Also known as an employment lawyer, a workplace attorney represents anyone dealing with legal disputes, violations, or claims related to employment laws. Specializing in workplace laws, employment lawyers are an important factor in shaping the treatment of workers and fairness in employment policy.
Employment lawyers help to protect the rights and benefits of people in the workplace. They make sure that federal, state and local laws that insure fair treatment for employees are upheld. Some employment lawyers choose to join the National Employment Lawyers Association. Duties of employment lawyers include:
Also known as an attorney, a lawyer represents individuals and businesses during legal proceedings and disputes. Lawyers' clients may include individuals, groups, or businesses. Lawyer work includes researching applicable laws and prior court rulings, preparing legal documents, and, when necessary, arguing cases in court.
Most attorneys representing employees do so because they understand that non-unionized employees are relatively powerless against employers. While you may be caught up in a serious employment dispute only once or twice in your lifetime, some larger employers and their attorneys handle many employment disputes every single day.
A lawyer who specializes in contracts is usually knowledgeable in business and capable of grasping the needs of the client even in the most complex …
Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | |
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Top Earners | $129,500 | $62 |
75th Percentile | $96,500 | $46 |
Average | $80,743 | $39 |
25th Percentile | $60,000 | $29 |
barrister's chambers | chambers |
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law office | legal firm |
office of law |
An employment lawyers must have a Juris Doctorate degree. It is preferable and may even be required by employers to have a diploma from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. They must also maintain a valid attorney’s license in that state.
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Employment lawyers who counsel employees represent them on a variety of issues.
The average salary of an employment lawyer is $144,000. However, salaries can range anywhere from $65,000 to $175,000. The highest paid wages come from large national firms located in metropolitan areas. Recent graduates, typically due to their minimal work experience, are the lowest paid.
A lawyer has several duties which go beyond the basic court trial. Researching information, drafting documents, mediating disputes and providing counsel to clients about their legal rights are just some responsibilities involved depending on the area of law.
A lawyer can work in a law firm, private company, or even work for state as a public defender or for the prosecution. Most attorneys work 50-80 hours per week, including weekends. The newly hired attorneys usually serve as clerks in charge of researching information and aiding in preparation for upcoming trials.
In the case of legal separations, a divorce lawyer will grant the separation in the form of a court order (a legal separation is a process by which a married couple may formalize a separation while remaining legally married). When there are children involved, a divorce lawyer will help set the terms for child support and child custody.
It is interesting to note that a family lawyer can handle a divorce, but a divorce lawyer usually does not have the expertise to represent clients in other family law matters. Immigration Lawyer.
The scope of practice for a criminal lawyer includes trials, bail bond hearings, post-conviction remedies, plea bargains, and revocation hearings (parole or probation). After investigating a case, a criminal lawyer will interview all witnesses involved, research the statutes, case law, and crime codes, and then build a defence as well as develop ...
This type of lawyer tends to practice primarily in the area of law known as tort law, and provides legal service to those who claim to have been injured as a result of the negligence of another person or entity.
Bankruptcy Lawyer. A bankruptcy lawyer assists individuals or organizations that make legal declarations stating their inability to pay their creditors. Understanding the process and filling out the bankruptcy forms can be daunting.
Employment Lawyer. Whether you’re a company that’s having a problem with an employee, or an individual who’s having problems with the company you work for, an employment lawyer can generally provide advice about legal issues which arise from an employment contract or within an employment relationship.
If you’ve been injured while on the job, or have had to face the death of a loved one as a result of a workplace accident or occupational disease, a lawyer who specializes in workers compensation law can help you navigate the issues you face, such as the extent of the employer’s fault and the amount of benefits to which you are entitled.
The estate planning lawyer specializes in wills and trusts, and can help you to draw up a will to pass on your assets. Among other estate planning legal services, this type of lawyer can help you set up a trust which will help take care of your children’s financial needs.
Also known as an IP attorney, an intellectual property lawyer can advise you with regard to issues relating to intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design and trade secrets.
A corporate lawyer will be able to help you with issues related to the formation of your corporation, general corporate governance issues and corporate compliance issues.
