5 Questions to Ask When Hiring an Employment Lawyer

Whether your're already facing employment issues or you're are trying to avoid them by getting your legal ducks in a row, you may be considering hiring a lawyer who focuses on employment law for businesses.

But what should you know before you do? A lawyer will have plenty of questions for you at an initial consultation; you should be sure to have a few of your own to ask as well.

Here are five questions you may want to ask when hiring an employment lawyer for your business:

1. Do you have experience working for employers? Many employment lawyers focus on representing employees in employment law disputes. Although these lawyers may also be able to represent your business, you might want to look for an attorney who has experience representing employers.
2. What are your rates/fees? Be sure to inquire about the fee structure of any potential representation. Unlike personal injury law, where attorneys often work for an agreed-upon portion of any potential settlement or judgment, employment lawyers will most likely bill businesses hourly or by a flat, per-task rate. It's important to understand how much you'll need for a deposit, what your business will be billed for, and how your lawyer expects to be paid.
3. Can you draft employment agreements and employee handbooks? Two great ways to be proactive about future employment disputes are by having written employment agreements for all employees and employee handbooks covering your business' basic employment policies. An employment lawyer should be able to help you draft these documents, and also spot potential deficiencies in your policies.
4. How can I improve my current workplace policies? Speaking of potential deficiencies, an employment lawyer will be able to explain other ways in which your workplace or employment practices may be exposing you to potential legal trouble. An experienced lawyer may also be able to suggest a few "best practices" for your business that you may not have considered.
5. Do you practice other areas of law? Your employment lawyer may also work in other area of law that may be useful to your business, such as tax law or intellectual property law.

To learn more about hiring an employment lawyer for your business, check out FindLaw's page entitled Employment Law: Get Help Now.

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Related Resources:

• Staffing Your Small Business: 3 Legal Concerns (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• If an Employee Is Injured, What Should a Business Do? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• Legal to Force Employees to Work Holidays? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• Consult with an experienced business attorney about your options (FindLaw)