When a person believes that they have been wrongfully terminated, it is usually in their best interest to seek legal representation to assist with their case. However, the main problem that many individuals face is not knowing which lawyers to turn to for assistance because of the common hurdle that comes with legal advice—the expense. People are often worried that if they can’t pay a lawyer up front, then the lawyer won’t be able to represent them at all. If this is a concern that you have, then it might help you to know that there are ways to get over this financial hurdle. One of the best ways, if not the best way, is to find a lawyer that will offer you a free consultation.
Comprehending the Injustice of Unjust Terminations
To ensure you’re doing the right thing when you hire a lawyer, you must first know what counts as wrongful termination. Wrongful termination is what happens when your boss fires you from your job in contravention of federal, state, or local law; the conditions of your employment; or any public policy expressed in these legal texts. Put another way, it’s you leaving your job with a good legal reason, and it can even include you quitting under certain circumstances.
Locating lawyers who provide complementary consultations can be a challenge.
Legal aid organizations and online directories.
The websites of state bar associations commonly have a directory listing of the many different areas of the law in which attorneys have chosen to practice. This can be helpful in the selection of a lawyer for a particular legal issue. Sometimes, the directory also lists for which kinds of issues an attorney is particularly well suited and has the best experience to handle. Many state bar association websites offer additional resources, such as information on free legal clinics or how to obtain a reduced-fee consultation with a lawyer.
Organizations that offer legal help to indigent individuals supply a range of free assistance in civil (noncriminal) matters. This includes finding someone who directly handles employment discrimination claims such as your own.
If you go online and use the tool available through the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), you may be able to locate employment lawyers who can help you with your wrongful termination claim. And some of these lawyers might be willing to give you a free consultation.
Websites for law firms
Numerous law offices provide a costless first discussion where your case can be talked over. Generally, you can find details about these services on the firms’ websites. The “Contact Us” or “Free Consultation” part of the page will likely clue you in on how to start the conversation and how much time will be available for it.
Evaluations and comments made on the internet.
Reviews and ratings of lawyers and law firms can be found on Avvo, Yelp, and Google My Business. These websites can be quite advantageous in helping one to select the right attorney to handle their wrongful termination matter; they are also good places to go if one wants to convey to others the strengths and weaknesses of the attorney who handled their wrongful termination matter.
People who were referred to something by either a friend or a family member
When it comes to reliable advice, few things beat a good, old-fashioned personal recommendation. If you know someone—a friend, a family member, or a coworker, perhaps—who has dealt with the same type of legal issue you’re currently grappling with, your best bet is to find out whom they turned to for help and see if they got a free consultation.
Getting Ready for Your No-Cost Consultation
After you have found some lawyers who seem to have the necessary qualifications, it’s crucial to get ready for your meeting. This is the time when you need to do a number of things to make sure you get the most out of your consultation. You should be prepared to share the facts of your case and ask any questions you might have. Also, be ready to evaluate the lawyer you’re meeting with. Here’s what you need to do to get ready.
Keep a record of everything:
Please bring everything you have that pertains to your employment and firing. You should shuffle in every single document and correspondence that you can find, since even innocuous-seeming items like a paycheck stub might actually prove important. Remember that your lawyer won’t just be using the materials you provide for background, but also as possible evidence when he goes to court.
Get Your Questions Ready:
Make sure you have a list of questions prepared. Ask the attorney about the kind of work they’ve done before on cases that are similar to your situation. Assess what they say about the likelihood of success for your side. Cast a wary eye toward those who offer promises of victory. Also, ask about their fees. And if you can’t afford them, ask them to recommend someone else.
Grasp the lawyer’s evaluation.
How the lawyer analyzes your case can be determined during the consultation. The way they express themselves and the strategies they lay out for you will enable you to see exactly what kind of legal thinker they are. You should also determine whether the potential lawyer can present an effective counter-argument since, during a trial, the opposition will most certainly have a potent retort. Of course, this is all just part of the litmus test.
Next steps to discuss.
To know what you should do after making a decision, first figure out what those next steps would even be. Inquire after elapsed timeline, legal process steps, and the anticipated duties of you, the client.
Deciding for Yourself
Following your meetings, determine which attorney made you feel at ease and who, in your opinion, understands your case the best. Evaluate their knowledge, abilities, and the aptitude they have shown in the areas most relevant to your matter. Weigh this against their respective communication styles and review the effectiveness of your interactions with them as a predictor of what it will be like working with them.
In summary
To secure the services of a solid, free-consultation wrongful termination lawyer, you must do some legwork and plan properly. In laying the groundwork for your wrongful discharge case, not just any lawyer will do. By making the courthouse library your first stop on your journey, consulting helpful, free resources like NOLO’s expert legal advice and doing some basic Google search, you can locate a few lawyers who might be a good fit—and who have solid reputations.
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