An employment lawyer, or labor law attorney, is a legal professional who handles employment disputes and also gives employment-related advice. These lawyers know all federal and state laws regarding employment regulations including wrongful termination, wage disputes, defamation, whistleblower protections, and other employment-related matters. Knowing when to contact a labor law attorney can be difficult, but approaching one can give you recovery from losses experienced during workplace harassment.
Why would you hire a labor law attorney?
Most people hire an employment lawyer when you have workplace issues involving discrimination/harassment, wage and benefits, occupational health and safety, wrongful termination, or family/medical leave. When there's a problem in these areas during employment, it can lead to disputes that can only be solved in court.
Not only can a labor law attorney review the merits of a complaint, but he or she can also represent you in court should the case need to be handled outside of mediation.
How do you find a labor law attorney?
When it comes time to hire a lawyer, the myriad of licensed professionals can make the process much more stressful, but here are a few things to look for in your attorney to ensure you get a good one that will defend you.
First, plan on meeting with a number of attorneys. Consultation in most circumstances is free, so consider scheduling appointments with a handful of people you find qualified. While there, ask questions and interview them. You should find out necessary information such as the percentage of cases tried out of court versus in court, if the attorney has handled a case similar to yours in the past, what the resolution of the case was, and what percentage of the practice will be devoted to you.
Other issues you need bring up involve fees, such as how much they charge and if there are any payment arrangements. The cost of every employment claim varies from case to case as well as from state to state. This fact is usually because each state requires different forms, paperwork, and information on the case before a resolution can be found or before it can go to court. Depending on your case, you may be able to work a deal out with the attorney to have a flat fee rather than an hourly rate, which can be quite a bit more expensive.
Keep in mind, that a cheap attorney may not be the best option. You need someone who is well-versed in the law and has handled cases similar to yours. Rather than looking at cost, find an attorney who is skilled first, then consider their price.
