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Los Angeles Employment and Sexual Assault Lawyer Committed to Righting the Wrongs

Our jobs, education, and career should give us stability in life. When that stability is illegally taken away, you need an experienced Los Angeles sexual assault and employment attorney at Strong Advocates on your side to demand respect, fairness and compensation. We handle wrongful termination, disability discrimination, and sexual harassment at the workplace. We also fight hard for victims of sexual abuse and assault, whether those heinous crimes were committed against children at school or adults at work. We will be your Strong Advocate during every step of the legal process. Please note, we do not take arbitration cases. We focus exclusively on court litigation as well as negotiated settlements.

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five stars

Strong Advocates truly takes an interest in their clients. Betsy Havens and her staff are knowledgeable and professional. Betsy made me feel heard. She is very thorough, detail oriented and determined.

Rebecca A.

My experience with Betsy Havens was beyond pleasant. She is highly talented and compassionate towards others. She never gave up on me. Betsy changed my life for the better, and I would recommend her to anyone and everyone.

Adriana G.

After interviewed many attorneys for my national origin discrimination case, I finally and very luckily found this law firm. Coming from immigration lawyer background, this law firm has great enthusiasm to help new immigrant and very adequately represented me to seek for best compensation.

PC L

Betsy Havens and the team at Strong Advocates are the nicest and most professional lawyers I have ever dealt with. They truly cared about my case and put in hours above and beyond what was called for. She kept me in the loop on all the legal proceedings and took the time explain to me in clear terms what this process was going to look like.

Frank W.

Throughout the process, Betsy Havens was very understanding and compassionate, and made the difficult circumstances I was dealing with a bit easier to cope with.

Diana C.

Strong Advocates is very professional and knowledgeable. Betsy Havens listened and was very compassionate. She cares and is realistic in what can and cannot be done. She is tenacious and committed to resolve your case in a timely manner.

Helga A.

Strong Advocates truly takes an interest in their clients. Betsy Havens and her staff are knowledgeable and professional. Betsy made me feel heard. She is very thorough, detail oriented and determined.

Susi A.

I honestly was at lost about my case or if i even had a case. but coming to strong advocates was a good thing for me they helped me out so much in understanding the paper work process, which they did everything. they are amazing very professional.

Jessica S.

She helped me understand all of my options and gave me advice whenever I needed it. She was very patient and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. She went above and beyond to help me during a tough time in my life, and I am so thankful for that!

Matthew L.

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How an Experienced Lawyer Can Get Results for You

FREE CONSULTATION

Get an in-depth analysis of your case so you know the pros and cons — and possible alternatives — to possibly suing your employer, former school, or other institution.

HIRE US

We are compensated based on the outcome of your case. We do not charge you an hourly fee.

WE FIGHT FOR YOU

Whether negotiating a settlement or litigating in court, our experienced team is always fighting for you, going above and beyond what most attorneys do.

Meet Attorney Betsy Havens

Betsy Havens, Executive Director of Strong Advocates, has worked extensively over the years to protect the rights of sexual assault survivors and workers who have been treated unfairly. Her intensive litigation experience has amounted to extraordinary outcomes, including $4 million in compensation for a recent client without having to step foot in a courtroom. Betsy also ensures her clients have the emotional support, empathy, and attention they deserve. This results in making litigation be a positive and transformative experience. Betsy has led over 50 training programs for lawyers and community groups. She received an Advocacy award from the state Bar Foundation honoring the work her office has done fighting for fair treatment.

Our Core Practice Areas

We work passionately to protect your rights.

Sexual Harassment at Work
Child Sexual Abuse
Disability Discrimination
Sexual Assault
Wrongful Termination
Retaliation for Complaining About Illegal Actions
ALL PRACTICE AREAS

Know your rights

Knowing your rights is the first step in fighting back against abuse.

YOUR RIGHTS

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO:

Talk to a Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyer today. Sexual harassment is a type of discrimination that violates state and federal laws. Sexual harassment includes behavior such as unwelcome sexual advances or other verbal or physical conduct that is sexual in nature and occurs in the workplace. In California, regardless of the number of workers an employer has, workers are entitled to the following:

01 | A SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT

You have a right to work in a safe environment free of sexual harassment or assault. If you are experiencing severe or pervasive sexual harassment at work, particularly if that harassment is by your boss or supervisor, this is illegal and your employer may be liable.

02 | PROTECTION TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT

If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you have the right to complain to your employer about the harassment. It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for complaining about unwelcome behavior. They have an obligation to investigate your complaint.

03 | FAIR EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT

You have the right to be promoted based on your merit. If your employer is offering you promotions or job benefits only in exchange for sexual favors, this is illegal.

04 | RESPECT AT THE WORKPLACE

You deserve the space and respect to perform your job without being sexually harassed by your coworker or supervisor. Sexual harassment can include despicable unwelcome sexual comments, or inappropriate sexual touching or assault. Sexual harassment is illegal and you deserve better than to be treated like that.

