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Inside Turchik Law Firm, the Tucson practice built over nearly four decades by a former Perkins Coie attorney who has increasingly shifted her focus toward employee rights specifically after decades representing both sides of the employment relationship.
Merle Joy Turchik — At a Glance
| ATTORNEY | Merle Joy Turchik |
| FIRM | Turchik Law Firm, P.C. (Owner) |
| ADMITTED | Arizona and Illinois, 1986 (nearly 40 years) |
| EDUCATION | University of Arizona (B.A., with distinction, 1981); University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law (J.D., with distinction) |
| ADDITIONAL ADMISSIONS | U.S. District Court, District of Arizona; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. Supreme Court |
| FOCUS | Employment law, with a stated recent primary focus on employee rights specifically, following decades representing both employees and employers |
| OFFICE | Tucson, AZ |
| CONTACT | (520) 812-6964 · turchiklawfirm.com |
Origin: Nearly Four Decades, With a Notable Shift in Focus
Merle Joy Turchik earned her B.A. with distinction from the University of Arizona in 1981 and her J.D. with distinction from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, and was admitted to the Arizona and Illinois bars in 1986. Earlier in her career, per her own professional history, she practiced at Perkins Coie, a major national firm. Over more than 30 years representing both public- and private-sector employees and employers, her own biography notes that in recent years her primary focus has shifted specifically to employee rights.
Practice Areas
Turchik’s practice covers discrimination claims across nearly every protected category (age, disability, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, sexual orientation, and genetic testing), FMLA matters, wage and hour (FLSA) claims, wrongful termination, and whistleblower retaliation matters. She also has experience handling matters before local, state, and federal administrative agencies, including personnel boards, professional boards, and the EEOC/Arizona Civil Rights Division.
Track Record
Employment case outcomes are frequently confidential or resolved through settlement, so there’s no independent public case table to cite. Turchik’s professional record instead runs through nearly 40 years of continuous practice and sustained peer recognition, including recent pro bono federal court work in employment discrimination.
Note: Past results, where applicable, do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter.
Client Voice
Clients describe Turchik as responsive and straightforward in her communication, crediting her with helping them understand a difficult legal process while also providing sound legal advice and emotional support. Her understanding of the employer’s perspective, paired with an empathetic approach toward employee clients, is described by clients as making them feel secure and well-represented.
Community
Turchik is a past Chair of the Executive Council of the Arizona State Bar’s Employment and Labor Law Section and a past President of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association. She was recognized in the Chandler Lifestyle Magazine’s 2024 Women of Chandler edition, and has taken on pro bono employment discrimination matters in federal court.
Recognition
Turchik holds a 4.5 Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell as of 2026, along with a “Notable” rating reflecting recognition from a large number of her peers for strong ethical standards — both genuine peer-review credentials. She has also earned Avvo’s Client’s Choice and Top Contributor recognitions. Arizona doesn’t certify employment law as a Board specialty, so her decades of bar leadership and sustained peer-review ratings are among the most relevant available credentials.
The Arizona Legal Backdrop
What follows is general legal information, not legal advice.
Employment discrimination claims run through both federal law (Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA) and Arizona’s own civil rights statute, A.R.S. § 41-1463. Arizona is an at-will employment state, with exceptions under the Arizona Employment Protection Act, A.R.S. § 23-1501. Federal FMLA leave protections and FLSA wage and hour requirements — both central to Turchik’s practice — layer additional federal protections on top of this state framework.
The Awesome Attorneys Assessment
Turchik’s genuine strength is nearly four decades of continuous employment law practice, national-firm training early in her career, and a documented, self-described shift toward employee-focused representation in recent years — a trajectory worth taking at face value given how openly her own materials describe it.
The honest caveat: her practice history includes substantial employer-side representation, and her own bio frames the employee focus as a recent development rather than a career-long exclusive commitment — clients specifically seeking counsel with zero employer-side history should ask directly about her current caseload mix.
Methodology & Sourcing
This profile was researched in August 2026 from turchiklawfirm.com (firm site), Martindale, Lawyers.com, Justia, and LinkedIn. Turchik Law Firm, P.C. did not commission, review, or pay for this profile.
Publisher Disclosure & Independence Notice
This profile is an independent editorial article published by Awesome Attorneys. Awesome Attorneys does not endorse, recommend, or warrant any lawyer or law firm profiled on this site, and inclusion in this series is not paid placement.