letter, we normally explain your situation, the applicable law(s), how the law was violated, and the damages and other amounts you could recover if you prevail on your claims.
Step 5: Negotiation or Litigation
Most cases settle before trial, and we push hard for the best terms we can get you. If your employer won’t offer something fair, we’re ready to file in court or before an arbitrator and keep going until we get a resolution, whether that’s a negotiated settlement or a ruling.
Step 6: Resolution
Your case ends in a settlement, a court decision, or another outcome. Most employment cases resolve within one to two years, depending on the claim and how the other side responds. You’ll know where things stand at every point along the way; we won’t leave you guessing.
Speak With a Detroit Employment Lawyer Today
If your employer treated you unfairly, you have options, and you don’t have to sort out what they are on your own or try to figure out what to do using AI. Wage theft, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination: each of these violations can have significant consequences for you, since you go to work to earn a living and to be paid what you’re entitled to, not to subsidize your employer or be subjected to discriminatory or retaliatory actions.
FairLaw Firm has spent more than 15 years fighting for workers, and with our founding attorney litigating cases since 1999, our firm is built to give Michigan employees the same level of representation companies get for themselves. Tell us what happened. We’ll tell you honestly what your options are.
We serve workers in Detroit and across the Eastern District of Michigan, from Troy and Southfield to Warren, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, and Flint. Contact us today and let us help you fight back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Detroit employment lawyer do?
A Detroit employment lawyer helps workers handle legal problems with their employers. This includes wage disputes, discrimination claims, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, and non-compete matters. We work to recover what you are owed, to obtain compensation for what you went through at work, or to help fight against an employer who seeks to enforce a non-compete that oversteps what the law allows.
How do I know if I have a valid employment claim?
The best way to find out is to speak with a lawyer. At FairLaw Firm, the initial consultation is free. We can help you understand whether you have a claim and what your options are based on the facts of your situation.
How much does it cost to hire an employment lawyer in Detroit?
Most of our cases are handled on contingency, which means you pay no fees unless we recover money for you. In many wage and hour cases, the law also requires your employer to pay your attorney’s fees and costs, so our clients often pay nothing at all. Whatever fee arrangement applies to your case, we put it in writing before we begin. Your initial consultation is free, so you can get clear answers at no cost before making any decision.
How long do I have to file an employment claim in Michigan?
It depends on the type of claim and the path you take. A discrimination complaint filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights generally must be submitted within 180 days of the act. Many claims under Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act can instead be filed directly in state court within three years. Some claims also carry separate federal deadlines through the EEOC — generally 300 days in Michigan. Because the right deadline depends on your specific situation — and missing it can cost you the claim — you should speak with a lawyer right away.
Can I file a claim if I was fired after reporting a problem at work?
Yes. This may be a retaliation claim. If your employer fired you for reporting a workplace issue, such as safety violations, wage theft, or discrimination, you may have strong legal options. Contact us to review what happened and whether you have a case.
