what kind of lawyer do i need for discrimination

by Leonie Blick IV 4 min read

It is in your best interest to consult with a skilled and knowledgeable discrimination lawyers. An experienced employment law attorney can inform you of your legal rights and options. Additionally, an attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf against your employer and guide you in any settlement negotiations.

An employment lawyer can help you figure out whether your employer's conduct was an adverse employment action constituting discrimination. The fact that you're in a protected category combined with the fact that your employer took some adverse action against you does not mean you have a slam-dunk discrimination case.

Full Answer

What type of lawyer handles discrimination case?

Speak With A Discrimination Lawyer Today. If you feel you were discriminated against or given unequal treatment based on race, gender (or gender identity), disability, national origin, age, sexual orientation, religion, or some other protected class, a discrimination lawyer can help.

What does a discrimination lawyer do?

To discuss your situation with a Morgan & Morgan discrimination attorney, fill out our free, no obligation consultation form. Title IX Title IX is a federal civil rights law that makes it illegal for K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions to discriminate, harass, or retaliate on the basis of gender.

Can you file a lawsuit for discrimination?

Apr 15, 2014 · The Employment Law Group® law firm has a track record of representing employees who have faced bias because of their disabilities.Our firm successfully argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that the ADA forbids discrimination against employees with short-term injuries that are “sufficiently severe” to limit a major life activity.

What to expect from your employment discrimination lawyer?

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What are some examples of discrimination?

What Are Some Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace?Age.Color or race.Disability.Equal pay.Genetics.Harassment, including sexual harassment.National origin.Pregnancy.More items...

How do you prove discrimination?

This requires a plaintiff to first establish a prima facie case of employment discrimination by demonstrating that she: (1) is a member of a protected class; (2) met her employer's legitimate job performance expectations; (3) suffered an adverse employment action; and (4) another similarly situated employee outside of ...Mar 1, 2021

Who handles discrimination in the workplace?

The EEOCThe EEOC is responsible for protecting you from one type of discrimination - employment discrimination because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older), or genetic information.

What is the most needed type of lawyer?

The Top 10 Lawyer Types You're Most Likely to NeedCivil Litigation Lawyer (a.k.a. Trial Attorney) ... Criminal Defense Lawyer. ... Defamation Lawyer (a.k.a. Libel and Slander Attorney) ... Business Lawyer (litigation or transactional) ... Family Lawyer (a.k.a. Domestic Relations Attorney; a.k.a. Divorce Lawyer) ... Traffic Lawyer.More items...•Dec 31, 2015

Are discrimination cases hard to prove?

Proving employment discrimination can often be difficult because evidence of discrimination tends to be hard to come by. However, there are a few ways wronged employees can make their claims in court and get their case in front of a jury.

Can I sue for discrimination?

If you've been discriminated against, and you've not been able to sort things out with the person or organisation who's discriminated against you, you can make a claim in the civil courts. If you make a discrimination claim, you need to show the court that you've been unlawfully discriminated against.

What is Victimisation discrimination?

If you're treated badly because you complain about discrimination or you help someone who has been discriminated against, this is called victimisation. Victimisation is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. If you've been treated badly because you complained, you may be able to do something about it.

What is considered unfair treatment in the workplace?

Employers cannot harass employees or create hostile work environments. Examples of unfair treatment at work include, but are not limited to: Hiring younger employees by firing the older employees within the company. Spread gossip and rumors about an employee, regardless of whether the rumors are true or false.Jul 12, 2021

What are the 4 types of discrimination?

However, in the workplace, discrimination most frequently occurs as one of four major types.Racial discrimination in the workplace. ... Sex and gender discrimination in the workplace. ... Age discrimination in the workplace. ... Disability discrimination in the workplace.Aug 5, 2021

What is the easiest law to practice?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.Jul 9, 2021

What are the 4 types of law?

Aquinas distinguishes four kinds of law: (1) eternal law; (2) natural law; (3) human law; and (4) divine law.

What is the highest paid type of lawyer?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.Dec 18, 2020

How to prevent discrimination in the workplace?

Use methods of administration subjecting employees to discrimination. Select a location that excludes or denies them benefits. Deny an employee the opportunity to participate in an advisory or planning board, if the occasion arises.

What is the federal law that prohibits discrimination?

Employment and labor laws prohibit discriminatory or unfair treatment of an applicant or employee based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or parental status. Federal law forbids “discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.”

What is the age discrimination in employment act?

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects employees over the age of 40 from discrimination in the workplace. Under the Act, employers are prohibited from: Offering different compensation, terms, or conditions of employment due to someone's age.

What is employer retaliation?

To protect employees who want to file a lawsuit or complaint against their employer, state and federal labor laws prohibit employers from engaging in retaliatory behavior. If an employee files a lawsuit or complaint for racial discrimination in the workplace, employers are prohibited, by law, from terminating, demoting, ...

When did employers have to pay equal pay?

Under the Equal Pay Act of 1963, employers are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of an employee’s gender or sex in the payment of wages. It is illegal for employees of different sexes, with the same skills and experience, to be denied equal compensation for performing substantially equal work in the same establishment.

What are some examples of gender discrimination?

