If you experience legal issues such as retaliation, discrimination, or wage theft in the workplace, you have the right to file a claim that seeks just compensation.
The key to winning a claim is by working with a Pennsylvania employment law attorney. A Pennsylvania employment law lawyer can help your collect and organize the evidence you need to win a claim against your employer.
A Pennsylvania employment law claim has several deadlines that must meet to get your claim heard by either the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
What Does a Pennsylvania Employment Law Attorney Do?
Pennsylvania employment lawyers provide legal advice to both employers and employees regarding the state’s numerous employment statutes.
When working with clients that are employees, attorneys ensure their clients receive fair treatment. An employment lawyer might provide legal advice on National Labor Relations board issues, as well as represent clients before the EEOC
One of the most important services delivered by a Pennsylvania employment law attorney involves explaining the rights each client has when it comes to workplace legal issues.
Most workers are unaware of their legal rights for a wide variety of workplace legal issues, from workers’ compensation claims to handling employment class action lawsuits.
Pennsylvania employment law lawyers describe the different ways to resolve workplace legal issues, which include litigation, negotiation, and mediation.
What Types of Claims Does a Pennsylvania Employment Law Lawyer Handle?
An employment law attorney in Pennsylvania handles a wide variety of cases that requires the resolution of workplace-related legal issues.
- Wage theft
- Class actions
- Workers’ compensation
- Third-party litigation
- Union issues
- Discrimination
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on one or more several factors.
- Age (for workers 40 or older)
- Race
- Gender
- Religion
- National origin
- Disability
- Education level
- Sexual orientation
For a discrimination case, an employment attorney can file a claim either with the PHRC or the EEOC. The two government agencies operate on a work-sharing agreement, which means the information processed by one agency automatically goes to the second agency.
Your lawyer does not have to file a claim with both agencies, which speeds up the claim resolution process. Pennsylvania discrimination law covers employers that have at least four workers, while the EEOC enforces discrimination laws against employers that have a minimum of 15 employees.
If your workplace has between four and 14 employees, your attorney will file a discrimination claim with the PHRC. For an employer that has at least 15 employees, your lawyer has the option of filing a discrimination claim with either the PHRC or the EEOC.
How Much Does an Employment Law Attorney Cost in Pennsylvania?
Employment lawyers in the Keystone State charge a large number of different fees. However, for most employment law claims, attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis, which means clients do not have to pay any upfront money to obtain legal representation.
]The percentage of what one employment lawyer in Pennsylvania charges might differ from what other employment lawyers charge. If your attorney considers the dispute that you have with your employer to be a minor issue that can be resolved quickly, you might not get charged the going rate established by the attorney.
State law forbids workers’ compensation attorneys from charging more than 20 percent of the money awarded for a claim. The 20 percent limit is lower than the rate that personal injury attorneys usually charge clients.
You should always ask any attorney under consideration to provide you with a clear description of the legal fees. Some employment attorneys waive court costs, while others tack on court costs to the final legal bill.
How Do I Find an Employment Law Attorney in Pennsylvania?
The question is not “Should I hire a Pennsylvania employment law attorney.” Instead, you ask the question, “How do I find an employment law lawyer in Pennsylvania.”
The State Bar Association is a good resource for vetting potential employment lawyers. Spend time researching the record of each attorney on your short list by reading online reviews and visiting each attorney’s page on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website.
You should also ask friends, family members, and professional peers for recommendations. Word of mouth advertising is still the king for finding the best employment law attorney in Pennsylvania.
Contact an employment law lawyer to schedule a free case evaluation.
