An employee may be subject to a hostile work environment based on one’s religion, the demand that one submit to unwelcome sexual advances by a supervisor or other forms of employment discrimination, but many employees are not sure how to proceed. While the employee should seek redress by speaking to the party engaging in the conduct, it may be necessary to lodge a complaint with the human resources department if the perpetrator does not relent. If the employer fails to take effective action to prevent the harassment or discrimination or punishes the employee who makes the complaint, the employee should seek legal advice.
Evaluation methods for screening an employment discrimination lawyer
The problem is that most employees find the process of selecting an employment law attorney difficult. Although a significant number of employees may know an attorney, employment law is a specialized area of practice so a general practitioner that dabbles in employment law can torpedo a viable claim. You should consider a number of factors when selecting an employment law firm in New Jersey:
- State Bar Standing: Before retaining any employment law attorney, you should check with the New Jersey State Bar Association to ensure that the attorney is licensed to practice law. The bar association also can provide information about any past disciplinary issues involving the attorney.
- Employment Law Focus: The best option is to retain an attorney who focuses on employment discrimination cases. The nuance involved in litigation of employment discrimination cases is complex – not an area of law that is appropriate for a jack-of-all-trades.
- Review Attorney Website: Attorneys that regularly handle employment law cases sometimes provide answers to preliminary questions on their website.
- Independent Evaluations: A number of organizations provide objective third party ratings and evaluations of law firms. Companies that review attorneys include organizations like Martindale Hubbell and others.
- Seek Referrals: If you have associates, co-workers, friends or family with personal experience with an attorney, this feedback can be extremely informative.
- Membership in Employment Law Professional Organizations: There are organizations that are made up of law firms that regularly handle employment law cases, such as the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA).
The discrimination lawyer at Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. are highly rated by independent attorney evaluation services and have extensive experience. To learn more, call us today to schedule an initial consultation.
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