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ABOUT

Alicja Urtnowski

MANAGING ATTORNEY

I did not come to the legal profession coincidentally.

For me, advocacy has always been instinctual, and I have purposefully chosen to advocate for people against corporations.

When I take a case, I put my heart and soul into fighting for my clients and guiding them to stand up against oppression and abuse.

I am committed through my life experience, my individual drive, and my insatiable hunger for justice to be a champion for the people.

Attorney Alicja Urtnowski | California Employment Lawyer

Born and raised in Poland, I moved to the U.S. in 2014 and became a citizen in 2019. I fell in love with this country and the diversity of people within it, and I believe in the American dream.

Chasing that dream takes hard work and perseverance, but there are obstacles along the way that can block access to that dream.

The corporate structure defines its employees simply on the ledger and devalues the human experience inside the workplace – and corporations often care more about turning a profit than fairly treating their employees or people they sell their goods and services to.

I feel a great responsibility, having knowledge of the law and the ability to use it, to fight against the wrongs and greed of the corporate world.

In addition to my drive to support those being taken advantage of, my personal experience is helpful in many of the cases I take.

When I worked in the hospitality industry, I was constantly deprived of breaks.

I had to eat my lunch before I started my eight-hour shift because I knew I wouldn’t be able to take a lunch break and I wasn’t allowed to leave my station unattended.

My employer’s disregard for our rights was unfair and – although I didn’t know it at the time – against the law.

All workers deserve fair and equal treatment, and employers must be held accountable when they fail to follow the rules.

Now, as an attorney, I fight on the side of workers and consumers alike, helping them stand up for themselves against corporations and companies and achieve the justice they deserve.

In addition to my drive to support those being taken advantage of, my personal experience is helpful in many of the cases I take.

When I worked in the hospitality industry, I was constantly deprived of breaks.

I had to eat my lunch before I started my eight-hour shift because I knew I wouldn’t be able to take a lunch break and I wasn’t allowed to leave my station unattended.

My employer’s disregard for our rights was unfair and – although I didn’t know it at the time – against the law.

All workers deserve fair and equal treatment, and employers must be held accountable when they fail to follow the rules.

Now, as an attorney, I fight on the side of workers and consumers alike, helping them stand up for themselves against corporations and companies and achieve the justice they deserve.

I am proud of my heritage and proud of my journey moving to the U.S. as an immigrant. I passed the California bar exam – which had a pass rate of only 27% – on my first try, even though English is my second language.

Outside of my work at the firm, I assist low-income individuals at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, for which I received the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services “for voluntary provision of legal services to the poor and disadvantaged, improving the law and the legal system and increasing access to justice.”

I also volunteer my time with the Gold Star Families who have lost their loved ones in combat. To be part of the community that helps rebuild and honors the memory of the fallen soldiers and their families has been one of the most impactful times in my life.

In my free time, I fully embrace the southern California lifestyle and never take any day for granted. I love traveling and getting to know new cultures, languages, people, and places. I consider myself quite adventurous and not fearful of the unknown or unexplored. I love music, dancing, and entertaining people with my limitless energy. I also enjoy working out, jogging on the beach, and introducing my San Diego friends to the art of cooking traditional Polish food – especially pierogis.

For me, the best part about my job is often the result of our lawsuits, when big corporations often change their illegal policies and practices.

Knowing that we helped our clients’ lives improve for the better and that these companies and corporations can never take advantage of people this way again makes all the difference.

Education

  • University of San Diego School of Law
    Masters of Comparative Law (LL.M.), 2017
    Honors: Merit Scholarship
  • Adam Mickiewicz University School of Law, Poznan, Poland
    Master’s Degree in Law, 2014
  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2013
    Erasmus Law Student Exchange Program with an EU Scholarship

Awards

  • Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, 2018
    Issued by The State Bar of California

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • California State Bar
  • California Employment Lawyers Association
  • California Lawyers Association
  • San Diego County Bar Association
  • Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
  • Federal Bar Association
  • University of San Diego Alumni Association

Bar Admissions

  • All California State Courts
  • The United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • The United States District Court for the Southern District of California
  • The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • The United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit

We like to think of our firm as a fortress of protection for the people.

Let us help you right the wrong that you’ve been subjected to.

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“Consumer & Employment Lawyers never gave up on me or my case even though they were fighting against a huge corporation that had pushed back hard against them. They helped me obtain justice, and for that I cannot thank them enough.”

- Matt O.
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