How to Find an Employment Lawyer
Whether you’re an employee or employer, there are many reasons you might consider looking for an employment lawyer. It can be a challenge finding the best attorney for your needs when you’re not sure where to start.
Here’s how to find an employment lawyer near you.
How to Find an Employment Lawyer Near You
Hard work and good work ethic: it’s what America is known for. Most of us grow up and graduate into adulthood with the belief that hard work is always rewarded, but what about when that doesn’t happen?
Sometimes, employers fail to give applicants a fair shot, play fast and loose with their private information, fail to pay them for services rendered, or even neglect their duty of care, leading to serious illnesses and injuries. If this happens to you, California state law holds that you can sue for compensation and have your case heard in the civil court – but that doesn’t mean you should self-represent.
Employment law cases can be notoriously complicated. Often, employers have their own lawyers who will fight to prevent you from accessing funds. The best way to ensure your rights are represented is to learn how to find the best employment lawyer for you, and then retain them to help you in your fight.
Why Would Someone Sue an Employer?
Every employer in California (and the rest of the country, too) has a responsibility to follow laws that ensure everyone’s rights are respected in the workplace. These laws apply to the entirety of the employer’s interactions with people they either may hire or do hire (including prospective candidates).
Employers are considered negligent for a variety of reasons. In some cases, negligence may be unintentional, such as failing to repair equipment or environments that lead to an accident. Negligence can also be malicious (such as refusing to hire people belonging to a certain race due to prejudicial beliefs) and breaks Equal Opportunity Employment Commission laws.
Negligence can even be subtle or difficult to identify; it may not cause immediate or severe harm right away. This is often the case when an employer engages in unfair hiring practices, such as failing to ask permission before screening a candidate’s criminal record prior to hiring them.
Some cases aren’t as black-and-white; an employer may argue that they were in their right due to their own interpretation of the laws, while the employee disagrees.
Other issues may involve sexual harassment in the workplace, age discrimination, and failing to resolve hostile work environments. There are many reasons both employees and employers might consider hiring an employment lawyer in California, so it’s a good idea to consider seeking a free consultation if you believe you might have a legal matter.
When employers are negligent in their duty of responsibility or in their requirement to pay the people they employ, it can cause significant hardship. Whether it’s an issue of being forced to work without pay or being fired unfairly, the bottom line is that the employee suffers and is often left feeling helpless. That’s why laws exist to protect workers in the first place.
Related: 9 Common Legal Issues in the Workplace
What Does an Employment Lawyer Do?
Employment lawyers focus solely or mostly on issues related to employment law. This includes cases involving unfair hiring practices, failure to pay workers, and workplace injuries directly related to negligence. Because they spend most (if not all) of their time on employment law cases, they are also much more likely to know this specific area of law inside-out. They may also have partners, network connections, and associates who can help them find answers and information faster, too.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t see an orthopedic surgeon if you needed heart surgery. Instead, you would see a cardiac specialist who specializes in treating issues related to the heart – essentially, an “expert.” An employment lawyer is very much like a specialist or expert focusing on only this area of law.
Find the Right Employment Lawyer for You
Employment cases have become so common that plaintiffs register new cases in California courts every single day. As lawyers respond to that increasing demand by choosing to specialize in employment law,
Take a quick search through the telephone book. You’ll instantly notice hundreds of names listed, especially if you’re close to a major city like Los Angeles. How can you be sure which is the right one?
The truth is that, even within the realm of legal specialists, no two lawyers are exactly the same. Each has a unique skill set that may or may not make them more suitable for assisting with your case. Some lawyers just more skilled than others (usually because they have a better track record, fewer complaints, or more experience.
How to Diversify Your Search
First, don’t limit yourself to only searching for lawyers in the telephone book. While this can be a perfectly valid way to find a lawyer in a small town, it often feels overwhelming, stressful, and exhausting anywhere else. There’s no way to determine which listings are better than others, leaving you at the mercy of gut instinct when you call each office. Instead, make your search multifaceted.
Ask Friends and Family
A 2012 study by Florida’s Moses and Rooth law firm revealed that nearly 55 percent of all people start their search for a lawyer by asking friends and family for referrals. This can be an incredibly positive way to find an employment lawyer, especially if you have friends or loved ones who are particularly well-connected.
Start by asking friends and family members whether they can recommend someone to help you with your specific case. Whether their experiences with California lawyers have been positive or negative, their feedback can help guide you in the right direction (and maybe even protect you from a bad outcome, too).
If you have friends or family members who are attorneys themselves, ask them to refer you to an employment lawyer they know and trust. This might be someone within their law firm, someone they’ve worked with, or even someone on the other side of the table in a past court case.
Lawyers who give their opinion and/or a referral put their reputation on the line. Ergo, they are much more likely to suggest someone who will truly be a positive match, rather than just a friend or someone who needs more clients.
Related: What to do if You are Fired Because of Age in California
Run a Google Search
The internet can be a very powerful tool; don’t be afraid to use it. Try searching a few keywords online, such as “employment lawyer Los Angeles” or “employment law offices California.” Generally, it’s best to choose the smallest local area you can define (even down to the neighborhood) to ensure you don’t receive thousands of results.
Once Google returns a few options, follow the links and check out the listings carefully. Can you find a website for them? Are complaints the first thing that pops up when you search? Find their telephone number and call them directly.
As a good “last step” before you start making telephone calls, take the lawyer’s name and search it on the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) website. Members listed here are verified to be licensed and have a good track record of getting positive results for clients.
Try a Legal Referral Service
Legal referral service can help connect you with an employment lawyer with the experience needed to handle your case. These services may be private or controlled by non-profit organizations, but all exist for the same reason: to help empower Americans to gain access to robust legal representations with less stress.
One of the many benefits of using a lawyer referral service is the fact that applying is often as easy as entering a few basic details into a lawyer request form online. You may only need to give your name, what you are suing for, and whether you have any special considerations before receiving an answer. Referral services match you to the best lawyer for your situation to ensure a good match. This makes finding an employment lawyer stress-free.
Can You Really Trust Lawyer Referral Services?
Yes! In fact, in the State of California, all lawyer referral services must be certified by the California State Bar. They are also legally required to adhere to California Supreme Court standards when representing or interacting with you, your private information, and your case. This means you can trust them to truly match you with someone who can help you, not just a random lawyer who wants to benefit from your hardship financially without offering proper representation.
California’s lawyer referral services work hard to keep cultivated lists of the state’s best lawyers. Most services only work with upstanding attorneys free from major complaints, lawsuits, or other reputation issues. Learning how to find an employment lawyer could be as simple as using taking a few moments to enter your info, getting your match, and then moving towards a more confident resolution of your case.
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