Wrongful Termination Lawsuit: Civil Legal Guide. Understanding wrongful termination lawsuit and your civil legal options, explained in plain language. Many workplace claims must start with an administrative charge, typically with the EEOC, before you can sue, and the deadline can be as short as 180 to 300 days from the incident. Keep a dated record of what happened, who was present, and any emails or messages. You generally need a right-to-sue letter before a discrimination or harassment case can proceed in court. Do you need a lawyer for wrongful termination lawsuit? In most cases, no. Small claims court is designed for people representing themselves, and a demand letter can often resolve the matter before any filing. How much does it cost? A professional demand letter through PettyLawsuit is $29, and small claims filing fees (if you ever need them) typically run $30 to $200 and are often recoverable if you win. When you're ready, PettyLawsuit turns this into action: a professional demand letter sent by certified mail for $29, and, if it comes to that, the correct small claims forms for your state with step-by-step filing help. Most disputes settle once a formal demand letter arrives, so you may never see a courtroom.