How To Find The Top Employment Lawyer For Your Specific Case
The best employment lawyers are individuals trained in the laws relevant to one’s specific case. Employment issues can range from wrongful termination at the hands of an employer to discriminate against employees based on age, sex, or disability. An experienced lawyer familiar with these types of laws is important when seeking justice for violations committed by employers under state employment law. The following guide will help you find a top employment attorney for your unique situation.
Legal Experience Focusing On Employment Law
The best employment lawyers focus on issues like wrongful termination and discrimination in the workplace. The lawyers at www.eclaw.com explain that it is important to ensure this individual has experience with the laws you need to prove were broken in your case. This will ensure that they know how to properly approach your case, so you can win it! For example, an experienced lawyer who specializes in copyright law may not be well versed in what constitutes unlawful harassment or discrimination in the workplace.
However, a top employment attorney should understand which statutes protect employees from forms of harassment and discrimination most common today, including sexism, ageism, and racism. Verify legal expertise by asking for their resume and past cases they have worked on or represented.
Ask For A Free Consultation
Any lawyer worth their salt will not charge you for a consultation to determine the facts of your case. Most reputable employment attorneys adhere to ethical standards that promote access to the legal system by offering free consultations in most cases. Because most cases are based on facts rather than laws, it is important for you to get an idea of what has happened and how other people have dealt with similar situations before taking steps towards pursuing legal action. Many attorneys offer free initial consultations via telephone or in-person, should you need face-to-face interaction. This face time will allow you to ask questions and gain a better understanding of relevant issues. You should be wary if your lawyer tries to pressure you into signing up for their services at the end of the initial consultation.
Ask For A List Of Past Clients
A top employment attorney typically has a list of past clients they can proudly display as references. These attorneys are usually well known in their field because they have worked with many people who found success through them. Look for testimonials regarding performance since these are more reliable than simple reviews or rating websites which are easily manipulated by anyone involved. Your own research should yield enough results so that you will find other names and contact information to speak with about how effective this person is at representing people’s interests in court cases involving employment law violations. This step is particularly important since employment lawyers are often your best friends in the courtroom.
Employment Law Firms And Organizations
Law firms with lawyers who focus on employment law are a great option. Lawyers affiliated with labor unions and civil rights groups can also offer you the legal representation needed to file a lawsuit against an employer or former employer. They will always have information about how to contact them on their websites for this reason.
Inquire About Cost
There is never a fee to determine if your case qualifies for relief through litigation, but there may be costs involved once the process gets underway that require money from you as well as your lawyer. Employment lawyers typically ask for what is called a retainer, which covers the expenses of pursuing your case. These are fees paid upfront before anything else happens until the final outcome has been determined. You should never be asked to pay for services unless your case goes all the way through the process of litigation, which means you could end up with a judgment against you if it is lost. Ask what percentage of total damages awarded will go towards paying legal costs and retainers.
Pro Bono Lawyers
Another option is to take advantage of the free legal services offered by lawyers who work for non-profit organizations. These are called pro bono cases, which means they are taking the case at no cost to you in order to help someone else that might not be able to afford their services otherwise. The downside is that these types of lawsuits typically never rise above small claims court, so do not expect the same treatment as other types of cases where significant amounts of money are on the line. They can still offer valuable advice and guidance since they have experience working through employment law-related issues.
The most important part of hiring an employment lawyer is to determine if they are the right fit for your unique case. You do not want to hire someone who does not have experience in similar cases or has a poor track record because this will only prolong the process and make it more costly. A top employment lawyer typically has a list of past clients they can proudly display as references. These attorneys are usually well known in their field because they have worked with many people who found success through them.
