Employment Agreements That Actually Protect You — Whether You're Signing or Drafting One
Before you sign anything — or hand anything to someone else to sign — it's worth having an attorney who understands what those terms actually mean in practice. At Jet Legal Services, we work with both employers and employees across California, New York, and Texas, reviewing and drafting employment agreements that are built to hold up, not just fill a folder.
In California, Most Non-Competes Are Unenforceable — and That Changes Everything
California has some of the strongest worker protections in the country when it comes to non-compete agreements. Under California Business and Professions Code Section 16600, non-compete clauses are generally void and unenforceable against employees as a matter of state law. That means if your employer has asked you to sign one — or if you already signed one — it likely cannot be enforced against you in California.
Many employees don't know this. Many employers don't fully understand it either. If you've been told you can't work for a competitor, start your own practice, or take clients with you, you may have more freedom than your contract suggests. We explain exactly where the law stands and what it means for your specific situation.
Physician and Dentist Employment Contracts Require a Different Level of Review
A physician employment agreement is not a standard HR document. The terms that matter most — RVU-based compensation structure, call coverage obligations, tail insurance allocation, termination without cause provisions, and restrictive covenants — require someone who has read enough of these contracts to know what's standard, what's negotiable, and what's a red flag.
We review physician and dentist employment contracts with that level of specificity. Before you accept a position with a hospital, group practice, or health system, you should understand what you're agreeing to — not just the base salary on page one.
For physicians and dentists on a partnership track, we also review and advise on equity incentive plans, buy-in provisions, and ownership structures that generalist attorneys often don't have the background to address. If you want to learn more about the full scope of legal services we offer to healthcare professionals, visit our Healthcare Professionals page.
For Employers: Agreements Drafted to Be Enforced, Not Just Signed
A poorly drafted employment agreement creates more risk than no agreement at all. If your confidentiality clause isn't properly scoped, your independent contractor classification doesn't hold up, or your termination provision contradicts state law, you'll find out at the worst possible time.
We draft employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, and confidentiality agreements for businesses in California, New York, and Texas — built for enforceability in the state where your employees actually work. If you operate across multiple states, we account for that too.
- Employment agreements for full-time and part-time employees
- Independent contractor agreements with proper classification language
- Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
- At-will employment documentation compliant with California and New York law
- Non-solicitation clauses (where enforceable) for client and employee relationships
For help with broader contract needs, including vendor agreements and service contracts, visit our Contracts page.
What We Review in Every Employment Agreement
Whether you're an employee reviewing an offer or an employer preparing one, a thorough agreement analysis covers the same core territory. Here's what we look at:
- Compensation structure, including base salary, bonuses, RVU thresholds, and incentive terms
- Term and termination provisions, including notice requirements and termination without cause
- Tail insurance and malpractice coverage obligations (critical for physicians and dentists)
- Restrictive covenants: non-competes, non-solicitation clauses, and their enforceability by state
- Intellectual property and work product ownership
- Dispute resolution clauses, including arbitration requirements
- Independent contractor vs. employee classification and the legal exposure that comes with getting it wrong
Frequently Asked Questions About Employment Agreements
Can my employer enforce a non-compete agreement against me in California?
In most cases, no. California law makes the vast majority of non-compete agreements unenforceable against employees. There are narrow exceptions — primarily involving the sale of a business — but if you're an employee who signed a non-compete as a condition of employment in California, it is likely void. We can review your specific agreement and tell you exactly where you stand.What should a physician look for before signing an employment contract?
Beyond the base salary, the terms that matter most are how RVU-based compensation is calculated, what call coverage is required and how it's compensated, who pays for tail insurance if you leave, how much notice is required to terminate, and whether any restrictive covenants apply. These provisions can have significant financial consequences — and they're often negotiable before you sign.What's the difference between an employee and an independent contractor, and why does it matter?
The classification determines how taxes are handled, what benefits and protections apply, and what legal obligations the business carries. Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor exposes employers to significant liability in California and New York. We help employers draft agreements that reflect the actual nature of the working relationship and hold up to scrutiny.Do I need an attorney to review my employment agreement, or can I handle it myself?
You can read it yourself — but you may not know what's missing, what's negotiable, or what a particular clause actually means when enforced. Attorneys who review employment agreements regularly, especially in specialized fields like healthcare, can identify terms that look standard but carry real risk. The cost of a review is almost always less than the cost of a dispute down the road.Does Jet Legal Services handle employment agreements in New York and Texas as well as California?
Yes. We are licensed in California, New York, and Texas and draft and review employment agreements in all three states. Because employment law varies significantly by state — particularly around non-competes, at-will employment, and contractor classification — we apply state-specific analysis to every agreement we review.
Ready to Review or Draft an Employment Agreement?
Whether you've received a contract you don't fully understand or you need agreements drafted for your team, we're ready to help. Our attorneys work directly with you — no handoffs, no associates you've never met. Reach out to schedule a consultation at any of our offices in Springfield Gardens, NY, Oakland, CA, or Culver City, CA, or virtually from anywhere.
