Did you know that 60 percent of employed Americans have experienced or witnessed discrimination in the workplace based on gender, age, race, and more? Ageism complaints have surpassed the 20,000 mark per year for a decade and 42 percent of Americans have witnessed or been a victim of racism at work.
If you are dealing or have dealt with employment discrimination issues, you need to hire the right lawyer. But how can you decide on the right lawyer for the job? Read on to learn how to choose the best employment discrimination lawyer in your area.
An Employment Discrimination Lawyer With Experience
One of the most crucial things you need to consider when choosing an employment lawyer is experience. Lawyers tend to practice in a particular area of law and you need your lawyer to be highly experienced in discrimination law.
Look for a lawyer with experience representing similar claims to yours. If you want to file a discrimination claim based on gender, for example, you may want to find an attorney who has dealt with those types of claims and has had success with them.
You do not only want to consider the number of years or the number of cases the lawyer has represented. You want to consider the percentage of cases they have won. This does not mean that they will win your case since no lawyer can guarantee that, but it will offer a better chance.
You can read more about the process here.
Fee Structure
Different types of lawyers have different ways of charging their fees. In an employment discrimination case, most plaintiff-side lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means they will not charge you by the hour but will take a percentage of what they recover for you.
Some may ask for a retainer, however. Asking about this before making a decision can be important.
Read Reviews
Look online for reviews from previous clients. Were they satisfied with the job the attorney did? There are numerous sites where you can read these kinds of reviews.
You want to read client testimonies on the lawyer’s website but you also want to turn to third-party sites to ensure you are getting the most honest reviews and not just the most favorable ones.
Excellent Communication Skills
It is highly stressful to go through one of these kinds of claims, so having an attorney on your side who keeps you updated is crucial. You need to be able to get a hold of the lawyer when you need to and they should be prompt returning calls and answering questions.
Get the Best Attorney on Your Side
When choosing an employment discrimination lawyer, you want to look for experience and reliability, as well as a lawyer who will keep you updated through every step of the process. Read reviews and ask lots of questions about fee structures so that you can find the right person to represent you through this tough time.
To learn more about hiring an attorney, turn to our Law page!
