Do I need a lawyer?
In business, estate planning or real estate matters, the answer is almost always yes. Contracts, agreements and other documents available for download online have countless problems and cannot be tailored to fit your individual needs.
In an employment-related issue, to enforce potentially illegal action under state or federal laws, you will need an attorney in many situations. Why? Most employees are virtually powerless against their employers. Employers typically have more resources and more experience dealing with employment disputes. Employers are already ahead of the game. Without consulting a lawyer, you may not understand the types of claims you’re able to pursue. Success on your own is nearly impossible.
Keep in mind many employment related claims have rigid time limits and administrative procedures that must be followed in order to maintain a claim at all. Miss a deadline and your case may be over before it begins. In a situation where you are terminated, if an employer offers you a severance agreement, you may be waiving and releasing any and all claims. There are any number of pitfalls to delaying lawyer consultation.
If you decide you need a lawyer, what is the next step?
When you call Emanuel & Dunn, we will request various information from you. The name of the opposing party or employer name is paramount to ensure no past or present conflict. After you provide a brief description of the events, we decide whether we think it is worth a visit to our office and will offer to schedule a consultation for a fee. The fee is due at time of service and varies between lawyers. Unfortunately, we do not provide consultations over the phone. Also understand, agreeing to a consultation is no guarantee we will take your case.
Every case is different. The facts and circumstances make all situations unique. An attorney needs to evaluate you, your potential claims, the laws that may apply, and the potential damages or recovery versus the cost of pursuit. While there are many resources online, do not assume you know the law or the value of your case. Most clients have unrealistic expectations based on a television story or headline on the internet.