Average Cost for a Lawyer to Review a Severance Agreement in California (2025)

When you find out you are losing your job, it can feel humiliating and terrifying, especially if you have a family to support. If you are fortunate enough to be offered a severance package in California, it may be wise to have an experienced lawyer look through your agreement to determine if there are any terms that could harm you in the long run. Knowing the average cost for a lawyer to review a severance agreement in California could be beneficial.

What Is the Average Cost for a Lawyer to Review a Severance Agreement in California?

Unfortunately, there is no surefire reliable way to determine what the average cost would be for a lawyer to review your severance agreement in California. Every severance agreement case is going to be different from every other, with each case having its own specific details and circumstances that make it unique. A severance agreement lawyer will take many different factors into consideration when determining a price for their services.

First, a severance agreement lawyer has to consider the complexity of the agreement itself. While some severance agreements may be fairly innocuous and just contain a check and a handshake, others may be considerably more in-depth and require a closer look. After all, the last thing you want is to end up trapped in a legally binding situation that you never knew about because you didn’t have the agreement looked over before you signed it.

The legal nuances and multiple clauses might be illegible to you, but an experienced severance agreement lawyer understands what they mean and how they will affect you, both now and in the future. Under California state law, you will have approximately five days to bring your severance agreement to a lawyer and sign it, or the agreement could become null and void. Depending on your age and the agreement’s complexity, you may be allotted more time.

Another important factor is your lawyer’s experience. A more experienced severance agreement lawyer is going to charge more for their services than a lawyer whose career is just starting out. When you want someone to explain the details of a severance agreement and protect your interests, you need someone with experience in handling cases similar to yours and helping clients who’ve dealt with similar problems.

At-Will Employment

You should always keep in mind that California is an at-will employment state. That means your employer never has to provide you with any legitimate cause if they want to terminate your employment. They can just decide to let you go whenever they wish. In addition, no employer in the state is legally mandated to provide their terminated employees with any severance pay whatsoever. It’s your company’s decision to provide it to you if they want.

Sometimes, a company needs to provide a severance agreement to protect themselves. If your former job involved being around a lot of trade secrets or classified material, signing a confidentiality agreement might be the only way to legally prevent you from revealing those secrets to the public. An NDA helps protect the company’s investment in you and the job you were performing.

FAQs About California Severance Agreement Law

Q: How Much Does a Lawyer Charge to Review a Severance Agreement?

A: How much a lawyer might charge to review a severance agreement will vary by case. Every severance agreement is different and requires a lawyer to look into different elements to keep their clients from being manipulated or taken advantage of. A lawyer’s fee will be influenced by the complexity of the agreement, their availability, their experience, and their education, among other factors.

Q: Do I Need a Lawyer to Review My Severance Agreement?

A: Technically, you are not legally mandated to hire a lawyer to review your severance agreement. If you trust your company and believe that the severance agreement they gave you is fair, feel free to sign it and move on with your life. If you are concerned that you are being manipulated or losing out on benefits, you should have a lawyer negotiate your severance.

Q: Are Companies Legally Required to Offer Severance?

A: In California, severance pay is not a legal requirement for any company. It is entirely up to your employer if they want to provide you with a severance agreement. If a severance package is part of your employment contract and your employer doesn’t offer you one, you can file a claim against them for failing to include it. A severance agreement lawyer can represent you in any legal action you wish to take.

Q: How Long Do I Have to Review a Severance Agreement in California?

A: Generally, you are given five business days to review a severance agreement in California and take it to your lawyer for an evaluation. If you are over the age of 40 at the time of your termination, you may be given 21 days to fully review the severance agreement. If you are part of a mass layoff, you may be given 45 days to review your severance agreement. In any case, a good lawyer can look through your agreement for any discrepancies.

Contact an Experienced Severance Agreement Lawyer Today

Knowing what to expect when you hire a severance agreement lawyer can make the whole experience a bit easier, especially if you have never had to speak with a lawyer before. Recognizing the issues or requirements in your severance agreement can prevent you from being manipulated by your former employers. It can also prepare you to handle future severance agreement issues, should they arise.

An experienced severance agreement lawyer can make sure you don’t miss out on vital payments or benefits. They can also keep you from signing something that could cause you further stress. The legal team at the Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams can make sure your severance is secure and working for you. If there are any issues or unfair terms, we can negotiate on your behalf to obtain what you need. Contact us to speak with our firm about a consultation.