When you file for unemployment, an employee from the government contacts you and the employer. The employer can claim you were fired for a reason. Then the claim is automatically denied unless you contest it. When you contest it, you appear before a local judge. It's just you, the judge, and the other party (in this case, my manager). They present their argument and you present yours.

In this case, they really tried to throw tons of things at me (some I had contradicting evidence in non-work email however I had no idea they would make such wild claims). The judge forced them to narrow it down to the top 3-4. For these items, the judge heard one side and then the other. Then we had closing arguments.

Apparently, many people who are denied unemployment do not contest it. But in my experience, it was very straight forward. I did not need a lawyer. I stayed calm and presented my side.

The very next day I received a letter informing me that I had won and by the wording it was clear the judge sided completely with me. Of course, that was just for unemployment however it was a very satisfactory experience.

Companies have to pay some or all of your unemployment, so it's in their interest to say you were fired for a reason bad enough that you shouldn't get unemployment. If they are found to be right, you don't get the unemployment benefits.