lawyer who can look at my employee contract

by Yazmin Koelpin 6 min read

The employment law attorneys at Upton & Hatfield have extensive experience reviewing employee agreements, as well as fighting non-compete agreements and other unfair work practices. If you are interested in learning more about the employment law group, contact us today. Categories

An employment contract review is performed by an employment lawyer to analyze an employment agreement between an employer and employee for fairness, thoroughness, and legal compliance. Most companies hire lawyers to write their contracts.

Full Answer

How do I find a lawyer for a physician employment contract?

Contacting the state medical association in the state where you will be working is one of the best ways to find lawyers who are qualified to review and negotiate your physician employment contract. Make sure to find an attorney licensed to practice law in the state where you'll be working because state legal requirements, as well as federal laws, may apply.

Why do I need an attorney to review my employment contract?

If you have questions about the terms of your contract or you would like help negotiating your contract, please reach out to Siegel & Dolan. Throughout Chicagoland, our attorneys welcome the opportunity to assist you. You can call us at (312) 878-3210 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with one of our employment contract attorneys.

Why hire a contract lawyer?

Contract Branigan Robertson’s Office If you’re thinking about whether or not to sign an employment contract, consider contacting the office of Branigan Robertson first. While our office doesn’t offer free contract review/negotiation, you might find it well worth the time and effort to have an attorney review the terms your employer is offering.

What can a lawyer do for an employee in a lawsuit?

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How do you review a work contract?

Key Considerations for Reviewing Your Employment ContractJob Description. While an employment contract should include the employee's title, work hours and work location, it should also include a description of the employee's duties. ... Statutory Minimums. ... Compensation and Benefits. ... Term. ... Termination. ... Bargaining Power.

Should I review my employment contract?

It's imperative that you review your employment contract to ensure all the important points are covered and whatever you agreed to verbally is also in the offer letter. If the terms you agreed to are not in writing, they're not going to be included in your contract.

How long should you give someone to review a contract?

There is no requirement that your employer give you any defined period of time to review a new agreement. In fact, unless you have an express agreement to the contrary, you are an at will employee which means your employer can...Aug 5, 2014

How much time should an employer provide an employee to review an employment contract?

Answer: While there is no hard and fast rule, three business days is generally accepted as a fair and reasonable amount of time. There are a few purposes served by giving a po- tential employee time to review an employment contract. First, and perhaps most fundamental, it's the fair thing to do.Jan 27, 2014

How much does an employment contract review cost?

While there is no hard and fast rule, three business days is generally a fair and reasonable amount of time to review your contract. If your potential employer or HR is pressuring you to sign right away, that could very well be a red flag.

Is reviewing a contract the practice of law?

In Lola, discussed in our earlier post, the Court of Appeals held that document review conducted by a contract attorney is not necessarily “practicing law,” particularly if the attorney “provided services that a machine could have provided.”Jan 4, 2016

What is contract checklist?

A contract checklist is a step-by-step list that helps you organize a contract's key parts before finalizing it. This helps reduce miscommunication, set expectations, and make sure both parties are on the same page.

Is contract law a civil law?

Contracts: Legal Perspectives Contract law in civil law jurisdictions (across Europe, Latin America, Japan, China, and parts of Africa) is largely codified and is part of the civil law of 'obligations.

Aspects of an Employment Contract to Review

When it comes time to review a contract for the first time, having a lawyer by your side will ensure you understand every word. The areas of interest to look at particularly closely include the following:

Choosing a Lawyer to Look Over Your Employment Contract

As a potential employee, it’s understandable to be wary about bringing a lawyer into the mix when it comes time to sign your contract. You may be worried about appearing aggressive or difficult by consulting a lawyer. With some employees, however, there’s an expectation that an attorney will assist with negotiations.

Work with a Lawyer You Can Trust

If you have questions about your employment contract, contact us before you sign. Not only can we explain the legal terms in a more easily understandable manner, but we’ll review the document and make sure it’s beneficial for you and your relationship with your future employer.

What should be included in an employment agreement?

Salary, benefits, bonuses, equity, opportunities for professional development, and any other form of compensation you’ve been offered should be included in the employment agreement. An attorney can help you ensure everything you were promised is there in writing.

What to discuss during an interview?

During the interview process, you likely discussed the specifics of the position and what would be expected of you if you were hired. In some cases, the employer may not have gone into specific detail regarding the job and the role you will be asked to play. The employment agreement formalizes your job title and description. It is to your benefit to have an attorney review these responsibilities so you can evaluate if you are being fairly compensated and if the role you are accepting meets your expectations.

Is a non-compete clause appropriate?

