Employment lawyers deal with legal situations arising in the workplace.
These include:
- Wrongful dismissal
- Contract negotiation
- Termination agreements
- Workplace harassment
- Benefits and severance packages
Do I Need An Employment Lawyer?If you feel you have been treated wrongly by an employer, or simply need to pre-negotiate a working contract, it is wise to have a lawyer on your side. You can be sure the employer will.
How Do I Find An Employment Lawyer?- Talk to friends and family. Perhaps you know someone who has been involved in a litigation with a former employer, or has had to negotiate an employment contract, or whatever the specifics of your case.
- Do online research. Because they are often controversial, and involve large companies, employment law stories often generate media coverage and articles in law journals.
- Contact your provincial legal society to find a lawyer in good standing. Good employment lawyers tend to practice in that field specifically and as such, will develop reputations.
- Most employment lawyers do charge an initial consultation fee, as employment law is not a pro bono field for either side.
What Will It Cost?That is a question to ask your lawyer on initial consultation. Costs can vary from a few thousand dollars for contract negotiation, to literally tens of thousands for an ongoing litigation. Remember, every time you receive a phone call, email or letter from your lawyer, he/she is on the clock. Legal fees add up.
Food for Thought- Before contacting an employment lawyer, make sure you have a good reason to do so. Many are frivolous cases brought by disgruntled former employees who were dismissed with just cause.
- Beware of the possible negatives involved in getting into legal soup with a former employer. Your reputation can be damaged. Word gets around.
- Employers are likely to have far deeper pockets than you, and litigation can often drag on for long periods of time.
- Employment lawyers tend to specialize in either companies or individuals.
- You cannot contract the same firm as your employer. It is a conflict of interest for them to act in favour of opposing parties.
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