All Administrative remedies must be exhausted prior to bringing a lawsuit. Generally, this means that anyone who wants to file a discrimination lawsuit must first file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Division of Human Rights, or any affiliated state agency, before a lawsuit can be filed. The agency will investigate the claim and determine whether it will litigate your claim for you—it may simply advise you to seek outside legal counsel. The deadline for bringing such a claim is short, often no more than 180 days. If an employee or job applicant does not bring his or her claim to an administrative agency within that period, it may be time-barred forever.