Maryland Employment Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Maryland employment attorneys who handle MFEPA discrimination, wage, retaliation, and wrongful-termination claims for workers across Baltimore, Silver Spring, Frederick, Gaithersburg, and Annapolis. Whether you're facing a federal-contractor termination, a healthcare retaliation, or a non-compete dispute, we'll match you with the right attorney — at no cost.

File with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) within 6 months under Md. State Gov't Code § 20-1004, or the EEOC within 300 days. MCCR and EEOC work-share. After investigation or right-to-sue, you can file suit in circuit court.
Race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, military status, and veteran status. Several Maryland counties (Montgomery, Prince George's) and Baltimore City add local protections.
Restricted. Md. Labor & Empl. Code § 3-716 (2019) bans non-competes for workers earning under $15/hour or under $31,200/year. Healthcare-professional non-competes are restricted by separate statutes. Above the threshold, reasonableness test applies and Maryland courts allow blue-pencil reformation.
Maryland's minimum wage is $15.00/hour as of January 1, 2024. Tipped employees may receive $3.63/hour direct wages if tips bring the total to the full minimum. Montgomery County has a higher local minimum wage ($16.70 for large employers in 2024).
Maryland's Healthy Working Families Act (Md. Code Ann., Labor & Empl. § 3-1301) requires employers with 15+ employees to provide 1 hour of paid sick leave per 30 worked, up to 40 hours per year. Employers with fewer than 15 employees must provide unpaid sick leave.
Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI, Md. Code Ann., Labor & Empl. § 8.3) provides up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. Contributions began October 2024 (now July 2025 after delays); benefits begin January 2026.
Not without legal review. MFEPA and federal claims often remain valuable. ADEA releases (40+) require 21 days to consider and 7-day revocation.

Why Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Maryland?

The Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act (MFEPA, Md. State Gov't Code § 20-601 et seq.) prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, military status, and military veteran status at employers with 15+ employees (some claims apply to smaller employers). Charges are filed with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) within 6 months or the EEOC within 300 days. Maryland is at-will with a public-policy exception (Adler v. American Standard Corp.). Non-competes are restricted under Md. Labor & Empl. Code § 3-716 (2019) — banned for workers earning under $15/hour or under $31,200/year (and now extended further). Healthcare professional non-competes restricted. Maryland minimum wage is $15.00/hour (2024). Maryland has Healthy Working Families Act paid sick leave and the FAMLI Paid Family Leave program (benefits begin 2026, contributions 2025).

When Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Maryland?

Our network includes Maryland employment attorneys who handle every kind of case, including:

Types of Employment Cases in Maryland

From the moment you connect with a Maryland employment attorney, they go to work protecting your claim. The most common case types we handle:

Missing the 6-month MCCR or 300-day EEOC filing deadline
Signing a severance release without consulting an attorney
Talking to HR without documenting in writing afterward
Not preserving emails, Slack, and texts before being locked out
Posting about the dispute on social media
Accepting a final paycheck waiver without legal review

Common Maryland Employment Mistakes

Even a small misstep can hurt your case. Here’s what to avoid:

How Much Do Maryland Employment Attorneys Cost?

33%

Typical starting contingency fee — you pay nothing unless your attorney recovers compensation for you.

Maryland employment attorneys work on contingency or hybrid arrangements — typically 33%–40% of recovery. MFEPA, Md. Wage Payment and Collection Law (treble damages), and federal employment statutes shift attorney fees to the employer when the worker prevails.

What Can Your Maryland Employment Compensation Include?

Back Pay
Lost wages and benefits from termination to judgment under MFEPA and federal law. Uncapped.
Front Pay
Future lost earnings when reinstatement isn't feasible.
Compensatory Damages
Emotional distress and out-of-pocket losses. Federal Title VII / ADA cap $50K–$300K. MFEPA caps compensatory and punitive damages under § 20-1009 in a manner that mirrors federal Title VII.
Punitive Damages
Available under MFEPA and federal Title VII / ADA for malicious or reckless conduct. Maryland punitives require clear and convincing actual malice (Owens-Illinois v. Zenobia).
Liquidated Damages
Md. Wage Payment and Collection Law: treble damages for unpaid wages. FLSA: doubles unpaid wages. ADEA: doubles back pay for willful violations.
Attorney Fees and Costs
Prevailing employees recover reasonable attorney fees under MFEPA, Md. Wage Payment Law, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and FMLA.
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DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.