The Social Security Disability system can be a particularly complex system in which to navigate. An attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability issues can help you with any step in the Social Security Disability process, including assisting you with eligibility issues, launching an appeal of a decision to deny you benefits and dealing with the reduction or termination of your benefits.
Doctors do occasionally make mistakes, and if you’re facing the consequences of a medical mistake such as a medical misdiagnosis or inaccurate treatment, a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice issues can be particular helpful.
Lawyers provide advice and recommendations to clients regarding their legal rights and obligations. Also known as an attorney, a lawyer represents individuals and businesses during legal proceedings and disputes. Lawyers' clients may include individuals, groups, or businesses. Lawyer work includes researching applicable laws ...
On a day-to-day basis, lawyers typically meet with clients, conduct legal research, and prepare and file court documents. Attorneys may also appear in court to select jury members and argue cases for their clients.
A personal injury lawyer works with people who have been harmed and believe that the injury was due to negligence or that someone, such as an employer, is shirking their responsibility to pay.
Core courses include torts, civil procedure, contracts, and criminal law. Later in their studies, students can take electives in the areas in which they hope to specialize. After completing law school, most states require that lawyers pass a bar exam and undergo an assessment of their character.
Why might I need a lawyer to handle a employment-related problem? To fully enforce state and federal laws protecting employees against illegal actions by their employers, you will need an attorney in many situations where you have a serious problem with your employer and need to take legal action.
Employment law is a highly specialized and an ever-changing area of the law with significant gray areas. Retain someone who has represented individual employees, not employers. For more information on potential sources for employment lawyers, see the Workplace Fairness employment attorney directory.
A lawyer who specializes in contracts is usually knowledgeable in business and capable of grasping the needs of the client even in the most complex arrangements. Contracts underlie almost every aspect of business life including purchasing and selling goods and services, transportation, storage, employment, intellectual property rights protection ...
A good contract lawyer is aware of the laws and regulations that apply to specific contractual arrangements and also is aware of the latest decisions from the courts regarding a particular area of law. The ability to research and remain aware of legal developments enables the lawyer to draft and approve air-tight contracts. ...
The contractual process begins with definite agreement between or among the parties, which is then reduced into writing using clear, unambiguous wording in a contract that covers every eventuality that could arise from the arrangement.
Additionally, in some rare cases, employers may have to pay punitive damages to the employee, if their employer intentionally engaged in conduct that created a hostile work environment.
In short, a hostile work environment is created when anyone in the workplace engages in a type of harassment that makes it impossible for an employee to perform their job duties. This type of harassment generally includes unwelcome comments or conduct based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnacy), national origin, age (40 or older), ...
However, if you are in a situation where you have been subjected to offensive and unwelcome conduct that has affected the terms and conditions of your employment, you may be able to sue your employer for harassment for a hostile work environment.
These damages typically include claims for lost wages, including back pay and benefits, due to the inability to work. In cases where the hostile work environment caused you to lose your job, compensatory damages will be awarded to help put you back in the same place you would have been had you not lost your job.
Civil Rights Lawyer. Lawyers are people with specialized knowledge, who help people with a variety of legal issues. A civil rights lawyer is specifically experienced in issues regarding human rights, social freedoms, and equality. Read on to learn more about becoming a civil rights lawyer.
Regardless of a law student’s intended field of practice, gaining a broad education can make him or her a better lawyer. In addition to core courses, law schools offer a variety of elective courses, which can be quite helpful, increasing the law student’s scope of knowledge.
U.S. Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act division – deals with disability discrimination. U.S. Commission on Civil Rights – Aids in the development of civil rights policies, and aids in enforcement of civil rights laws. Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), Civil Rights Office – Advises and represents the FAA in matters ...
Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), Civil Rights Office – Advises and represents the FAA in matters of civil rights and equal opportunity. U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”), Office for Civil Rights – Helps ...
Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), employment opportunities for attorneys in general are expected to increase – between the years 2014 and 2024 – by about 6%. This is an average growth rate.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), Fair Housing Civil Rights – Enforces federal laws that ensure equal access to housing.