What To Look For When Hiring a Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Have you been illegally terminated from your job? How do you even know if it’s wrongful termination?

This article, we help you determine if your case is wrongful termination and explain how to find the best lawyer for your case.

What is Wrongful Termination?

When you’re hired at a place of employment, there’s a good chance that your paperwork states that the employer can terminate employment at their discretion. This means the employer doesn’t have to give a reason for termination. However, there are still legal exceptions that lead to wrongful terminations.

If an employer fires you for discriminatory reasons such as race, religion, pregnancy, or disability, you have a case for wrongful termination. Another case of this is illegal retaliation. This is when an employee reports the organization for illegal activity – filing false tax returns, wage infringements, or harassment. 

Additionally, breach of contract (when an employer fires you against a signed contract) is also considered wrongful termination. 

What to Look for in a Great Wrongful Termination Lawyer

Aside from the obvious traits of a great wrongful termination lawyer, such as empathy, communication skills, and availability, there are a few specific details to research.

1. A Lawyer with Established Experience Who Has Obtained Up to Eight-Figure Jury Verdicts

Research the lawyer to see if they’ve even been to court for a wrongful termination case. Additionally, they have recovered large – up to eight-figure – jury verdicts for previous clients? 

Employment law is a specific niche in the many different law practice areas. If you’re going to court for wrongful termination, you don’t want an attorney specializing in family law. 

An experienced lawyer with a proven record shows the defendant you’re serious about the trial and that you plan to secure a large verdict against them. 

2. A Lawyer Who Takes a Limited Number of Cases

Look for a law firm where your case is NOT passed around to inexperienced lawyers that you will never meet or communicate with. 

Several firms take all the cases and push clients to settle for a low-value settlement, so litigation and trial are not part of the equation. If you do not take the offered amount, they will pass you to another lawyer or firm.

Find a firm where the lawyer works directly with you and is your actual litigation attorney. This ensures that they are part of every step, from the day-to-day decisions to the time when the trial comes. 

3. A Lawyer Who Shares Real and Proven Case Results

You want to find a lawyer who openly discusses case results and shows you the numbers. This ensures that the lawyer is truthful and honest and proves that they will not accept low-value offers. 

When unique facts are shared about cases, you learn first-hand how the lawyer reacts to complicated trials. Research the lawyer to see if they have gone through trial motions, such as delivering arguments and cross-examining witnesses.

Conclusion

Hiring a lawyer that you’re confident in is the first step to a successful wrongful termination case. Whether you were terminated illegally because of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or breach of contract, you need the right lawyer on your side. Looking for these traits listed above will help ensure you find the right one from the very beginning.