Workplace discrimination · Spain
Find a workplace discrimination lawyer in Spain
Employment disputes in Spain are dealt with by the social (labour) courts, and the steps taken early shape everything that follows. Tell us what happened at work and we will match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles this type of case in Spain.
- Free, no-obligation matching
- Lawyers who handle Spanish labour cases
- Clear answers before you commit
Matching is free and does not by itself create a lawyer–client relationship.
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Before you instruct anyone
A free route to the right Spanish employment lawyer
Workplace discrimination can leave you exhausted, isolated and unsure whether what happened is even actionable. The right answer depends on Spanish law and on how your situation is classified, so guesswork is costly. Our platform is a free matching service: you describe what happened at work, and we connect you with a workplace discrimination lawyer in Spain who handles employment matters in the social (labour) jurisdiction. You keep control of the decision, and the first conversation costs nothing. Lawyers registered with a Spanish Colegio de la Abogacía may practise throughout the country, so geography does not limit your choice. Below you will find how the Spanish labour courts are organised, who must be represented by a lawyer, what proceedings cost, and where free legal aid may apply.
Spain in practice
How employment claims move through the Spanish system
Spain has a single ordinary judiciary, with labour matters heard by the Social Courts and appeals reaching the High Courts of Justice and, on cassation, the Supreme Court in Madrid. The points below explain how the process is organised, who may represent you and what it costs.
Where these claims are heard
Labour cases are heard at first instance by the Social Courts (Juzgados de lo Social), part of the ordinary judiciary whose unity is established by Article 117 of the 1978 Constitution. Spain follows a continental, civil-law model, so written codes and procedural laws govern, while Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) case law unifies their interpretation through the doctrine of jurisprudencia.
Do you need a lawyer?
In the social (labour) jurisdiction a worker may appear in person at first instance, but representation by a lawyer is required for appeals to the High Courts of Justice (Tribunales Superiores de Justicia) and to the Supreme Court. A workplace discrimination lawyer in Spain therefore becomes essential once a case escalates beyond the first hearing.
Who may practise in Spain
Membership of a Colegio de la Abogacía is compulsory in order to practise law, and registration with one Colegio, at the lawyer’s sole or principal professional domicile, is enough to practise across the whole country. Qualification requires a law degree, specialised access training (Máster de Acceso a la Abogacía or equivalent, 90 ECTS) and the state aptitude examination under Law 34/2006.
What it costs, and who pays
Lawyers’ fees in Spain are freely agreed between client and lawyer; there are no binding official tariffs, although Bar Associations publish non-binding guideline criteria. The labour (social) order is not subject to the court fee (tasa judicial) that applies in civil and contentious-administrative matters, and that fee is owed only by legal persons such as companies, not by natural persons.
Free legal aid and language
Free legal aid (asistencia jurídica gratuita) under Law 1/1996 can cover a lawyer, a procurador, expert evidence and exemption from procedural costs where household income is insufficient — generally up to twice the IPREM, raised to three or four times the IPREM depending on dependants. Applications are filed with the Bar Association of the competent court. Proceedings are conducted in Spanish.
Key time limit — Employment Law
Employment dismissal claim — 20 working days. Counted in working days, so the clock runs faster than it appears.
All country-specific data on this page comes from official Spanish and European sources — the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española and the European e-Justice Portal — consulted in 2025.
- European e-Justice Portal – National justice systems: Spain
- Estatuto General de la Abogacía Española (Royal Decree 135/2021) – BOE
- Law 1/1996 on free legal aid – BOE
- Ley Reguladora de la Jurisdicción Social (employment dismissal deadline) – BOE
- Civil Code 1889 (contractual, lease and divorce time limits) – BOE
- Inheritance and Gift Tax Law (six-month filing period) – BOE
- Administrative Procedure Law (recurso de alzada / reposición) – BOE
Why people hesitate
The doubts we hear most often
Short, honest answers about what a matched lawyer can and cannot do for you.
Your treatment at work felt wrong
Being singled out, passed over or excluded wears you down, yet Spanish employment claims turn on evidence and on how the facts are framed — something that is rarely obvious from the inside.
You are worried about your job
Speaking up can feel riskier than staying silent, especially if your contract is temporary or your position feels vulnerable. A lawyer can explain the process and each stage before you take any step.
You do not know who to trust
Searching online leaves you with directories and adverts, and no way to judge expertise. Matching through a platform focused on Spanish labour law gives you a short, relevant list instead of an open field.
How we help
What matching with us gives you
A simple, free first step before any legal costs arise.
Employment-focused lawyers
We match you with lawyers who work on Spanish labour matters — unequal treatment, pay issues, disciplinary measures and dismissals — and who know how the Social Courts operate in practice.
A clear first picture
Your first conversation is about your facts: what happened, when, who was involved and what evidence exists. You then decide whether to instruct the lawyer, with no pressure at any stage.
One request, several options
You describe your situation once. We use it to identify lawyers whose practice fits your case, so you compare approaches and fees rather than ringing firms at random.
Confidential by design
Your description stays between you and the matched lawyers. Nothing is published, and matching alone does not oblige you to instruct anyone or to pay any fee.
Europe-wide
Also matching clients in
If your matter concerns another jurisdiction, we match clients across Europe as well.
Questions
Workplace discrimination in Spain: common questions
Do I need a workplace discrimination lawyer in Spain to bring a claim?
In the social (labour) jurisdiction a worker may appear in person at first instance, but representation by a lawyer is required for appeals to the High Courts of Justice and to the Supreme Court. Because evidence and procedure shape a case long before any hearing, most claimants instruct a workplace discrimination lawyer in Spain early.
Which courts in Spain deal with employment disputes?
Labour cases are heard at first instance by the Social Courts (Juzgados de lo Social). Appeals go to the High Courts of Justice (Tribunales Superiores de Justicia) of each Autonomous Community, and cassation and review lie with the Social Chamber of the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) in Madrid.
How much does a lawyer cost, and are there court fees?
Lawyers’ fees in Spain are freely agreed between lawyer and client; there are no binding official tariffs, although Bar Associations publish non-binding guideline criteria. The labour (social) order is not subject to the court fee (tasa judicial) that applies in civil and contentious-administrative matters, and that fee is owed only by legal persons.
Can I get free legal aid for a Spanish employment claim?
Free legal aid (asistencia jurídica gratuita) under Law 1/1996 can provide a lawyer, a procurador, experts and exemption from procedural costs where household income is insufficient — generally up to twice the IPREM, and three or four times the IPREM depending on dependants. Applications are filed with the Bar Association of the competent court.
How long do I have to act in Spain?
Time limits depend on how a matter is classified. Official Spanish deadlines include 20 working days for an employment dismissal claim, five years for general contractual claims, six months from death for inheritance tax, and one month for an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada or reposición). Ask a lawyer to check your dates immediately.
Can I instruct a lawyer based in another city?
Yes. Membership of a single Colegio de la Abogacía, at the lawyer’s sole or principal professional domicile, allows practice throughout the whole of Spain. Cases can therefore be handled by lawyers in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Málaga, Bilbao or Murcia, with hearings at the court that has jurisdiction.
Next step
Tell us what happened — we will find the right lawyer
Describe your situation in a few lines and we will match you with a workplace discrimination lawyer in Spain at no cost. You decide whether to instruct them.