A discrimination charge must be filed with a local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before an attorney can file a private lawsuit. This claim must be filed within 180 days of the event to protect your guaranteed rights. This may seem like a lot of time, but getting started early has benefits. The earlier you get started the more details you will remember, and discrimination lawyers rely on strong evidence. Getting started early gives our lawyers enough time to thoroughly examine your case, gather evidence, and present a case that gets you the results you need.