Find The Best Employment Lawyers Near You (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.

There are many different federal laws that shield employees from discrimination. These are some of the most prominent:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Bans discrimination based on sex, race, color, national origin and religion
• The Equal Pay Act of 1963: Prohibits sex-based wage discrimination for substantially similar work
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Bans disability discrimination and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967: Prohibits discrimination against employees over 40

States may enact their own additional anti-discrimination laws. An employment lawyer can explain your state’s laws and how they may support your case.

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.

What Types of Employment Claims Do Lawyers Handle?

Not all employment lawyers handle every type of employment claim. However, if you’re looking to file one of the following types of claims, an employment lawyer should be able to help:

Wrongful Termination

This is one of the most common types of cases in employment law. Wrongful termination happens when you are either fired or forced to quit for an illegal reason.

Being unexpectedly and wrongfully fired from your job can lead to significant financial and emotional distress. The right lawyer might be able to help you recover compensation for your ordeal.

Whistleblower and Retaliation Cases

A “whistleblower” is someone who reports illegal or unethical conduct to a regulatory agency or to the employer itself. Unfortunately, employers who break the law often have no qualms about retaliating against whistleblowers.

If you’ve been fired, subjected to a hostile work environment or otherwise mistreated because you reported your employer, a whistleblower lawyer may be able to help you seek compensation and hold your employer accountable.

Discrimination Cases

When many people think of employment discrimination, they imagine someone being unfairly denied a job because of their race, sex or another protected class. This is one type of discrimination, but it’s not the only one. If your employer treats you differently at work because of a protected characteristic, you might have a case for discrimination.

It’s important to note that some states have more robust anti-discrimination laws than others. An attorney can help you determine whether you have a strong case under your state’s laws.

Breach of Contract and Fraud Cases

Breach of contract cases are common in the world of business law. However, some employment law cases involve breaches of contract, too.

A common example is when an employer misrepresents a job position to convince you to take it — or changes your job duties without warning.

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.