Did you know that 61% of employees say they have witnessed or experienced discrimination at work? If you are one of the employees who have experienced workplace discrimination, you might have a case against your employer.
To be compensated for your troubles, you first need to find the right employment lawyer in NZ. How should you start the search in your local area? Read on to find out.
Local Referral Service
If your community runs a referral service, they can help you locate an employment lawyer. Your local bar association can also refer you to the best employment attorney.
A bar association is only concerned with connecting you to attorneys that have the right experience and work under the correct concentration. Starting with these two services can help you narrow your search.
Look for Experience
Every referral you receive from a community referral service or bar association should have enough experience with cases like yours. However, checking for experience on your own time is never a bad idea.
You can always ask a prospective lawyer if they’ve handled cases similar to yours. If so, proceed to ask about the results of the case, the strategy they used, and if that same strategy can apply to your case.
Check Certifications
The best law firm will have its certifications displayed proudly for potential clients to see. Some require you to do a little more digging to find out.
Some states allow lawyers to get a certification in a certain subfield. An attorney will this type of certification underwent continuing legal education courses in a specific area.
A lack of certification often means your state doesn’t allow it. If your state does certify specialists in employment law, check that the lawyers you look into have this certification.
Search for Ethics Violations
Each state has its attorney disciplinary commission that takes in complaints and investigates them for ethics violations. If a lawyer is charged with a violation, it will be on the commission’s website.
You can search through this website by using the name of the lawyer. If you find an ethics violation, it is in your best interest to consider your lawyer search elsewhere.
Schedule a Consultation
Many employment attorneys offer free consultations which means you can meet with more than one if you choose to.
To prepare for this meeting, gather the documents you need that relate to your case and come up with a list of questions you want to ask.
During the consultation, you’ll be able to learn crucial information about how an attorney will work on your case. Be sure to ask if the lawyer you meet with is the one who will be handling your case.
Are You Ready to Hire an Employment Lawyer?
Hiring an employment lawyer might be a drawn-out process, but it is worth it to find the right one for your needs.
Start by asking for referrals and learning about the experience of specific lawyers. You can narrow down your search and then check for certifications and ethics violations online.
After finding one or two lawyers you could potentially work with, schedule a consultation. This is where you will learn the most valuable information.
If you need additional advice about the law, check out the other posts on our blog.