what kind of lawyer is needed for employment dispute

by Beth Pagac 10 min read

You should consult with an attorney who specializes in employment or labor law. An attorney practicing in any other area, no matter how competent, won't have the experience you need to prove your claim. Employment law is a highly specialized and an ever-changing area of the law with significant gray areas.

A lawyer for work-related issues, you need an “employment lawyer” or “labor law lawyer.” The terms are interchangeable. California and federal labor laws and regulations protect workers in the United States, but many workers are unaware of their rights at the workplace.

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer to handle employment matters?

If your company needs litigation counsel for an employment-related dispute, we invite you to schedule a free initial consultation with a senior defense attorney at Oberheiden P.C. We represent many employers in litigation on an as-needed basis, and we serve as ongoing compliance and defense counsel for companies across the country as well.

What are the different types of employment law disputes?

Oct 30, 2020 · Lawyers can work in a law firm with other lawyers, with a partner, or practice by themselves in a solo practice. In most cases, a lawyer will be chosen based on the type of case, or practice area, and the location of the case. Lawyers can provide a wide range of services to their clients. Some lawyers handle many different types of cases.

What do lawyer specialize in?

Nov 24, 2021 · If you are involved in an employment dispute you may need to hire an employment lawyer. An effective employment lawyer can help you understand state and federal laws concerning wrongful termination, wage disputes, defamation, whistleblower protections, and other employment-related matters. Knowing when to contact or hire an employment lawyer …

When do you need a lawyer for a legal dispute?

Dec 13, 2018 · Contact a Milwaukee, WI Employment Dispute Lawyer. Employment law encompasses many types of claims brought between employers and employees. Our knowledgeable Milwaukee employment law attorneys handle each case with your best interests in mind. Because of our experience and drive to aggressively represent our clients, you can trust …

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Why is it important to have an employment lawyer?

Help Crafting Contracts and Benefits Packages For New Employees. It's always important to have another set of eyes when hiring any employees. A good attorney will help you put together the contracts and offers of employment that are legally sound. They'll also let you know what you can do from a benefits standpoint.Jul 22, 2019

Should I tell HR I have a lawyer?

In most situations, it will NOT help an employee to drop the L-bomb, and tell your employer that you're retaining a lawyer. In many situations, the employee's mere mention of the L-word makes the employer even more upset, makes the employer take more adverse actions, and makes the situation worse.Jan 6, 2010

What does employment law do?

Employment law regulates the relationship between employers and employees. It governs what employers can expect from employees, what employers can ask employees to do, and employees' rights at work.

How can I scare HR?

5 Terrifying Things That Will Spook HRFINANCIALLY-CRIPPLING FORM I-9 FINES. Nothing strikes fear in an HR manager like the dreaded words “ICE Audit”, and for good reason. ... NEGLIGENT HIRING LAWSUITS. ... SKIMPING ON SEASONAL HIRING. ... HIRING THE WRONG CANDIDATE. ... CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS.Oct 26, 2015

What can a lawyer advise on?

A lawyer can advise an individual what they may be entitled to in their state, as laws vary by state. Issues may include alimony and child support. Without a lawyer, an individual runs the risk of inadvertently waiving their rights to alimony, visitation with their children, or even custody of their children.

What is a lawyer?

A lawyer is an individual who is licensed to practice law in a state. Lawyers are also known as attorneys or an attorney at law. Some lawyers are licensed in multiple states. Some lawyers are admitted to practice at the Federal level as well.

Why is it important to have a family lawyer?

It is important in divorce cases for an individual to have a family lawyer representing them to ensure their rights are protected.

What is criminal law?

Criminal law is the body of laws that pertain to crimes. Crimes are actions or behaviors prohibited by state or federal laws. Crimes are punishable by fines, probation, and/or imprisonment. Usually, crimes are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies.

Can a guilty plea affect immigration status?

Some guilty pleas, even to misdemeanor charges, can have long-term consequences. A guilty plea can also affect immigration status or lead to deportation of a non-citizen. It is important to remember that, in most cases, when an individual cannot afford a criminal lawyer, the court will appoint one to represent them.

What is civil matter?

Civil matters include contract disputes between businesses, real estate, and personal transactions. Unlike criminal cases, there is no determination of guilt or innocence. Usually, the parties may only recover monetary damages, including punitive damages in some cases.

Do I need a lawyer for a prenup?

In most cases, marriages do not require a lawyer but a prenuptial agreement should be reviewed by a lawyer. In some states, it is required, unless expressly waived, that an individual is represented before signing a prenuptial agreement. Many family law matters begin after a couple has been married.

What can a lawyer do for you?

A lawyer can quickly review and troubleshoot employment-related agreements you routinely use with your workers , such as employment contracts, severance agreements, or releases. A lawyer can check your contracts to make sure that they contain all the necessary legal terms and will be enforced by a court.

Why do you need a lawyer?

A lawyer can help you make difficult decisions about your employees. Firing. Particularly if you are worried that an employee might sue, you should consider getting legal advice before firing an employee for misconduct, performance problems, or other bad behavior.

How to fire an employee?

