About Elisabeth A.
Elisabeth A. DeBartolo combined an early interest in social systems with formal training in human resources and law. She earned a B.A. in Sociology from California State University, Chico, followed by an M.S. in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University. She later completed her legal education at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Her career began long before she became an attorney. Starting in 1982 she served in executive-level human resources positions across several industries, including agriculture, transportation, non-profit organizations, publishing, and hospitality. Those years in HR placed her inside company decision-making and exposed her to the nuts and bolts of workplace operations. The experience helped shape her approach to employment issues when she later entered private practice.
After earning her law degree she moved into the legal field and, in 2003, established California Workplace Law where she serves as owner and lawyer. She is admitted to practice in California and before the Ninth Circuit. Her practice grew out of both the academic and practical sides of employment matters. She draws on hands-on HR experience when advising clients and when handling disputes that arise from employment relationships.
Beyond private practice, she has contributed pro bono time to Legal Services for Seniors since 2016. In that role she has provided legal help to older adults, handling matters that affect daily life and long-term stability. The pro bono work sits alongside her practice as a continuing link to community-level problems and to the needs of individual clients beyond corporate settings.
Colleagues and clients encounter a lawyer who blends workplace knowledge with litigation and counseling skills. Her background in human resources informs how she approaches investigations, policy review, and employee relations. Her legal training supports representation in administrative and court proceedings where those workplace issues escalate.
She maintains an active practice through California Workplace Law, advising on workplace law matters and representing clients in employment-related disputes. Her current practice focuses on employment and workplace law for employers and individuals in California and on matters that may reach the Ninth Circuit.
