Your Employment Attorney for Upholding Women’s Rights at Work.

At Gaulin Law, APC, we specialize in litigation and severance negotiations on behalf of mothers and women who have been subjected to unlawful workplace discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful termination on the basis of their pregnancy or gender.

women at work
mom snuggling her newborn baby
two women at work
mom snuggling her kiddo

Your Story Matters

The way you started receiving negative feedback, performance reviews, or weekly management check-ins after you announced your pregnancy? The "budget cuts" that somehow only affected you after you requested family leave? Or maybe it’s that noticeable shift in the workplace environment and demotion of your duties right after you submitted a request for accommodations.

These aren't coincidences, they're warning signs of discrimination. You deserve to have your experience validated and your rights protected.

You might be feeling:

  • Betrayed by an employer you trusted

  • Uncertain about whether what happened counts as discrimination

  • Overwhelmed by the thought of “taking on” a company with more resources

  • Worried about your financial future or health benefits while unemployed

  • Questioning whether you did something wrong

The truth is: Companies profit from hoping you'll doubt yourself. Gaulin Law is here to give you your confidence back.

Why Michelle Gaulin Founded This Firm

You Deserve an Advocate Who Gets It

As a mother and employment attorney with nearly 15 years of experience, Michelle has witnessed too many talented women and parents pushed out of their careers after starting families. She saw the pattern: pregnancy announcements followed by poor performance reviews, maternity leaves that became permanent departures, and mothers relegated to lesser roles upon return.

The legal system has specific protections, but many firms treat these cases as just another employment dispute. Michelle knows these aren’t just legal issues, but rather deeply personal violations that require a thoughtful combination of fierce advocacy and compassion.

What Makes Us Different

  • We focus exclusively on women's workplace rights and severance negotiations

  • We understand both the legal complexities and emotional toll of discrimination

  • We remove financial barriers with contingency-based representation

  • We take time to listen to your complete story with empathy

Bar Admissions

  • California

  • Central District of California

  • Northern District of California

Areas of Practice and Expertise

  • Securing justice when you've been fired for illegal reasons or in violation of your rights.

  • Protecting against unequal treatment based on gender, pregnancy, family status, disability, or age.

  • Protecting your right to report violations without risking your livelihood.

  • Maximizing your compensation and protecting your future opportunities through strategic negotiation.

What Working Together Looks Like

Step 1: Free 30-Minute Consultation

We listen to your complete story, validate your experience, and determine if you have a strong legal case. You’ll speak directly with Michelle, won’t feel rushed, and will end the call feeling like you’ve truly been heard.

Step 2: Building Your Case

If we believe you have an actionable case and you retain our firm, we’ll develop a personalized legal strategy, draft your complaint or demand letter, and begin negotiations or litigation based on what's best for your situation.

Step 3: Fighting for What You Deserve

We pursue fair compensation for your losses, accountability from your employer, and policy changes that will protect other women;
you only pay if we win.*

*excludes severance negotiation cases

Step 4: You Move Forward With Confidence

Many of our clients find that reaching a resolution gives them the financial stability and emotional closure to rebuild their professional lives with renewed confidence.

Our Commitment To You:
You Don’t Pay Unless We Win

Justice shouldn't depend on your bank account. We know that losing your job creates financial stress that makes hiring an attorney feel impossible. That's why we work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we secure a financial resolution for you.*

*Note: Severance negotiations are handled separately from our contingency fee structure. Schedule your free consultation today to discuss your options.

What this means:

  • No upfront legal fees

  • We're invested in achieving the best possible outcome

  • You can focus on your well-being while we handle the legal fight

  • Access to specialized expertise regardless of your financial situation

The Ripple Effect

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The Ripple Effect 〰

Your Courage Helps Other Women

When you stand up to discrimination, you're not just fighting for yourself; you're helping reshape workplace culture for every woman who comes after you. Each case we win puts employers on notice that discrimination carries real consequences.

The ripple effect of your case:

  • Establishes precedents that protect other women

  • Forces policy changes that prevent future discrimination

  • Challenges the assumption that motherhood makes you less valuable

Your decision to seek justice creates a more equitable playing field for every woman in the workforce.

Ready to Reclaim Your Professional Worth?

You go to work each day to contribute your talents, not to navigate discrimination. If you've been treated unfairly because of your gender, pregnancy, family responsibilities, disability, or age, you deserve an advocate who understands both the legal and emotional dimensions of what you've experienced.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP TODAY:

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation where Michelle will listen to your story, explain your rights, and help you understand your options—with no pressure and no obligation.

Common Questions & Concerns

  • If you experienced negative treatment at work related to your pregnancy, gender, family responsibilities, disability, or age—such as sudden performance issues after announcing pregnancy, being passed over for opportunities after requesting an accommodation, or facing different standards than your male colleagues—it may be discrimination. Our consultation will help determine if you have a legal case.

  • Many successful cases rely on more than just documents. We help you identify evidence you might not realize you have—patterns in email communications, witness testimony, timing of events, and company policy violations. Don't let lack of obvious "proof" stop you from seeking help.

  • No. Both California and federal law protect you from pregnancy discrimination. If your termination, demotion, or poor treatment coincided with pregnancy-related events, that's a red flag worth investigating.

  • For cases excluding severance negotiations, our clients pay us nothing upfront and nothing during your case. We only get paid if we win compensation for you, and our fee is paid directly from that settlement or award. If we don't win, you owe us nothing.

  • Timeline varies based on your specific situation, but cases can resolve anywhere between 3-18 months, depending on complexity. We'll give you realistic expectations during your consultation and keep you updated throughout the process.

  • We level the playing field by knowing employment law inside and out, and our contingency structure means we're just as invested in winning as you are.

  • We understand this fear. California law prohibits retaliation, and we help protect your reputation throughout the process. Many clients find that standing up for themselves actually strengthens their professional confidence.

  • Bring any documents you signed to our consultation. Some agreements may not be enforceable, and you may still have rights even if you signed a severance agreement.

  • Although most cases settle without going to trial, there are times when trial is necessary. We always pursue the best resolution for your situation, whether that's through negotiation, mediation, or if necessary, litigation through the court system.