Here are a few situations when you should consider asking a lawyer to review your decision to fire: 1 The worker has a written or oral employment contract that limits your right to fire (for more on employment contracts, see Nolo's article Written Employment Contracts: Pros and Cons ). 2 The employee may believe that he or she has an implied employment contract limiting your right to fire. 3 The employee has benefits, stock options, or retirement money that are due to vest shortly. 4 The employee recently filed a complaint or claim with a government agency, or complained to you of illegal or unethical activity in the workplace. 5 The employee recently filed a complaint of discrimination or harassment. 6 Firing the employee would dramatically change your workplace demographics. 7 The employee recently revealed that he or she is in a protected class -- for example, the employee is pregnant, has a disability, or practices a particular religion. 8 You are concerned about the worker's potential for violence, vandalism, or sabotage. 9 The worker has access to your company's high-level trade secrets or competitive information. 10 You are firing the worker for excessive absences, if you are concerned that the absences may be covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act. 11 The employee denies committing the acts for which you are firing him or her, even after an investigation. 12 The employee has hired a lawyer to represent him or her in dealing with you.

What is misclassification in employment?

Misclassification often comes with a hefty price tag, which can include years of unpaid overtime and penalties for multiple employees. Other decisions. You may also wish to have a lawyer review any employment decision that will affect a large number of employees.

What to do if an employee sues you?

If a current or former employee sues you, speak to a lawyer right away. Employment lawsuits can be very complex. You have to take certain actions immediately to make sure that your rights are protected -- and to preserve evidence that might be used in court.

How long does it take to file a lawsuit?

The time limits for taking action are very short -- many courts require you to file a formal, legal response to a lawsuit within just a few weeks. As soon as your receive notice of a lawsuit against you, begin looking for a lawyer. Claims and complaints.

Do lawyers come cheap?

After all, lawyers don't come cheap. If you run to a lawyer every time you have to make an employment-related decision, you will quickly go broke. The trick is to figure out which situations require some expert help and which you can handle on your own.

What to do if you have an employment dispute?

Hire an Employment Lawyer. If you are involved in an employment dispute, or need advice about an employment-related matter, you may need to hire an employment lawyer. An effective employment lawyer can help educate you on state and federal laws concerning wrongful termination, wage disputes, defamation, whistleblower protections, ...

What to do if you feel overwhelmed by an employee's rights issue?

If you're feeling overwhelmed with an employee rights issue or wrongful job loss it can be helpful to consult with an experienced lawyer. They can answer questions about your specific situation and discuss how the local laws impact your potential claims. Contact a local attorney to learn how they can help you demand fair treatment at work.

What is business lawyer?

Business Lawyer (litigation or transactional) Many business owners assume they need a “business lawyer,” whatever the nature of the legal problem they’re experiencing. In fact, “business law” is too broad a category to be meaningful.

What do real estate lawyers do?

Real estate lawyers deal with rights concerning land, water, and structures. Perhaps you need to determine whether a lien has been asserted against your property, or you need to carve out an easement. Maybe you need to divide one lot into two or more lots, or change the zoning classification, or move a boundary line.

What is transactional lawyer?

The transactional lawyer will incorporate your startup, help secure funding, draft your employment and non-disclosure agreements, issue stock, spin off subsidiaries, and countless other tasks associated with operating your business. Unlike the business litigation attorney, the transactional lawyer does not go to court.

What is considered criminal in court?

Courtroom proceedings are considered criminal in nature (as opposed to civil) when the state (through prosecuting attorneys) charges you with the commission of a crime. If you’ve been arrested, read your Miranda rights, and taken into custody by the police, you need a criminal defense lawyer.

What is a defamation lawyer?

Defamation lawyers are a subset of civil litigation lawyers. You want a defamation attorney if you need to take someone to court for defaming your character through libel and/or slander, or if you’ve been accused of causing harm to the reputation of another individual or business by making false and defamatory statements of your own.

What is business litigation?

Business litigation (often referred to as commercial litigation) is a major subset of civil litigation (see above). Businesses sue each other all the time, for any number of reasons.

What do you want from your ex wife?

You want a divorce. You want custody of your kids. Your ex-wife wants an increase in her spousal support and you’d rather not give it to her. You’re getting married and you want to ensure you won’t lose half of everything you own if you ever get a divorce. If your legal needs involve family relationships and obligations, you need a family lawyer.

What is wage dispute?

Wage Disputes. This type of lawsuit arises when an employer is accused of not properly compensating a worker for their time on the job. This can include not paying workers for overtime or earned tips or not allowing regular paid breaks. Employers must also pay workers minimum wages.

What is the minimum wage in Wisconsin?

The current Wisconsin and federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Wage disputes can also encompass worker misclassification, which occurs when an employer wrongly declares that a worker is an independent contractor instead of an employee.

Can an employer offer severance if you leave?

Employers may offer employees who leave their company certain types of compensation in return for signing a contract that includes non-disclosure or non-compete agreements. These types of severance agreements are often the subject of litigation. If you are a business offering such an agreement, or if you are an employee who has received one, speaking to an attorney will help you understand your rights established in the contract and address any issues that could arise.