A non-compete clause may be appropriate depending on your industry and job title. Even if you have never worked for a company that uses non-compete agreements, it is wise to check your employment agreement to see if it is included. In New Hampshire, there are laws regulating non-compete agreements.

Do you have to give extended notice to a new employer?

Leaving your job and termination of employment. Your new employer may require you to provide extended notice before leaving or retiring. While this might not seem relevant today, it could be important if you decide to move on or retire by a certain date.

Can you be terminated without cause?

The employment agreement should also note whether you can be terminated without cause, which some people refer to as termination at will, or if you can only be terminated for cause, such as failure to show up for work, not performing certain job requirements, or inappropriate behavior.

What is at will employment in Illinois?

In the absence of an agreement, employment in Illinois is considered “at-will.” This generally means that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time. An employer may do so for any reason or no reason at all, so long as the employer’s actions are not prohibited by state or federal law, such as laws prohibiting discrimination based on the employee’s membership in a protected class, or prohibiting retaliation for the employee’s engagement in protected activity.

What is the purpose of a comprehensive employment agreement?

The purpose of a comprehensive employment agreement is to define and clarify the relationship in a way that benefits both sides. It will set forth each party’s expectations during the course of the employment, as well as expectations about how and why the employment may end, including each party’s rights in such an event . All of this reduces the chances of misunderstandings and disagreements that can quickly metastasize into conflict and litigation.

What is new employment opportunity?

New employment opportunities are significant milestones in your career journey. They bring the prospect of greater challenges, further advancement, and increased compensation. But with opportunity comes uncertainty. The relationship between a company and a candidate to whom they make an offer is one that begins with optimism and enthusiasm, ...

What is Siegel and Dolan?

our employment contract attorneys leverage over 70 years of combined experience to review, negotiate, and craft employment agreements that allow c-suite executives to seize promising opportunities with confidence and security. We regularly advise individuals regarding their employment contract rights – before, during, and following their employment.

Can you hire a high level employee without a signed contract?

But the reality is that companies who hire high-level employees without a signed agreement hold all the cards. If your prospective employer does present you with a proposed agreement, you can be assured that the document was prepared by an attorney who was looking out for the company’s best interests only.

Can an employer do discrimination?

An employer may do so for any reason or no reason at all, so long as the employer’s actions are not prohibited by state or federal law, such as laws prohibiting discrimination based on the employee’s membership in a protected class, or prohibiting retaliation for the employee’s engagement in protected activity.

Can I negotiate without an attorney?

While you always have the option of proceeding without an attorney, there are instances when an attorney can help you negotiate better terms (i.e. more money, better benefits, perks, etc.). It might even be worth it to you to pay a lawyer something to hear how they would approach the negotiation, the things that he would ask to include or exclude from the contract, and then you can handle it on you own.

Can you sign an employment contract over yourself?

When it comes to signing an employment contract, you have a few options. You can leave the offer on the table and walk away. You can also look the contract over yourself, give the employer the benefit of the doubt, and sign on the line.

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Is It in The Employment Agreement?

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Reviewing your employment agreement with an attorney will ensure that the terms discussed before the offer was made are in the contract as you initially understood them. For example, if you were offered stock options based upon performance, a lawyer can review the benchmarks that you will need to meet to receive that bene…
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Job Title and Description

  • During the interview process, you likely discussed the specifics of the position and what would be expected of you if you were hired. In some cases, the employer may not have gone into specific detail regarding the job and the role you will be asked to play. The employment agreement formalizes your job title and description. It is to your benefit to have an attorney review these res…
See more on uptonhatfield.com

Is There A Non-Compete Agreement included?

  • A non-compete clause may be appropriate depending on your industry and job title. Even if you have never worked for a company that uses non-compete agreements, it is wise to check your employment agreement to see if it is included. In New Hampshire, there are laws regulating non-compete agreements. Having an attorney review your contract helps ensure that it is legal and h…
See more on uptonhatfield.com

Leaving Your Job and Termination of Employment

  • Your new employer may require you to provide extended notice before leaving or retiring. While this might not seem relevant today, it could be important if you decide to move on or retire by a certain date. The employment agreement should also note whether you can be terminated without cause, which some people refer to as termination at will, or if you can only be terminated for cau…
See more on uptonhatfield.com

Protecting Your Best Interests

  • Employers often write employment agreements—or hire attorneys to do it—aiming to protect the interests of the company or organization. It makes sense for new employees to also have someone on their side. An attorney can not only review the legal elements of the agreement, but can also explain more complicated aspects in layman’s terms. Signing an employment agreeme…
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