Employment attorneys practice a wide range of employer-employee relations law dealing with how employers should treat their employees, whether they are currently employed or former employees and applicants. A good employment lawyer reduces the risks of the employer and the employee through the direction they provide to protect the rights of both.
For employers and business owners, an employment attorney can
– Review company handbooks, employee handbook and company policy statements.
– Represent employers before the Boards of Labor and Employment Equality Commissions – – Opportunities Commission and other human rights organizations.
– Assist employers in implementing wage and hour laws and claims.
– Provides assistance during mediation procedures.
– Represent employers in claims, grievances and arbitration hearings.
– Represent the employer in the charges filed against the company.
– Advice and representation of employers in collective agreements with unions.
– Provide advice and consultation on issues related to strikes, lockouts and represent you during litigation.
– Hiring employment attorneys can save a company many worries involving labor and employment laws and decisions involving the workplace.
Employment lawyers are good advisers for employees involved in cases such as discrimination, illegal termination, sexual harassment, wage and compensation issues, contract deviation, harassment, severance packages, etc.
Whether it’s an employee or an employer, hiring an employment lawyer can go a long way toward ensuring compliance with state and national laws designed to prevent conflicts and protect the rights of all.
There are many ways to find a good employment lawyer.
The local bar association is a good source. The association can refer you to one of their colleagues who is an expert on this. The National Bar Association has thousands of members and you can find one that you can comfortably work with.
Many employment lawyers have their own websites. Their sites will detail their area of expertise. Referrals from friends and the yellow pages can also be a source.
When looking for an employment lawyer, find someone who has handled cases similar to yours. The more cases they have handled that are relevant to your case, the better you can be represented. Feel free to ask the attorneys questions about their background and experience. They must demonstrate professional competence. As a point of reference, the employment lawyer you should be interested in should have handled at least 70% of similar cases. The employment lawyer she chooses should answer her questions and be able to answer them in a way that is unambiguous and, as much as possible, free of legal jargon. A good attorney is someone you can trust and feel very comfortable working with.
However, employment lawyers, like any other lawyer, can only work to the extent of the information given to them. When looking to hire an employment lawyer, don’t hide information from them. Clients who choose to say only the things they think are important often create a problem where it shouldn’t have existed. It will be very difficult for them to determine strategies and action plans for your case when the details are not very well laid out.
Remember that the lawyer only works with you. Whatever the case, you will be the one who will benefit greatly from the services of an employment lawyer. It is also you who could enjoy the results.