Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP, a boutique worker’s rights firm, has expanded its ranks by adding Leticia (Letty) Chavez as an associate attorney.
Letty, the proud daughter of hard-working immigrants, developed a passion for fighting injustice when she witnessed her father being exploited at his job as a landscaper. Between college and law school, she went to work for Local 721 of the progressive Service Employees International Union, where she led organizing campaigns to improve working conditions in health care, education, and the public sector, and represented workers in grievances and contract negotiations.
Excellence defined Letty’s academic career. After attending the University of California, San Diego as a Gates Millennium Scholar, Letty’s undergraduate accomplishments earned her the Dean’s Scholarship to Golden Gate University Law School. In law school, Letty served on Law Review and her academic performance earned her many awards. She is a seven-time recipient of the prestigious Witkin Award for Academic Excellence, awarded to the top student in a class, for her achievement in Evidence, Contracts, Legal Writing and Research, Property, Business Associations, and the Women’s Employment Rights Seminar.
While in law school, she externed for Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. To further hone her skills as an advocate, Letty represented low-wage workers before the California Labor Commissioner through the GGU Women’s Employment Rights Clinic and defended workers facing retaliation for their union activity as summer law clerk for the Communication Workers of America in Washington, DC.
Before joining Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP, Letty served as the Workplace Justice Fellow at Feinberg, Jackson, Worthman & Wasow LLP, a Bay Area civil rights law firm where she contributed to legislation and litigation advancing civil and workers’ rights.
Letty is fluent in Spanish and is passionate about helping all workers, including low-wage, immigrant, and Spanish-speaking workers achieve fairness in the workplace.
When she is not working, Letty enjoys spending time in nature, reading historical fiction novels, and enjoying the company of her dog, Luka.
