If you are facing an employment-related issue such as wrongful dismissal, workplace discrimination, or harassment in British Columbia, whether as an employee or an employer, seeking legal advice from an employment lawyer is crucial. Your initial meeting with an employment lawyer is an important step in understanding your rights and exploring your legal options. To make the most out of this meeting, it is essential to come prepared. Here are some tips on how to prepare for your first meeting with an employment lawyer.
An Initial Consultation
Due to the effect of legislation and employment contracts on potential employment law claims, initial consultations are almost always required for an employment lawyer to give an initial opinion on any potential case.
In the initial consultation, your employment lawyer will obtain a firm understanding of your employment relationship, what the legal issues are and what potential avenues of remedy there are for those issues.
Make Sure You Have Important Documents
Before your meeting with your employment lawyer, make sure you gather any documents related to your employment and the issue for which you’ve engaged legal services. These often include employment contracts, offer letters, pay stubs, performance reviews, records of employment, emails, and any other relevant communication with your employer.
Having the relevant documents on hand will help your lawyer understand the specifics of your case and provide you with more accurate advice.
Write Down Your Questions and Concerns
It is natural to have questions and concerns about your situation. Take some time to write down a list of questions you have for the employment lawyer before your meeting. This will ensure that you cover all the important points during the meeting and get the information you need to make informed decisions about your situation.
Often it is helpful to send these questions and concerns to your employment lawyer in advance of your meeting to make sure your lawyer fully understands what your legal issues are and to maximize your time with the lawyer.
Don’t Hold Back Anything From Your Employment Lawyer
During your meeting with an employment lawyer, being honest and transparent as possible about your situation. Provide all the relevant details, even if you think they may be unfavorable to your interests. Your lawyer will need a complete picture of the situation to provide you with the best possible advice and representation. Even if you think the facts may not come into play with your employment law issue, make sure you let your lawyer know.
In fact, it’s best to present your lawyer with what you think the worst aspects of your case are in the beginning to ensure that the best strategy possible is employed. Facts that are bad for your case arising midway through litigation can often cause far more problems for you than if they are dealt with at the outset.
Never hold anything back from your lawyer. This will only result in harming your interests in the long run.
Discuss Legal Fees and Payment Arrangements
During your initial meeting, it is important to discuss the lawyer’s fees and payment arrangements.
The majority of employment law matters are dealt with on an hourly fee basis. Certain cases may be appropriate for a contingency fees agreement, and others on a flat fee basis. What is the most reasonable fee basis will depend greatly on the specific circumstances of each case.
Make sure you are clear about the costs involved in pursuing your case and inquire about any additional expenses you may incur during the case (often called disbursements).
Take Action
After your initial meeting with the employment lawyer, follow up on any action items discussed during the meeting. If you need to provide additional information or documents, do so as soon as you can. Employment law matters can be fast-moving and require immediate attention. Maintaining good communication with your lawyer is key to building a strong case and achieving a favorable outcome.
Experienced Employment Lawyers
The experienced employment lawyers at Taylor & Blair LLP can assist both employees and employers with their workplace legal issues.
Contact Taylor & Blair LLP today to schedule your initial consultation.