Texas Employment Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Texas employment attorneys who handle TCHRA discrimination, Sabine Pilot wrongful-termination, wage, and non-compete claims for workers across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and El Paso. Whether you're facing an energy-sector termination, a healthcare retaliation, or a non-compete dispute, we'll match you with the right attorney — at no cost.

File with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC) within 180 days for most discrimination claims, or 300 days for sexual harassment claims (under SB 45, 2021). TWC has a work-share with the EEOC. After right-to-sue, you can file in state court.
TCHRA covers race, color, disability, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, and age (40+). Sexual orientation and gender identity are not statutorily protected at state level but Title VII covers both per Bostock. Several Texas cities (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio) have local fairness ordinances.
Sabine Pilot Service v. Hauck (1985) recognized Texas's narrow public-policy exception to at-will employment — a wrongful-discharge tort claim for termination based solely on the employee's refusal to perform an illegal act that carries criminal penalties. It is one of the narrowest public-policy exceptions in the country.
Yes, under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.50, if (1) ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement (typically employment), (2) supported by reasonable consideration, and (3) reasonable in time, geography, and scope. Courts MUST reform overbroad provisions under § 15.51(c), not strike them entirely.
Tex. Lab. Code § 61 requires timely payment of wages and provides for administrative wage-claim filing with the Texas Workforce Commission within 180 days of unpaid wages. Treble damages available for "bad faith" wage theft.
No. Tex. Lab. Code § 451.001 prohibits retaliation for workers' comp claims. Damages include reinstatement, lost wages, and punitive damages.
Not without legal review. TCHRA, federal Title VII / ADA / ADEA / FLSA / FMLA, and Sabine Pilot claims remain valuable. ADEA releases (40+) require 21 days to consider and 7-day revocation.

Why Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Texas?

Texas Labor Code Chapter 21, the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA, Tex. Lab. Code Ch. 21), prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, disability, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, and age (40+) at employers with 15+ employees. The 2021 amendments significantly broadened protections for sexual harassment (1+ employee, 300-day deadline). Sexual orientation and gender identity are not statutorily protected at state level but covered federally under Title VII per Bostock. Charges are filed with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC) within 180 days for most discrimination claims, extended to 300 days for sexual harassment claims by SB 45 (2021). Texas is at-will with a narrow Sabine Pilot public-policy exception (only refusal to commit illegal acts). Non-competes are enforceable under Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.50 if ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement and reasonable in time, geography, and scope. Texas minimum wage tracks federal $7.25/hour. Texas has no state paid sick or family leave.

When Do You Need a Employment Attorney in Texas?

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

Types of Employment Cases in Texas

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

Missing the 180-day TWC filing deadline (or 300-day for sexual harassment)
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 Texas Employment Mistakes

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

How Much Do Texas Employment Attorneys Cost?

33%

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

Texas employment attorneys work on contingency or hybrid arrangements — typically 33%–40% of recovery. TCHRA, Texas Payday Law, and federal employment statutes shift attorney fees to the employer when the worker prevails.

What Can Your Texas Employment Compensation Include?

Back Pay
Lost wages and benefits from termination to judgment under TCHRA 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. TCHRA caps damages identically (Tex. Lab. Code § 21.2585).
Punitive Damages
Available under TCHRA and federal Title VII / ADA for malicious or reckless conduct. Tex. Lab. Code § 21.2585 cap.
Liquidated Damages
Texas Payday Law: treble damages for bad-faith violation. FLSA: doubles unpaid wages. ADEA: doubles back pay for willful violations.
Attorney Fees and Costs
Prevailing employees recover reasonable attorney fees under TCHRA, Texas Payday 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.