Agency Representation
When a private settlement isn’t possible, a government agency — rather than civil court — is one path forward. Thurgood can act as your authorized representative through that process, a role the agencies’ own statutes expressly permit for qualified non-attorneys.
Get a free evaluationFrom intake to a filed charge
Agency representation means we handle the formal process end to end — you never face the paperwork or the agency alone:
The right venue
We identify every federal and state agency with jurisdiction over your specific claim.
Formal charge documents
We convert your story and evidence into a charge written to that agency’s standards.
An evidence packet
We organize your documentation into an exhibit set that supports each element of the claim.
Ongoing advocacy
We respond to the agency, meet deadlines, and represent you through the investigation.
Not sure if what happened counts?
A free evaluation tells you where you stand — no cost, no obligation.
Filing with the right federal agency
Which federal agency has jurisdiction depends on your claim — there’s no single one for every case. Part of representation is matching you to the agency that actually applies, and to the deadline that comes with it.
EEOC — discrimination & retaliation
Race, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, and equal-pay claims. Employers with 15+ · generally 180–300 days.
OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program
Reporting safety, environmental, or financial-fraud concerns — more than 20 statutes. Some deadlines as short as 30 days.
DOL Wage & Hour Division (WHD)
FMLA leave retaliation and minimum-wage, overtime, and child-labor (FLSA) claims. Up to 2–3 years.
NLRB — union & concerted activity
Organizing, or raising group concerns about pay or working conditions (protected concerted activity).
Special-industry civil-rights offices
Some sectors route through an agency’s Office for Civil Rights — for example the U.S. Department of Education (OCR) or HHS (OCR).
How an agency charge unfolds
Once a charge is filed, the path looks broadly the same across agencies — only the deadline changes with the claim.
- 01
A charge is filed
A formal charge goes to the agency with jurisdiction, within a deadline that depends on the claim — anywhere from 30 days to 300.
- 02
Your employer is notified
The agency notifies your employer of the charge and invites a written response.
- 03
Investigation or mediation
The agency may investigate the claim or offer voluntary mediation to resolve it early.
- 04
A determination is issued
The agency issues findings. Where it finds cause, it may pursue a settlement or conciliation.
- 05
Your rights are preserved
If the matter isn’t resolved, you’re issued a notice that keeps your right to take the claim further intact.
Filing with your state agency
Most states run their own fair-employment or labor agency, with their own laws and deadlines. Thurgood is authorized to represent state-level claims in the states below; everywhere else, we represent your claim federally.
- 01
Dual filing preserves both
A charge can usually be cross-filed, so your state and federal rights are protected at the same time.
- 02
Often broader coverage
State laws frequently reach smaller employers and more situations than federal law — and can give you far longer to file.
- 03
Investigation & resolution
The state agency investigates and may hold hearings or facilitate a settlement.
- 04
We pin down your state’s rule
Your evaluation identifies the agency and deadline that apply where you actually work.
Two roads to an award
You don’t have to sue in civil court to be made whole. The administrative agency process can deliver the same kinds of awards — back pay, reinstatement, damages — through a different, more accessible path.
Both can result in a real award. The agency route is built to be reached without a law firm — which is exactly where Thurgood represents you.
Authority written into the statutes
Authorized representation isn’t a workaround. Federal and state rules — including the Administrative Procedure Act and the EEOC’s own regulations — expressly allow a duly authorized representative to appear on a claimant’s behalf before the agency.
Statutorily permitted
Agencies allow qualified non-attorney representatives by regulation, not exception.
Specialized, not general
We focus solely on employment matters before these agencies — the work we do every day.
Accessible by design
Representation without a law firm keeps justice reachable for people a contingency lawyer might turn away.
Frequently asked
No. Thurgood is an employee-advocacy firm whose Authorized Justice Practitioners represent workers before administrative agencies. We do not provide legal advice or represent clients in civil court.
It depends on your claim and where you work — discrimination typically goes to the EEOC and a state civil-rights agency; safety retaliation to OSHA; wage and leave issues to the Department of Labor or a state labor agency.
It varies widely by agency, caseload, and the complexity of your claim. We keep your matter moving and keep you updated at each stage.
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or wrongful termination?
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