Hilary Hammell, Attorney at Law

Licensed to practice in California.

J.D. University of Washington 2012

B.A. Yale 2004

Have you ever met a lawyer who loved their job? Now you have.

Being an employment lawyer for workers in California means getting to use my legal skills and knowledge to fight for civil rights. It means getting to make California’s generally strong civil rights laws into a reality for my clients, one case at a time. And sometimes, if we win an appeal or a class action, it means making an impact for thousands or more people in the state. For those reasons, I love practicing in this area of law. I love analyzing the facts, talking to the witnesses, making sure my clients are heard, seen, and empowered. I even love the process of dealing with the other side - whether through collegial negotiations or tense court battles (or often both) - to win justice for my clients and ensure that they are treated fairly not just in terms of the outcome, but throughout the process.

This isn’t just a job for me - it’s a calling.

I am fluent in Spanish and have lived in Chile, Honduras, and Mexico. Before becoming a lawyer I held countless hourly jobs including car valet, ski instructor, retail sales clerk, and hotel receptionist, and I’ve worked in the restaurant industry in both the front and back of the house. My least favorite part of working in the kitchen was beating the floor mats at closing time every day. My favorite part of restaurant work was getting to interact with so many people, who often showed kindness to me even when I dropped nine plates of the chef’s special. I know first-hand what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, and how hard it can be to stand up for your rights when you need that paycheck just to make ends meet.

I had the honor of going to law school on a full public service scholarship funded by the Gates Foundation. Because of that generous opportunity, I have been able to devote my entire legal career to fighting for justice for people who are exploited, discriminated against, or marginalized. During law school, I worked with the inspiring civil rights lawyers at the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on a major case having to do with sexual assault and harassment of immigrant farmworkers. After law school I clerked for Judge Stephanie Seymour on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit — Judge Seymour was the first female judge appointed to the Tenth Circuit. Following my clerkship I was awarded a Skadden Fellowship to do impact litigation for educational equity in California, and I then provided direct legal services to residents of Bayview/Hunters Point in San Francisco as a Senior Staff Attorney at the groundbreaking, award-winning legal aid nonprofit, Open Door Legal, where I built the organization’s employment-law practice. I’ve published two law review articles, have won awards for my writing and leadership, and have appeared in the media and at conferences to speak about defending women’s rights to fair treatment at work.

Prior to launching my own practice, I was an associate at the nationally-renowned law firm of Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP in Oakland.

I am the proud mom of two mischievous little boys and one lazy pit bull named Tuna. When I am not prosecuting my cases or chasing my children, I like to surf, read mystery novels by Michael Connelly, watch stand-up comedy, and do the New York Times Spelling Bee.

My favorite book of all time is A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander, and my favorite movie of all time is Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

Thanks for reading my bio. If you are looking for an employment lawyer, I am sorry that you’re in that position, but I look forward to meeting you nonetheless to see if I can help.