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Meet Susan

Susan Arduengo is a California-licensed attorney and an Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder who conducts impartial, thorough, high quality workplace investigations throughout California. She has investigated a broad range of allegations in both private and public sector workplaces, including matters involving non-profits and institutions of higher education.

 

Susan has also conducted investigations into allegations against elected officials and sworn personnel, including matters arising under the Firefighters’ Procedural Bill of Rights Act (FBOR) and the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBR). In addition, she has significant experience conducting investigations in unionized workplaces. 

 

Prior to focusing her practice on workplace investigations, Susan worked as an employment litigator, handling matters involving wage and hour disputes, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and class actions in both state and federal courts.

 

A native Floridian, Susan earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law. During law school, she clerked for the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida and for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida. She began her legal career in Chicago, Illinois, before relocating to California.

 

Licenses / Certificates / Training

  • California State Bar

  • Illinois State Bar (Inactive)

  • Association of Workplace Investigators, Certificate Holder

  • ATIXA Title IX Investigator Training

Speaking Engagements

Susan is a frequent speaker on workplace investigations and employment law topics. She regularly presents to professional associations, public agencies, and private organizations, and has addressed a diverse range of audiences on these topics, including:

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  • California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) - 2025

  • The Cheesecake Factory - 2025 Investigations Summit

  • Orange County Association of Legal Administrators - 2025

  • National Human Resources Association (NHRA) – Ventura County Affiliate - 2025

  • PIHRA California - 2024

  • California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) - 2024

  • PIHRA California Employment Law Update (CELU) - 2024

  • Beverly Hills Bar Association - 2024

  • PIHRA South Orange County - 2024

  • PIHRA California HR Annual Conference - 2024

  • Los Angeles County Bar Association - 2024

  • Association of Workplace Investigators Virtual Basics Seminar - 2024

  • Association of California School Administrators Negotiators' Institute - 2024

  • Southern California Public Labor Relations Council - 2023

  • California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) - 2023

  • Association of California School Administrators Personnel Institute - 2023

  • California Institute for Local Government - 2023

  • Association of Workplace Investigators Virtual Basics Seminar - 2023

  • PIHRA North Orange County - 2023

  • City Attorney’s Association of Los Angeles County - 2023

  • PIHRA Glendale/Burbank - 2022

  • Long Beach Barristers and Women Lawyers of Long Beach - 2022

  • Orange County City Attorneys’ Association - 2022

  • Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Moderator - 2022

  • Orange County Bar Association, Entertainment, Sports & Marketing Section, Moderator - 2018

  • Orange County Women Lawyers Association - 2017

  • Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, Moderator - 2016

Volunteer 

Susan actively volunteers with the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), contributing her expertise to advance the field of workplace investigations. She has served as Convener of the Los Angeles Local Circle, Co-Chair of the Membership & Marketing Committee, and Co-Facilitator of the Public Sector Affinity Group. In addition, she has taught AWI’s Investigations Fundamentals courses and served as Part-Time Faculty at AWI’s Virtual Institute.

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