Employment Lawyer, Los Angeles

Employment law is vast and complicated. If you believe you may have an employment legal matter on your hands, it’s best to contact an experienced attorney for help.

In this article, you will discover some of the most common employment law matters and how to find the best employment lawyer, Los Angeles has to offer.

Employment Lawyer Los Angeles

A Los Angeles employment lawyer specializes in California employment law encompassing all areas of the employer/employee relationship. These areas including federal statutes, state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions. If you feel you may have a legal issue, it’s important to consider hiring an attorney to help guide you through the legal process and protect your interests.

So, how do you find the best employment lawyer Los Angeles has to offer?

The SFVBA Attorney Referral Service is certified by the State Bar of California and meets the American Bar Association standards for lawyer referral. With a comprehensive membership of over 150 well-established attorneys in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, we can help connect you with the best Los Angeles employment lawyer for your needs.

Common Types of Employment Lawsuits

Employment law attorneys deal with all sorts of claims involving the relationship between an employer and an employee. For example, if an employee has been discriminated against on the basis of their race, sex, age, religion, or another characteristic, an employment lawyer can help bring a discrimination suit against the employer. Additionally, an employment lawyer can defend an employer against a discrimination suit.

Employment law attorneys also handle issues such as workers’ compensation, disability discrimination and other forms of employment discrimination. If an employee suffers a work-related illness or injury, the employee is entitled to benefits under California’s workers’ comp laws. The employee may also be eligible to collect disability.

Sometimes an employee will report illegal or unethical behavior in which his or her employer is engaged. An employer may retaliate against the employee, which is against the law. An employment lawyer will help defend that employee and secure compensation for wrongful termination and retaliation.

A few other common reasons people seek the help of an experienced employment lawyer in Los Angeles include the following:

• Whistleblower Cases
• Unpaid Wages
• Unpaid Overtime
• Class Actions
• Sexual Harassment
• Wrongful Termination
• Retaliation
• Leaves of Absence
• Premises Liability
• Disability Claims
• Sexual Harassment
• Discrimination
• Worker’s Compensation
• Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
• Employment Contracts

The Benefit of Hiring a Lawyer

Employment law encompasses a wide variety of claims regarding an employer-employee relationship.

Because the law is so varied and complicated, an employment lawyer is able to competently and professionally represent an employer or an employee in a dispute.

An attorney specializing in employment law will be able to assess the situation, explain the law to his or her client, ensure that the client knows all the possible options for his or her claim, and maximize the possibility of a positive outcome.

The Legal Process

Because employment law deals with many areas of the law including civil claims and administrative claims, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for the legal process involving an employment law case.

Typically, for a civil employment law case, the individual bringing the case, the plaintiff, will consult with an attorney regarding the potential claim. If the claim has merit, the plaintiff will file a complaint against his or her employer, the defendant. The defendant, who also should secure employment law counsel, will file an answer admitting or denying the allegations.

The two parties can choose to attempt to negotiate a settlement, or they can begin the discovery process which involves collecting evidence to potentially be brought in front of a jury or judge. This includes securing any important or relevant documents, taking depositions, and interviewing witnesses who may have relevant information to the case.

After the discovery process is complete, the two parties can again attempt to settle. Sometimes after one side sees the strength of the other side’s evidence, that side may be more willing to negotiate a settlement rather than incurring litigation costs. However, if both sides are confident about their position in the case, the case may be brought to trial in front of a jury.

During a civil employment law trial, the plaintiff is usually seeking monetary compensation for the harm they have experienced. This could be unpaid wages, compensation for discrimination, or compensation for being wrongfully terminated. Additionally, the plaintiff could seek attorney’s fees and other litigation costs.

An employer can also sue an employee for an employee’s wrongful actions. In that situation, the process would be the same except that the employer will be seeking damages from the employee.

Selecting the Right Attorney for You

When choosing an employment law attorney, one should be sure to seek a lawyer who is experienced in the specific area of employment law with which their claim deals.

For example, if an employee is seeking to file a claim against an employer, securing a lawyer who usually defends employers might not be the best fit. If an employer is looking to defend itself against an employee’s claim, hiring an attorney who usually brings claims on behalf of employees is not the best choice.

Oftentimes, attorneys will also specialize in specific areas of employment law. While one attorney may be well-versed in employment discrimination cases, he or she may not know a lot about collective bargaining or whistleblower claims.

A potential client should always check a potential attorney’s credentials before signing a retainer agreement or other representation contract. Additionally, a client should always feel comfortable talking to their potential attorney, as litigation can go on for many months or years depending on the case.

Start with a Free Consultation

A vetted referral by a trusted source is the best referral. In California, referral services are certified by the State Bar of California. Certified programs such as the Attorney Referral Service (ARS) of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association (SFVBA) are public service programs that meet and obey standards adopted by the California Supreme Court. The approval standards for attorneys are very high, the qualification requirements are stringent, and this is all for the purpose of referring highly experienced attorneys, capable of properly representing clients in employment law matters.

Many employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation settlements are confidential. Confidential agreements make it difficult to verify an attorney’s actual case experience and the success rate. Additionally, most clients when searching for an attorney won’t know what questions to ask. That makes it difficult for clients to learn how much an attorney truly knows about employment law.

When you call the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, you will speak with a highly trained Attorney Referral Service Consultant. ARS Consultants abide by confidentiality regulations and standards, but are not lawyers and therefore cannot give you legal advice. Our staff will hear your concerns and will be ready to refer you the right employment law attorney or a better resource for your situation.

Call the San Fernando Valley Bar Association Attorney Referral Service Today! 818-340-4529