Whether you are facing discrimination, harassment, retaliation or wrongful termination in your workplace, employment law cases can vary in complexity and can prove intimidating. The Santa Barbara employment lawyers at Kingsley and Kingsley Lawyers have the knowledge, experience and resources it takes to bring credibility and authority to valid issues raised by employees. We have helped our clients prevail in cases regardless of the firepower employers brought.
If you have been unfairly treated in the workplace or if you have been victimized by your employer's labor law violations, you deserve a passionate advocate on your side, fighting for your rights, irrespective of the challenges a case might present. Our Santa Barbara employment lawyers will help ensure that you receive justice and fair compensation for your losses.
Do You Need An Employment Lawyer?
There are a number of cases in which employers commit illegal actions that wrongfully place employees at a disadvantage. It is crucial that you contact an employment attorney if you are facing any of the following situations:
- Your employer has harassed or discriminated against you. These are among the most common violations in the workplace. For example, if you have been sexually harassed by a supervisor, co-worker, a client, customer or a visitor, you may be able to file a sexual harassment lawsuit.
- Your employer has taken retaliatory action against you for exercising your legal rights. For example, if you have been fired for filing a workers' compensation claim for an injury sustained on the job, that type of retaliatory action is illegal.
- You have been wrongfully terminated from your job, which means the termination was illegal.
- Your employer has violated state or federal laws that are in place to protect employees. For example, if your employer has discriminated against you because of your race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation, that is illegal under state and federal laws.
- You are being coerced into signing an agreement waiving rights to which you are entitled.
- Your employer has denied you benefits that you are entitled to under the terms of your employment.
What Will An Employment Lawyer Cost?
The cost of retaining the services of an employment lawyer can vary significantly depending on a number of factors relating to the details of your specific case and the lawyer's skill and experience. Attorneys may charge a set hourly rate depending on the size and experience of the lawyer or law firm. These rates could vary. Some attorneys may charge a flat fee. This is typically the case for less complicated legal issues.
The Santa Barbara employment lawyers and Kingsley and Kingsley work on a contingency fee basis, which means we charge our clients only if your case was successful and if you recover compensation for your losses. We will receive a prearranged percentage of the final settlement or court award. Our law firm offers clients a no-win-no-fee guarantee. This means you will not pay anything out of pocket unless we recover compensation for you.
What Our Employment Lawyers Can Do For You
Here are just some of the services we can provide:
Case evaluation: Our Santa Barbara employment lawyers always offer a free, initial consultation. We will also provide a thorough evaluation of your case by reviewing the particular facts of your case. We can help you understand what your legal rights and options are.
Contract review: An employment contract or the terms of your employment can play an important part in an employment case. In most cases, it could be extremely useful for your attorney to take a look at your employment contract. It may also be a good idea to have a lawyer review your employment contract before you take a job. Your lawyer may be able to spot items such as non-compete clauses and arbitration agreements that you may want to consider before you take the job.
Filing complaints: If you have a discrimination claim against your employer, you must file a workplace discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days. While this is something you could do on your own, our lawyers can help guide you on the details and documentation that you should include thereby taking the anxiety out of the process. You may also lose the right to file an employment lawsuit if you don't file your complaint in time. Therefore, keeping up with deadlines are crucial, and we can help you with that.
Negotiating a settlement: A vast majority of employment cases don't end up in front of a judge or jury. Most employers and employees actually prefer to settle the case out of court so it's not a long-drawn and costly process. This is why you need an attorney who is a skilled negotiator and can help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case. While you may think that representing yourself could save you some money, employment law can be complex, and it's easy to make mistakes that could jeopardize your case.
Legal representation: While most employment cases do settle out of court, your case might end up going to trial or to arbitration or mediation. You need an experienced attorney who is also a good trial lawyer and is well-versed in court procedures.
Experienced Santa Barbara Employment Lawyers
The amount of time it takes to litigate an employment case often depends on the details of the particular case, the process could take between one and two years. However, if the case goes to an appeal, it could take longer. Employees who have been subject to discrimination, harassment, retaliation or wrongful termination may be able to seek compensation for damages including front and back pay, compensation for pain and suffering and even attorney's fees and court costs.
Our Santa Barbara employment lawyers work diligently to provide our clients with the information they need to move forward with confidence. We understand that dealing with an employment lawsuit can be both emotionally and financially draining for employees. Employers who violate laws that are meant to protect California's workers should be held accountable. Learn about our No Win No Feed Employment Lawyers today. Call us at (818) 990-8300 to schedule your free, initial consultation and case evaluation. We are here to help you.