Is Wisconsin an at will state?

It should be noted that Wisconsin is an at-will employment state, meaning that an employer may terminate any employee for any reason so long as there is no contract in place and so long as the employer does not violate certain discrimination and retaliation laws. 2. Wage Disputes.

What is defamation in the workplace?

Defamation is generally defined as the act of damaging the reputation of a person through slanderous (spoken) or libelous (written) comments. When defamation occurs in the workplace, it has the potential to harm team morale, create alienation, or even cause long-term damage to a worker’s career prospects.

What is workplace harassment?

When workers are subjected to slurs, assaults, threats, ridicule, offensive jokes, unwelcome sexual advances, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, it can be considered workplace harassment. Similar to workplace discrimination, workplace harassment creates a hostile and abusive work environment.

What happens if you are fired without cause?

If you believe you may have been fired without proper cause, our labor and employment attorneys may be able to help you recover back pay, unpaid wages, and other forms of compensation.

What are some examples of misclassifications?

Some examples of misclassifications include: Misclassifying a worker as an independent contractor to not have to comply with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission laws, which prevent employment discrimination.

What is wrongful termination?

This is termed wrongful termination, wrongful discharge, or wrongful dismissal. There are many scenarios that may be grounds for a wrongful termination lawsuit, including: Firing an employee out of retaliation. Discrimination.

Do independent contractors have to file taxes?

Independent contractors are not entitled to employee benefits, and must file and withhold their own taxes, as well. However, in recent years, some employers have abused classification by misclassifying bonafide employees as contractors in an attempt to save money and circumvent laws.

What is the minimum wage in 2020?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) established certain workers’ rights, including the right to a minimum wage (set federally at $7.25 as of 2020) and overtime pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek for non-exempt employees.

What is a business lawyer?

Also known as corporate lawyers, business lawyers are legal eagles who cover a more full range of expertise in building, managing, maintaining, transferring and dissolving a business. Lawyers in this area of practice deal with the formation of the company, employment contracts, tax compliance, acquisitions, and mergers.

What do lawyers do?

Different types of lawyers specialize in different areas of law. Some lawyers mostly do the work outside of the courtroom, such as drafting contracts and wills, preparing documents to comply with a process, negotiating deals, and advising clients on a legal problem. There are also lawyers who present cases in court or litigations ...

Why do we need malpractice lawyers?

Since these are professions that ascribe to a set of standards , they have greater professional responsibilities that may be challenged in the courtroom or in litigation.

What is IP law?

1. Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyers. Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected ...

What is an intellectual property lawyer?

Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected from copycats and duplicates. If you've created an art design, a unique product, a novel, a song or a computer program, you can consult with an intellectual property lawyer for securing copyright, patents, trademarks, and licensing agreements.

What is a family lawyer?

Family Lawyers. These are lawyers who handle all kinds of domestic cases, such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, adoption, paternity, alimony, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and emancipation. But family attorneys may also handle reproductive rights cases, and their work may intersect with other areas of the law.

What is a personal injury lawyer?

This lawyer is an expert in tort law, which deals with civil legal liabilities and damages.

James Lee Fant

You should contact an attorney who is experienced in handling contract and consumer fraud matter. There are specific regulations that govern home improvement contractors. If a home improvement contractor violates these regulations or otherwise engages in fraudulent conduct, you may be entitled to treble (i.e.

Martin L Bearg

Hillsdale is located in Bergen County. Nonetheless I can recommend an attorney in Summit, NJ named Andrew Smith, whose telephone number is 973-206-1725.#N#Good luck...

Christopher Edward Ezold

Before I respond to your inquiry, I must state that we have not spoken, I have not reviewed the relevant documents and facts, and I do not represent you. Therefore, my discussion below is not a legal opinion, but is informational only.

Stuart M Nachbar

A general litigation lawyer should suffice as along he/she is knowledgeable in Consumer Fraud's/Contract and treble damages.

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Advice on Employment Decisions

  • A lawyer can help you make difficult decisions about your employees. Firing.Particularly if you are worried that an employee might sue, you should consider getting legal advice before firing an employee for misconduct, performance problems, or other bad behavior. A lawyer can tell you not only whether terminating the worker will be legal, but also what steps you can take to minimize t…
See more on nolo.com

Representation in Legal Or Administrative Proceedings

  • Lawsuits.If a current or former employee sues you, speak to a lawyer right away. Employment lawsuits can be very complex. You have to take certain actions immediately to make sure that your rights are protected -- and to preserve evidence that might be used in court. The time limits for taking action are very short -- many courts require you to file a formal, legal response to a law…
See more on nolo.com

Reviewing Documents

  • Contracts and agreements.A lawyer can quickly review and troubleshoot employment-related agreements you routinely use with your workers, such as employment contracts, severance agreements, or releases. A lawyer can check your contracts to make sure that they contain all the necessary legal terms and will be enforced by a court. If you have included...
See more on nolo.com

Next Steps

  • If you have decided that it might be wise to speak to a lawyer, your next step is to find a good one. For tips and information on finding an attorney, read Nolo's article How to Find an Excellent Lawyer.
See more on nolo.com