The feeling just will not go away. No, not the feeling of sadness that accompanies most employment terminations. The feeling is quite the opposite of sadness.
It is anger, and the anger stems from your belief that your former employer wrongly fired you.
If you believe your former employer committed an act of wrongful termination, then you should reach out to a California-licensed employment lawyer who handles wrongful termination cases. The question now is how do you choose the best attorney for your wrongful termination claim?
Start Your Search Online
The Internet makes it convenient to find employment attorneys that practice in your community. You can start by accessing directories that present the names of employment lawyers, such as the one digitally published by the American Bar Association. After whittling your list down to a few lawyers, spend time researching each one by visiting their websites, as well as reading their online reviews on sites like Google. Getting an idea about an employment attorney also involves going to the attorney’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) page.
Word of Mouth Advertising
Reading online reviews can help you establish a pattern for a wrongful termination lawyer. However, word-of-mouth advertising still rules the day when it comes to selecting the best attorney. Ask friends, family members, and professional peers for recommendations. Maybe a friend who is an attorney can direct you to a trusted lawyer or a family member who has worked with an employment attorney who specializes in handling wrongful termination cases.
Network with the people you know and trust to find the right wrongful termination lawyer.
Experience Winning Claims and Lawsuits
We all have heard the expression “I have years of experience.” The expression sounds good, but when it comes to choosing the best attorney for your wrongful termination case, you want to change the expression to “I have years of successfully litigating wrongful termination cases.”
Yes, it is important to work with an employment lawyer who knows the ins and outs of wrongful termination law. However, it is more important to find a wrongful termination attorney who follows the timeless advice provided by singer Kenny Rogers.
“You have to know when to hold them, know when to fold them.”
The best wrongful termination lawyers know when to settle a case, file a lawsuit, or walk away from a wrongful termination claim.
Collect and Organize Evidence
You have found what appears to be the right wrongful termination lawyer. Now, you have to hand over evidence to your attorney and see what the attorney does with the evidence. Every document that boosts the strength of your case matters, from performance reviews to workplace discipline reports. You might find a letter of recommendation from your employer or a severance agreement that includes a healthy bonus.
Discovering how your attorney handles evidence goes a long way towards helping you decide whether to keep working with the attorney.
Build a Strong Rapport
Although hiring a lawyer should be based on establishing a professional relationship, it is the personal connection that often makes the difference between walking away from a lawyer or meeting an attorney for an initial consultation.
The relationship you develop with a wrongful termination attorney should be based on trust. You want to hire a lawyer who makes your best interests a priority. Unfortunately, some attorneys see dollar signs when working for clients that might receive a considerable amount of monetary damages.
See if you can build a personal relationship with an attorney before you develop a professional one.
Compensation
Speaking of getting paid, how does an attorney receive compensation for providing legal services during a wrongful termination claim or lawsuit? Many employment lawyers that handle wrongful termination cases operate on a contingency fee basis. The benefits of this type of compensation arrangement are twofold. First, you do not have to pay any upfront legal fees. Second, lawyers that get paid when their clients get paid tend to be more motivated to win claims or lawsuits.
The Bottom Line
Fighting a former employer because the employer wrongfully terminated you on your own typically is a wasted effort. Most employers retain legal counsel on staff to push back against any type of claim or lawsuit. The first decision you need to make when filing a wrongful termination claim or a lawsuit is to hire an experienced employment attorney.
The second decision involves choosing the best wrongful termination lawyer to represent you through the entire legal process.
