Tips for Hiring an Employment Lawyer

There are many different reasons why you might need to hire an employment lawyer, whether you’re an employee on your company’s payroll or are actually running a business, an attorney can be very useful to you in many cases. 

It’s also important to be aware of when you might need to have the support of an employment lawyer as timing might make all the difference between an adequate outcome or significant losses and damages. 

If you are an employer, you will need the services of a lawyer to help you put together the right policies in your workplace to do with salaries, sick and holiday leave, bonuses and much more. A good attorney will also help you stay on the right side of the law when it comes to important matters such as discrimination and harassment, helath and safety, wrongful termination and many others which ensures that you and your employees have clear guidelines within which to operate.

An employment lawyer will also help you with contracts, benefits packages, due diligence for workers compensation claims and in cases when you need to reduce the workforce also with severance packages.

If you are an employee, a good employment lawyer is a must if you need to file a suit for wrongful termination, when you feel that you have been mistreated, disciplined unfairly, harassed or discriminated against, working in a hostile and toxic environment or get sick or injured on the job.

Whatever the reason for wanting to hire an employment lawyer here are Our Top Tips on what to look for and how to find an employment lawyer:

#1 Ensure they have the knowledge, skills and experience level to match your specific case;

#2 Ask the lawyer how do the stay informed on all current developments in their field such as federal and state labor laws and regulations, different federal agencies rules and also organizations such as Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and a number of others. 

If you have done your own research on current employment law and know what and where to look for information, then you’ll be able to assess if the employment lawyer you’re talking to knows their stuff and can be a good option for you.

#3 Ask them to go into detail about their fee arrangements including billing, other costs and resolution timelines;

#4 Use referrals from friends, family, other attorneys, partners and business contacts. 

Checking with local bar associations will be helpful as well as researching online or on local lawyer directories.

#5 Schedule consultations with the 2 or 3 lawyers or legal firms that you have narrowed your search down to. Gather all the necessary documentation and be proactive in asking questions and finding out who will be the best fit for you in your particular matter.

A competent and experienced employment lawyer can make all the difference in many cases of legal disputes or other sensitive matters whether you are an employer or an employee. That’s why it’s important to select one with care and invest the time to find the best fit for you.