Some other examples of gender or sex discrimination include: Hiring (e.g., an applicant, with excellent credentials and qualifications is denied employment on the basis of sex) Firing (e.g., a female employee is let go due to “cutbacks,” while a male employee with less seniority remains employed)

What is disability discrimination?

Titles I and V of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits employment discrimination of qualified individuals due to a disability. This applies to both private and government positions.

What can an employment attorney do?

Another valuable asset an employment attorney can offer is closure. Your attorney can help you move on from the ugly experience you had with your employer. This may come through vindication at trial, but will most likely happen through an informal resolution or settlement that allows you to emotionally and financially transition to a new job or career path. Your attorney's task is, in part, to get you to that next stage.

What are the benefits of hiring an employment lawyer?

One of the biggest benefits of hiring an employment lawyer is that your lawyer can draw on years of experience to run you through a cost-benefit analysis. Your lawyer will walk you through the strengths and weaknesses of your case, the expense of discovery and trial, and the type and amount of damages you can recover if you win. Your lawyer will also assess the likelihood of winning and let you know if this assessment changes as the case progresses, so you can make informed decisions along the way.

Is it normal to feel powerless after being fired?

It's normal to feel powerless after being fired or mistreated. But, your lawyer can help you regain some of that power by giving you the information you need to take action in response to your employer's misdeeds, or weigh your options, and make an informed decision that's in your best interests.

What is the EEOC?

The EEOC is the primary enforcer of federal anti-discrimination laws, and offers a good Q+A section about the ADA. The U.S. Department of Labor has an excellent list of resources and links about the ADA. The Job Accommodation Network is government-funded and offers free advice to individuals.

What is ADA reasonable accommodations?

Reasonable accommodations might include: Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; Restructuring jobs;

What are the ADA amendments?

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (“ADAAA”) strengthened the ADA and eliminated loopholes created by various court decisions. In particular, the ADAAA: 1 Expanded the phrase “major life activity” to include major bodily functions such as functions of the nervous, urinary and circulatory systems; 2 Clarified that an employee asserting that she was discriminated against because she was “regarded as” disabled need only prove that she was discriminated against because of an actual or perceived impairment; 3 Removed the effects of mitigating measures in determining whether an individual has a disability; and 4 Clarified that an impairment that is episodic or in remission is an ADA disability if it limits a major life activity when the impairment is active.

What happens if you are wrongfully fired?

If you've been wrongfully fired because you sought a workplace accommodation, federal law may help to restore your career and reputation. The Employment Law Group ® law firm has a track record of representing employees who have faced bias because of their disabilities.

What are the damages for ADA violations?

If you have suffered illegal discrimination under the ADA, you may be entitled recover back pay, compensatory damages, and attorney fees. In addition, punitive damages are available if an employee can show that the employer engaged in a discriminatory practice with malice or reckless indifference to the employee’s federally protected rights.

What is the ADAAA?

In particular, the ADAAA: Expanded the phrase “major life activity” to include major bodily functions such as functions of the nervous, urinary and circulatory systems;

What is an interactive process?

Employers must engage in an “interactive process” to come up with any “reasonable accommodations” that could allow a disabled employee to do his or her job. This doesn’t mean that an employer must give you everything you ask for. Instead, employers and employees must engage in a good-faith dialogue to see if there are any adjustments that would allow you to do your job without imposing an undue hardship on your employer.

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Assess Whether Your Employer Illegally Discriminated Against You

  • Not all unfair treatment is illegal discrimination. For illegal discrimination to occur, you must fall into a category protected by one of the federal or state antidiscrimination laws. Sometimes, this is easy to establish, for example, you are a pregnant woman and your employer knew it at the time of your termination. Not all categories are quite as obvious though. In fact, disability discriminati…
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Gather and Present Evidence Supporting Your Case

  • Proving your employer's intent can be very difficult, especially because few employers are foolish enough to outright state that they are biased or discriminatory. Instead, you'll need to gather enough evidence to convince a judge or jury that your employer took action for a discriminatory reason. For example, if your employer says that you were fired for poor performance, but your la…
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Run A Cost-Benefit Analysis with You

  • One of the biggest benefits of hiring an employment lawyer is that your lawyer can draw on years of experience to run you through a cost-benefit analysis. Your lawyer will walk you through the strengths and weaknesses of your case, the expense of discovery and trial, and the type and amount of damages you can recover if you win. Your lawyer will also assess the likelihood of wi…
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Lay Out Your Options

  • From the first meeting, your lawyer can lay out the options you have to respond to your employment situation. These may range from filing a charge of discrimination with a state or federal agency, to sending your employer a letter that explores settlement, to pursuing a full-blown lawsuit in court. Your attorney will point out the pros and cons of each option and revisit this dis…
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Attorneys' Fees and Costs

  • Before hiring a lawyer, be sure to ask for an explanation of how attorneys' fees and costs will be charged in your case. Attorneys' fees differ based on what course of action you decide to take. Some cases or services take longer or are more difficult than others, which will result in higher fees. Drafting a letter, for example, will likely cost far less than representing you at trial. Attorney…
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Closure

  • Another valuable asset an employment attorney can offer is closure. Your attorney can help you move on from the ugly experience you had with your employer. This may come through vindication at trial, but will most likely happen through an informal resolution or settlement that allows you to emotionally and financially transition to a new job or career path. Your attorney's t…
See more on nolo.com