Before hiring a lawyer for wrongful termination in Los Angeles, you need to know what to ask them. Find out about eight common questions here.
Losing your job is stressful in the best of circumstances, but it can be downright traumatic in the event of an unjust firing. According to the ACLU, about 150,000 Americans face wrongful termination annually. Luckily, because of the prevalence of these cases, there are a lot of legal options for those who were terminated unfairly.
Here, we’re going to discuss some ways that you may be able to get compensation after a breach of employment law in Los Angeles. Read on to learn some questions to ask a lawyer regarding wrongful termination in Los Angeles.
Do I Have a Valid Case?
Wrongful termination may take many forms.
For example, you may have been terminated despite a written or verbal guarantee that you would retain your job for a specific period of time. You might be contending with a boss who engaged in sexual harassment, racial discrimination, or biased interactions with specific protected classes. You also may have sustained a temporary or permanent disability and been fired despite the protections in place for disabled workers.
You may also have been terminated wrongfully as retaliation. If you reported violations in the company to a supervisor, HR representative, or law enforcement agency, it’s illegal for your employer to fire you on those grounds. The same applies to those who were investigating the behavior and practices of a company.
You should ask a prospective attorney what why you believe you were wrongfully terminated. Give them all the facts about your termination and the circumstances leading up to your job loss. They’ll tell you whether you appear to have a legitimate legal case and how much compensation you may be able to get.
Do You Have Experience in Wrongful Termination Cases?
Someone who primarily practices in employment law is one of the most important things to consider when hiring an attorney to handle a workplace issue. No two areas of law are the same. An experienced lawyer in contract law or personal injury cases won’t necessarily know anything about employment law or wrongful termination.
That’s why it’s critical that you find a lawyer who has litigated, and won, wrongful termination lawsuits in the past. When you go to a consultation with a lawyer, ask them about other cases that they have managed that look similar to yours. Have them explain how they handled those clients and what the process looked like.
What Is Your Educational Background?
While most practicing attorneys in Los Angeles must pass the California State Bar Exam, they’re still not all equal in their education and experience.
Ask your prospective attorney what their educational background looks like. They likely will be happy to share some information about their law school and subsequent work experience.
How Do You Work Toward Success in Cases Like Mine?
Different attorneys have varying methods when it comes to litigating your case. Proving that your employer engaged in wrongful termination practices can be challenging, but quality attorneys are up to the task. Some steps your attorney will take include:
- Examine employment contracts
- Looking into Los Angeles and California employment law standards
- Look into potential past misconduct
- Take eyewitness accounts from other employees
- Depose corporate or management employees
- Determine how much money you lost as a result of being fired, as well as any other compensatoin owed
- Determine what emotional distress you experienced as a result of the wrongful termination
It’s important that an attorney knows exactly what avenues to take when fighting for fair compensation.
Ask them how they plan to gather and use evidence. This will let you know what to expect and give you insight into whether they are capable of assisting you confidently.
How Would We Communicate During the Case?
Communication is an important part of any legal case. You want to be in the loop about what’s happening, so it’s critical to work with an attorney who values open communication.
Make sure that they have multiple channels through which you can initiate contact, too. You should be able to call them if you have so much as a question about your case. An email address can also work wonders for those who want to ask non-urgent questions about the status of their case.
How Do You Take Payment?
Payment is a common question that people ask attorneys at consultations, and rightfully so. Many attorneys charge hefty fees regardless of whether or not they are able to prevail.
Matern Law ensures that no legal fees will be owed until compensation is recovered.
Hire a Quality Lawyer for Wrongful Termination in Los Angeles
Now that you know what to ask a lawyer about wrongful termination in Los Angeles, it’s time to get started. Matern Law Group is committed to discussing your individual case with you and working toward trying to get you fair and just compensation.
Our 23 skilled attorneys, combined, have decades of experience upholding employment laws and achieving successful results for our clients. Contact us today to begin the process of filing a wrongful termination claim in Los Angeles.