    YOUR RIGHTS

    YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO:

    Disability discrimination occurs when a person is treated unfavorably because they have a physical or mental disability or medical condition. Too often, a company fires an employee because the employee has utilized a reasonable accommodation such as a medical leave of absence. That termination is unfair and illegal. Under California law, employers must engage in a good faith interactive process and provide reasonable accommodations for an employee with a disability unless that accommodation would result in undue hardship. Employers cannot retaliate against an employee who requires an accommodation for their disability.

    01 | REASONABLE ACCOMODATION

    You have a right to a reasonable accommodation for your disability to allow you to perform your essential job functions. A reasonable accommodation might include minibreaks to allow you to rest your arm or wrist injury or a brief, finite leave of absence due to depression or anxiety.

    02 | A TIMELY, GOOD FAITH INTERACTIVE PROCESS

    Your employer must engage with you in a timely, good faith interactive process to determine a reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability. This process generally includes an honest discussion about the needs of the person with the disability, and should take into account letters and recommendations from medical professionals.

    03 | PROTECTION FOR YOUR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILTY OR MEDICAL CONDITION

    California law protects individuals from discrimination who are suffering from a wide range of disabilities. This includes a physical or mental disability or where that person has a medical condition such as HIV or cancer.

    04 | FREEDOM FROM RETALIATION FOR REQUIRING A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

    It is illegal for an employer to terminate you for requiring a reasonable accommodation. This might occur, for example, if you are fired shortly after you return from a medical leave of absence.

    05 | FREEDOM FROM RETALIATION FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT DISCRIMINATION

    You have a right to complain to your employer if you feel that you are being discriminated against because of your disability or need for accommodations. It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for performing this legally protected activity.

      YOUR RIGHTS

      YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO:

      Sexual abuse of a child is one of worst crimes imaginable. When a trusted adult preys on an innocent child, that survivor is often left with lasting emotional pain and no one to turn to to bring justice against the predator. At Strong Advocates, we fight for survivors of sexual abuse to regain some of the power that was taken away from them. We understands the importance of aggressive legal action to hold these child sex offenders and their employers accountable for this abuse. Survivors who choose to take action can help ensure that the offender never abuses another child.

      01 | HOLD THE ABUSER AND THE INSTITUTION ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR WRONGS

      When children have been sexually abused at school, church, or another organization, the abusers and institutions should pay for the despicable crimes and trauma they have caused and make sure that it never ever happens again. By taking legal action, you help to make sure these criminals are stopped from hurting other innocent children.

      02 | TAKE LEGAL ACTION EVEN IF THE ABUSE HAPPENED YEARS AGO

      A new law passed in 2020 allowing survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit in California all the way until they turn 40 years of age. The new law also allows victims to file lawsuits until 2023 if their claim had previously been barred because of a statute of limitation. This means individuals of any age have until 2023 to file their claims of childhood sexual abuse.

      03 | SEEK JUSTICE THROUGH THE CIVIL COURT SYSTEM

      Survivors of sexual abuse can bring civil suits against the predator and the school or other institution for their failure to prevent the abuse from occurring. A civil lawsuit enables survivors to seek significant financial compensation for the pain and suffering they were forced to endure.

      04 | SEEK JUSTICE THROUGH THE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM

      Survivors of sexual abuse have a right to go to the police to report the crimes committed against them. The police will work with the government to bring criminal charges against the abuser and sentence him according to the law. If convicted, the perpetrator may face incarceration, fines, mandatory counseling, and other criminal sanctions.

      05 | GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED

      No amount of money could ever make up for the pain and trauma forced onto people when they are sexually abused as children. At Strong Advocates, we make sure our clients receive a wide range of support, including therapists, to help people transform their lives and move forward.

        Our Clients Trust Our Guarantee

        The Strong Advocates legal team is fearless, creative, and zealous. They do not shy away from the difficult, complex cases that other lawyers may avoid. I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone needing a flexible and passionate advocate.
        READ OUR CLIENT REVIEWS

        Strong Advocates Will Get You Justice

        Whether you were a victim of sexual abuse or assault, or wrongfully terminated due to disability discrimination, we are focused on righting the wrong that has been done to you. Unlike most firms, we do not have to settle cases quickly in order to bring in a certain amount of revenue each quarter. We take the time to help you understand your rights and options and, in most cases, do not charge you for legal research, office overhead, printing, or the use of professional arbitrators - fees which often eat away at the earnings you receive from your case. Please note, we do not take arbitration cases. We focus exclusively on court litigation as well as negotiated settlements. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or harassment, you cannot be forced to arbitrate.

        Your Team Makes the Difference

        No person should be forced to endure unfair or abusive treatment at work or school. However, many victims do not come forward and file a complaint due to fear of retaliation or the difficulty in finding attorneys they can trust. The experienced sexual assault and employment litigation team at Strong Advocates has helped to bring powerful companies and schools to justice before, and we can help you do the same. We provide you with a highly skilled legal team to fight for your rights. We offer years of complex litigation experience and a valuable team approach.

        TOP RATED BY OUR CLIENTS

        Betsy Ellen Havens | Top Attorney Employment and Labor

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