Obtaining Legal Advice

• Author: Randy Freking
• Profession: Labor employment lawyer
• Pages: 91-96

91

CHAPTER

9

Obtaining

Legal Advice

If you have been treated unlawfully on the job, you almost always need a lawyer. Abraham Lincoln, the

16th president of the United States, is often quoted as saying, “He who represents himself has a fool for

a lawyer.”

The primary benefit of retaining an employment lawyer is that a lawyer should be able to provide

counsel and advice not only on the law, but also on the practical aspects of challenging a particular action

by an employer. Moreover, a lawyer is in a position to provide you with more objective viewpoint as to

your situation and the options available to you.

A lawyer also provides some leverage if you desire to reach a compromise. Retaining a lawyer sends a

message as to your commitment to challenge a particular action because employers know that retaining a

lawyer is not easy, and it does involve an investment of time and money. If you do not have a lawyer repre-

senting you in an employment matter, you may not be taken as seriously, perhaps because your employer

may think that you tried unsuccessfully to find a lawyer who was willing to represent you.

How Do I Find the Right Lawyer?

In most situations involving employment law, you should seek a lawyer with experience in employment

law rather than a general practitioner or a lawyer who works in another area of law.

The best source for finding a lawyer is likely another lawyer. Lawyers working in your community

will probably know a lawyer who practices employment law. So start by contacting a lawyer you know

personally.