Top Fresno, CA Employment Law Lawyers Near You

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What Is Employment Law?

Employment law is the area of law that governs the employer-employee relationship. It consists of thousands of state and federal laws, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions addressing a broad range of employment issues to protect workers’ rights.

In the U.S., employment has become a measure of self-worth, dignity, achievement, and satisfaction. The development of employment laws to protect the rights of employees is a reflection of work’s importance in our society.

What Employment Issues May I Need Help Within California?

An employment attorney can help you with many employment issues, from employment discrimination to compensation and workplace health and safety. Common employment disputes include the following:

• Workplace discrimination, including age discrimination and civil rights issues,
• Workplace harassment, such as sexual harassment,
• Workplace health and safety, worker’s compensation, personal injury,
• Wrongful termination,
• Benefits,
• The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other leave of absence issues,
• Wage disputes, including overtime pay and minimum wage,
• Defamation,
• Arbitration, and
• Employment contracts.

What Can a California Employment Lawyer Do For Me?

An employment lawyer may be able to assist you with the following:

• Educating you on federal and state laws concerning employment-related matters,
• Reviewing the merits of your complaint,
• Advising you regarding the course of action you should take,
• Assisting you in deciding whether to settle your case or litigate in court, and
• Helping you protect yourself against additional employment dispute claims.

Are There Any Employment Lawyers Near Me In Fresno, CA?

Taking the next step forward to protect your workplace rights should start with consulting with an experienced employment attorney. Finding the right fit for your case may seem daunting, but many attorneys in your area are ready to help advocate on behalf of clients like you. The LawInfo directory can help you find verified employment lawyers in Fresno.

How Much Does an Employment Attorney in Fresno Cost?

Employment lawyers charge from $100/hr to $1,000/hr depending on the issue, the attorney’s skill, and location. Some attorneys may ask for payment of a portion of the fee upfront, also known as a retainer.

When Should I Hire an Employment Lawyer?

It is in your best interest to get legal help early in addressing your situation. There are times when quickly hiring a lawyer is critical to your case, such as if you are charged with a crime. Having a lawyer review the fine print before signing legal documents may also be a good idea. A lawyer can also help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve suffered a severe injury. For issues where money or property is at stake, having a lawyer guide you through the complexities of the legal system can save you time, hassle, and possibly a lot of grief in the long run.

What Are the Top Questions I Should Ask an Employment Lawyer?

• What is the usual process to resolve my case?
• How long will it take to resolve this case?
• What are the likely outcomes of a case like mine?
• What should I expect if my case goes to court?

An experienced lawyer should be able to communicate a basic “road map” on how to proceed. The lawyer should be able to walk you through the anticipated process, key considerations, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve laid out the facts of your situation to the lawyer, they should be able to frame expectations and likely scenarios to help you understand your legal issue.

How Will An Employment Attorney Charge Me?

A reputable attorney will be very upfront about how they will charge you. The three most common fee structures that attorneys use to charge for their services are:

• Bill by the hour
• Contingent fee agreement
• Flat fee agreement

Depending on your specific legal situation, only one type of fee structure may be available. For instance, criminal defense attorneys almost always bill by the hour. A flat fee arrangement is when an attorney accepts a one-time payment to help you resolve your issue. With a contingent fee agreement, the client pays little to nothing upfront, and the attorney receives a percentage of the money recovered if you win your case.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

• How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
• How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
• What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

What to Expect from an Initial Consultation

• Seek to determine whether the attorney can represent you. There is no one-size-fits-all legal solution and it may turn out your needs are better served by an attorney in a different specialization.
• It’s important to find a legal ally who is both competent in the law and someone you can trust to protect your interests.
• Discuss how the practice’s billing works and discuss possible additional charges or fees that may arise during or after the resolution of your case.

An attorney consultation should provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with legal help.

Tips on Hiring an Experienced Lawyer with Employment Law Cases

The more experienced a lawyer is in legal practice, the more likely he/she will be able to bring about a successful resolution to your issue. Since experience matters, lawyers who’ve been practicing law for many years (with a successful track record) tend to be in high demand. You should look for information about a lawyer’s experience and ask questions during the initial meeting. It’s a very good idea to ask the lawyer how many years he/she has been practicing law and the expected outcome of your case.

Common legal terms explained

Pro se – This Latin term refers to representing yourself in court instead of hiring professional legal counsel. Pro se representation can occur in either criminal or civil cases.

Statute – Refers to a law created by a legislative body. For example, the laws enacted by Congress are statutes.

Subject matter jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority to hear the claim based on the specific type of issue brought to the court. For example, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court only has subject matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy filings, therefore it does not have the authority to render binding judgment over other types of cases, such as divorce.