Michael Joe Jaurigue

Michael Jaurigue is the Managing Partner and Lead Trial Attorney of Jaurigue Law Group (JLG Lawyers), the firm he founded in 2009. With 26 years of experience in complex litigation, Michael has spent the last decade exclusively representing employees in employment disputes. Over the course of his career, he has represented clients across virtually every industry, giving him a broad perspective on how employment disputes develop, how companies defend them, and how to build effective litigation strategies for employees.
Before dedicating his practice to representing employees, Michael was a defense litigator with the prestigious law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, where he represented Fortune 100 companies in complex litigation. That experience gives him a deep understanding of how sophisticated employers and their counsel evaluate, defend, and litigate claims. Today, he uses that perspective to anticipate opposing strategies, identify weaknesses early, and advocate aggressively and strategically for employees.
As JLG’s lead trial attorney, Michael is a litigator who is prepared to take cases all the way to trial. He is not afraid of difficult cases, powerful defendants, or aggressive opposing counsel. His approach is to prepare cases from the beginning with trial in mind, giving his clients the leverage that comes from an opposing side knowing their attorney is prepared to see the case through. Whether a matter ultimately resolves through negotiation or in the courtroom, Michael focuses on developing the strongest strategy and positioning his clients for the best possible outcome.

Over the course of his career, Michael has negotiated more than $800 million in settlements on behalf of his clients. He holds a 10.0 Avvo rating and has been named a Super Lawyer every year from 2019 through 2026, after previously being recognized as a Rising Star. He has also been named a Leader of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal. JLG Lawyers, the firm Michael founded, was recognized by Los Angeles Magazine as one of the Best of LA in Legal.

Michael’s practice encompasses a wide range of state and federal employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, workplace harassment, retaliation, whistleblower claims, wage and hour violations, and civil rights violations.
Beyond the cases JLG handles, Michael is deeply committed to building a law firm where talented people from different backgrounds can develop meaningful and sustainable legal careers. He is especially proud of the diverse team JLG has built and the culture the firm has created around developing people based on their individual strengths, goals, and potential.

Michael believes there is no single path to becoming a successful attorney. Some attorneys want to become exceptional trial lawyers and spend their careers in the courtroom. Others are strongest at managing teams, mentoring people, negotiating cases, developing strategy, building client relationships, or taking on leadership roles within the firm. JLG works to meet attorneys where they are, understand the type of career they want to build, and provide the training, mentorship, responsibility, and opportunities necessary to help them get there.
That philosophy extends throughout the firm. JLG has created both traditional and nontraditional paths for professional advancement, including a paralegal apprenticeship program that has enabled team members to work toward becoming licensed attorneys without attending traditional law school. The program is one part of JLG’s broader commitment to developing people, expanding access to the legal profession, and creating an environment where individuals from different backgrounds and with different strengths have a genuine opportunity to grow.

Outside the courtroom, Michael is a United States Marine Corps veteran who brings the same sense of service, accountability, and perseverance to his profession and the firm he has built. He is an active member of the California Employment Lawyers Association, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, the American Association for Justice, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Filipino American Bar Association, and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association.