Need EDD unemployment lawyer recommendations ASAP - facing disqualification after appeal hearing

Check out the California Employment Lawyers Association website - they have a directory where you can search for attorneys who specialize in unemployment cases. I used them to find my lawyer when I had an eligibility interview disaster last year. Make sure whoever you contact has specific EDD appeal experience, not just general employment law. Also ask about payment options - many will do a free consultation and can work with payment plans.

i got help from legal aid of san diego when edd said i committed fraud. they were free and actually rly good. call around to different legal aid offices not just the 1 near u, some hav shorter wait times

I used The Unemployment Law Project when I got hit with a $12,450 overpayment notice last July. They charge on a sliding scale based on your income. My attorney Katie was AMAZING and got my disqualification overturned. The most important thing is to act QUICKLY - don't wait until the last day to file your appeal. Also, make sure you keep certifying for benefits while your appeal is pending, even though you won't get paid during this time. If you win your appeal, they'll release all those pending payments. One more thing - bring someone with you to the appeal hearing if possible. I brought my sister and it helped having moral support during the questioning.

Have you tried reaching EDD directly to understand EXACTLY why they disqualified you? Sometimes there's confusion about the reason and you might not actually need a lawyer if it's a simple misunderstanding. I was disqualified initially but got it reversed after speaking with a claims specialist who reviewed my case. I had the worst time getting through on the phone though. After 3 days of constant busy signals and disconnects, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get a callback from EDD. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/JmuwXR7HA10?si=TSwYbu_GOwYzt9km. Got connected to an EDD rep within an hour who actually explained exactly what documentation I needed to submit to fix my case.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation! My former employer claimed I was fired for excessive absences, but I had approved FMLA leave for all of them. My appeal hearing is next Tuesday and I'm representing myself because I couldn't afford an attorney. Did your determination letter cite any specific sections of the unemployment insurance code? Mine mentioned Section 1256, and I found a lot of helpful information by searching for cases related to that section on the CUIAB website (California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board). They have examples of previous decisions that might help you understand what evidence will be most important.

my neighbor is helping me with my edd case and she said bay area legal aid hass free workshops for people who filing appeals. they show you how to prepare evidence and stuff. might be worth checking if they have one before your deadline.

Make sure you understand the difference between an ALJ hearing and a second-level appeal to the CUIAB Board. If you lose at the ALJ level, you can still appeal to the Board, which is why documentation is crucial. They'll review the record from your hearing but typically don't accept new evidence. For legal resources, try: 1. Center for Workers' Rights - They do free consultations for EDD cases 2. Legal Aid at Work - Their Workers' Rights Clinic can help with appeals 3. Your county's bar association - Many offer low-cost consultations with employment attorneys If you absolutely can't find affordable representation, at minimum have someone review your appeal statement before you submit it. The specific wording is extremely important.