Filing a Texas employment law claim requires the legal expertise of an attorney who specializes in handling your type of case. If you face sexual harassment in the workplace, you want to work with a lawyer who specializes in litigating sexual harassment in the workplace claims.
An attorney can help you organize the evidence that you need to submit a persuasive claim, as well as ensure you meet every deadline that is established by state or federal law.
You can file an employment law claim with the Texas Workforce Commission-Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
What Does a Texas Employment Law Attorney Do?
A Texas employment law lawyer decides whether to file your claim with the EEOC or the TWC-CRD. Some cases such as discrimination might be better handled at the federal level while other types of employment law cases might be better handled at the state level.
The Texas employment law attorney that you hire should know how to submit a convincing claim by collecting and organizing evidence. Your lawyer can interview co-workers to back up your claim, as well as examine physical evidence that includes disciplinary reports and time clock data.
An employment lawyer in Texas explains to clients the rights that they have under both state and federal statutes. Many victims of workplace-related incidents do not know about the legal remedies that exist under state and federal statutes.
A lawyer helps you to decide how to proceed with your case, which can include arbitration, litigation, or negotiation. Negotiating a settlement saves you both time and money.
Skilled employment law lawyers know how to reach favorable deals for their clients. The best employment law attorneys in Texas explain to clients what the pros and cons are of every one of the legal options granted by law.
What Types of Claims Does a Texas Employment Law Lawyer Handle?
Texas employment law lawyers handle different types of workplace-related cases. Most of the attorneys that litigate employment law cases specialize in a specific area of employment law.
- Minimum wage
- Wage theft
- Union issues
- Employment contracts
- Workers’ compensation
- Discrimination
Texas Labor Code, chapter 21 prohibits discrimination in the workplace for employers that have a minimum of 15 employees.
Qualifying employers cannot discriminate against workers for the following reasons:
- Age
- Race
- Gender
- Religion
- National origin
- Disability
An attorney can file a Texas employment law claim for discrimination with either the TWC-CRD or EEOC. State discrimination law claims typically less time to resolve than the same claims that are handled by the EEOC.
Both government agencies review claims that involve employers that have at least 15 employees. However, for age discrimination claims, the EEOC reviews cases that involve employers that have a minimum of 20 employees. This means your attorney should handle an age discrimination claim by filing a complaint with the TWC-CRF.
How Much Does an Employment Law Attorney Cost in Texas?
One of the criteria that you want to be checked off on your attorney search list is finding one who charges on a contingency fee basis.
This means your lawyer does not charge you any upfront fees that include the costs associated with filing an employment law claim in Texas.
The average rate that an employment law lawyer in Texas charges on a contingency fee basis is 35 percent. An hourly rate for legal fees can exceed $200.
Not only do you get a better financial deal on a contingency fee basis, but the attorney that you hire should also be more motivated to represent you than a lawyer who charges by the hours.
How Do I Find an Employment Law Attorney in Texas?
Word of mouth advertising remains the king of finding the right Texas employment law attorney. Asking trusted friends and family members for a referral can save you plenty of time in your search.
Even if you go the old school way for finding an employment law lawyer in Texas, you should still conduct research by reading online reviews and accessing a lawyer’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) page.
The BBB issues ratings to attorneys, with an A+ rating representing the highest honor a lawyer receives from the consumer advocacy organization
The Texas Bar Association can also be helpful in your search for the right employment law lawyer. Simply access the website of the Texas Bar Association and use the “Find a Lawyer” tool to narrow your search. You can also ask for a referral from a local legal clinic and/or nonprofit organization.
Schedule a free case evaluation with an employment law attorney to decide which legal path to take for your claim.
