The Best Employment Lawyers Near Me (2025)

When Do I Need an Employment Attorney Near Me?

Federal and state laws generally prohibit the following employer actions:

Discrimination

Employers cannot treat workers differently based on the following characteristics:

• Race
• Color
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex, including sexual orientation
• Disability

Age over 40 also counts as one of these unchangeable characteristics.

An employer potentially violates the law when it uses those characteristics in taking any of the following actions:

• Advertising job openings
• Choosing candidates to interview
• Hiring employees
• Determining pay rates or awarding raises
• Offering training or promotions
• Assigning job duties
• Terminating workers

The law also prohibits creating a hostile work environment based on any of the suspect classifications. A hostile work environment involves more than teasing or a single joke. Instead, it is a pattern of actions over time that is so severe that a reasonable person would feel intimidated, harassed or abused. These laws protect everyone, including prohibiting work-related hate crimes against white people.

Hostile work environment cases can include two forms of sexual harassment. The first is unwanted attention, touching or comments of a sexual nature. The second is an offer to trade job benefits for a dating or sexual relationship.

Retaliation

Employers also cannot retaliate against workers for exercising their legal rights, including the following examples:

• Filing a workers’ compensation claim
• Complaining about dangerous working conditions
• Reporting safety violations or discrimination to government regulators
• Refusing to participate in an illegal act
• Testifying in a co-worker’s case against the employer

Prohibited retaliatory acts include firing the worker. They can also include withholding job benefits, reducing the worker’s hours, or altering the worker’s job duties.

Withholding Wages

Even though most workers are at-will employees, they still have an implied contract with their employers. This unwritten contract is an exchange of labor for pay.

When the employee works as requested by the employer, the employer is obligated to pay them for their labor. Illegal actions include delaying paychecks, paying less than the promised amount, and refusing to pay the state’s overtime rate for overtime work.

Additionally, employers cannot deny benefits promised to the worker, such as paid time off and sick time. Finally, federal or state laws may require employers to offer certain benefits, such as unpaid family leave. If an employer refuses to provide these benefits or fires the worker for using them, the employee may have a legal claim against it.

How Do I Find and Choose the Best Employment Lawyers Near Me?

To find an employment lawyer, you must first identify lawyers who practice the type of employment law you require. Many employment lawyers exclusively represent either employers or employees to avoid conflicts of interest.

Talk to coworkers and friends about the lawyers they have used. You can also use a lawyer referral service, like ConsumerShield, to identify someone to handle your case.

Once you gather names, contact them for consultations. During your consultations, ask questions such as:

• Have you handled cases like mine?
• What can I get from my case?
• How long will my case take?

You should also discuss fees. How much does a lawyer cost? Some employment lawyers may offer to represent you for a contingency fee. This fee is based on a percentage of the compensation the lawyer recovers.

Others may take your case for an hourly fee. How much does a lawyer cost per hour? The amount varies based on your location and the lawyer’s experience, so make sure you ask about the lawyer’s billing rate.

How Will an Employment Lawyer Help Me?

An employment lawyer can seek several remedies in your case, depending on your goals and the type of action you file. Some common remedies include:

• Back pay, including underpaid wages
• Consequential losses incurred due to the employer’s acts, like job search costs
• Mental suffering and emotional distress

You might also be entitled to seek attorney’s fees when you prevail. This means the employer may be required to pay the reasonable legal expenses you incurred to bring your claim.

Searching “Employment Lawyers Near Me”? Contact ConsumerShield

Employment lawyers protect worker rights. When your employer treats you unfairly, a lawyer can analyze your situation and help you make an informed decision about your next steps.

ConsumerShield provides educational resources to workers seeking information about their rights. We can also help you find experienced legal representation. Contact us for a free case evaluation and an attorney referral to get started today.