Generally, an employment law claim will start with either a letter to the employer, demanding relief, or a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which is a prerequisite to filing a discrimination claim in federal court. Once the EEOC charge is filed, there’s a period of several months during which an investigation is done. After its investigation, it will issue what’s called a Right to Sue letter, which gives you the right to file a lawsuit against your employer in federal court. Most cases are not resolved at the EEOC level, and most will proceed to litigation if your lawyer thinks you have a valid claim.