Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Khousadian.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always dreamed of doing something with my life that would allow me to help others while working towards building a better reality for everyone. From a very young age, it was embedded in my brain that I would go into medicine. But while at UCLA for undergrad, I quickly realized that I wanted to do something that would allow me to be innovative, encourage critical thinking, and combat issues that people face everyday. So halfway through college, I changed my major and started working towards becoming an attorney.
During my last quarter of law school, I clerked for an employment attorney and I was astonished to learn some of the things that people were still forced to endure at the workplace. Racism and sexism were still very much alive, and employees had no idea there were laws in place to protect them. That was eight years ago, and I have been representing employees whose rights have been violated since. It feels absolutely incredible to educate people about their rights and give a voice to those who have been silenced and mistreated by their employers.
After graduating and passing the California Bar Exam in 2012, I worked for a different employment firm, where I met a colleague who shared the same passion for the field that I did. In 2016, we decided to start our own employment law firm together and here we are. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There is nothing smooth about being an attorney. Putting aside the energy, time and money spent into going to law school and trying to pass the California Bar Exam, being an attorney means you dedicate your entire life to your practice and your clients.
We deal with conflict on a daily basis. No one calls an attorney because they have good news to share. It’s actually the opposite. People call an attorney when they have to discuss their problems. It can be a lot to internalize and it is impossible to separate from at the end of the day.
Sometimes it feels like it’s taking a toll, but there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a client crying tears of happiness because they feel as though someone finally heard them and they were able to achieve the justice they deserve.
Please tell us about Sezgin Khousadian LLP.
My business partner, Arthur Sezgin, and I started our practice, Sezgin Khousadian LLP, in 2016. We predominantly represent employees whose rights have been violated by their employers. We represent employees in a wide range of employment matters, including claims of workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, retaliation for whistleblowing, unsafe workplace violations, wage and hour violations, and more. Given our passion for helping give people a voice at the workplace, our firm only represents employees, not employers.
I am incredibly proud of the team we have built. Our firm consists of three attorneys, a law clerk, and a legal secretary, and each member is amazing. It was really important to us to make sure that we build a place where people love coming to work, love what they do, and love who they work with. It feels like we get to work with our best friends every day, and that makes doing what we do so much more fun.
I am also very proud of the clients we choose to represent. We take our time with the intake process and make sure that we are taking on cases that we are proud to work on.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I am not sure if it is my favorite memory, but it is certainly one that helped pave my way into employment law. We immigrated to the U.S. from Armenia in 1988, when I was just one year old. My parents spoke no English and certainly had no idea what their rights were. I remember my father working 18-hour days for pennies, just to be able to provide for us. He was never paid minimum wage or overtime, nor was he given meal or rest breaks properly. I even remember him having to pay for his own parking, despite it being a business expense and the responsibility of the employer. And the thing I remember the most is that he never complained. So many employees, like my father, are still being taken advantage of and it’s nice to be able to help them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 500 N. Central Avenue, Suite 830
Glendale, California 91203 - Website: www.sklaw.legal
- Phone: 818-696-1330
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: skemploymentattorneys
- Facebook: SezginKhousadianLLP
- Twitter: SKEmploymentLaw
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
