Law

Hiring an employment attorney in NJ? Ask these questions

Dealing with an employment dispute is never easy. When you are considering a battle against your employer, you have to know your rights and applicable laws in depth. There are many reasons why you may want to hire an employment attorney New Jersey, like – 

  1. You were wrongfully terminated
  2. You suffered injuries at work
  3. You were subjected to sexual harassment 
  4. The employer retaliated against you
  5. You are being subjected to workplace discrimination

You may also want to consult an employment attorney for reviewing your employment contract. No matter the circumstances, the right lawyer can make a difference. In this post, we are sharing more on the questions to ask an attorney.

  • What kind of employment disputes do you typically deal with?

Some employment attorneys are great at handling workers’ compensation claims, while others specialize in sexual harassment cases. You need to know if the lawyer is a good fit for your case, and it makes sense to ask about their experience. Ask simple things related to the cases they have handled so far and if they have filed lawsuits or taken up cases against the same employer. 

  • Have you handled comparable cases? If yes, what were the outcomes of those cases?

A skilled attorney should offer a fair overview of their expertise. If they have worked on disputes and claims that are comparable or similar to yours, that’s always an added advantage. Ask them about their approach in such cases and don’t shy away from discussing your concerns. Lawyers usually give a timeline of what to expect from a particular kind of employment-related lawsuit, so there’s rarely any guesswork. 

  • How much would you charge?

Some employment attorneys in NJ work on an hourly rate, while for selected cases, lawyers do ask for a contingency fee. In case of the latter, you don’t have to pay an upfront fee to the attorney. They get paid from the settlement that you win, and that’s usually a fixed percentage. There could be other costs related to a case, such as investigation and litigation costs. Ask the attorney if they can advance these expenses, or else, you need to pay for that separately. 

Beware of employment attorneys, who overpromise about your case. While the attorney is key to seeking justice and getting your rights and benefits, they don’t have any control on how the case eventually shapes up. Every case is unique, and a good attorney will ensure that you only have realistic expectations.