How to Prepare for Your First Meeting With an Employment Lawyer
Meeting a lawyer for the first time can be daunting, so you’ll naturally be nervous. However, walking in prepared will make the meeting go as smoothly as it possibly can. You can prepare for your first meeting with an employment lawyer in Jackson County in several ways.
4 Steps to Prepare for Your First Meeting With an Employment Lawyer in Jackson County
1. Have Your Story Ready
Why are you meeting with this employment lawyer? Were you terminated from your position wrongfully? Have you experienced discrimination or sexual harassment in the workplace? Know what type of case you’re dealing with and think through your story so you can easily tell your attorney what happened from beginning to end.
No details are unimportant when sharing the different aspects of your case. If you think something might be unimportant, include it anyway because it may end up being helpful. If it’s not useful information, then your attorney won’t mind that you shared it—it’s best to cover all your bases. And remember, there’s no need to be embarrassed about any aspect of your situation, as your attorney won’t share a word of any of this thanks to attorney-client privilege.
2. Save Evidence
If you can collect any evidence to support your case, then do so. Were you assaulted in front of a security camera? Try to get your hands on the footage. Did any of your colleagues witness you experiencing verbal sexual harassment or discrimination? Get their names and contact information so your attorney can speak to them as witnesses. Were you terminated for unlawful reasons? Try to get a statement from your former employer about why you were dismissed.
Having evidence of inappropriate texts and emails from your employer or colleagues will help substantially in harassment and discrimination cases. If you’ve vented about unfair treatment in the workplace to friends and family via text, then it would be a good idea to show your attorney as many instances as possible. This will prove your unfair treatment has been an ongoing issue and was not a one-off event.
3. Have an Open Mind
Most people don’t know exactly what they’re getting into when they consult an attorney for an employment lawsuit. Have an open mind about the process, as it may be it more involved than you thought it would be. Be willing to help your attorney in any way they need you to. You also need to listen carefully to your attorney and take all of their advice on board during your case, as they know what’s best regarding the law and your situation.
4. Have Questions to Ask
You’re getting to know your attorney just as much as they’re getting to know your case. Visit this page to learn more about what your attorney can do to help you. Once you sit down and talk, there are several questions you should ask them during your first meeting. Some example questions are detailed below.
Have You Worked on Cases Like Mine Before?
Missouri employment lawyers are highly familiar with employment law in their state. However, different employment lawyers have expertise that varies depending on the types of cases they usually work on.
If you were wrongfully terminated, then you need a wrongful termination lawyer. If you’ve been discriminated against in the workplace, then a workplace discrimination lawyer is best suited for you. Finding out exactly where your attorney’s expertise lies is vital in seeing if they’re a good match for you.
What Kind of Settlement Could I Win?
The size of the of settlement you could win varies depending on your case. There are certain damages that almost all employment cases could get you, such as backpay and front pay. How much you win for these things varies depending on how long you’ve been out of work, whether or not your employer withheld your last paycheck, and so on.
There are also some damages your attorney needs to calculate for you, such as damages for emotional distress. How much you could win in emotional damages varies. For example, somebody who’s been harassed in the workplace will win more than somebody who was unlawfully dismissed because they refused to do something unlawful for their employer.
Do You Think I Have a Strong Case?
Asking your attorney if they believe you have a strong case will help give you realistic expectations from the start. They’ll understand if you don’t want to go ahead and work with them if they find your case isn’t very strong. Your attorney doesn’t want you to spend countless hours and a lot of money on a case you won’t win.
Having your story prepared, having access to as much evidence as possible, and knowing what questions to ask your attorney will help you walk into your first meeting prepared. It’s understandably a nerve-wracking situation, but with preparation, it’s one you’ll be able to navigate.
