You are experiencing some problems at work. These usually involve:
- Discrimination
- Hostile environment
- Retaliation
- Abuse
- Mistreatment
- Wage-related problems
Your superiors changed the way they treat you, and you find yourself in need of an employment lawyer. The question is: how do you hire the right one?
Believe it or not, but not all employment lawyers are the same. They differ in skills, experience, and dedication among many other things. If you are looking to hire an employment attorney, here are 10 tips that will help you avoid selecting a fake employment attorney.
#1 Do Online Research
Start by searching online for a “verified” employment attorney in your area. You can usually find comments and reviews from other clients in the past, and use those as guidelines. However, keep in mind that there are many different ways an attorney can “fake” their experience and client reviews. That is why you should try and confirm from multiple sources that the attorney you are looking at is legit and indeed the one that you want to talk to.
#2 Never Send “downpayments”
If the attorney is asking you for a downpayment or your personal information before the initial consultation is even offered, you are about to be scammed. Usually, an employment attorney will always offer you a free initial consultation where they will review your situation and offer legal help and information that will help you understand the situation you are in.
Note: you never have to pay for the initial consultation or the attorney’s fees in advance (before they start working for you).
#3 Fake Caller ID
If someone contacts you and presents themselves as the attorney assigned to you by the office that you visited, try and verify their identity before you proceed. There are many people that will use a fake caller ID to try and lure you into paying for a service that you will never receive. Always double or even triple check and confirm that you are dealing and speaking with the right people.
Our Los Angeles Employment Law Attorneys have experience in handling different cases related to employment problems. Feel free to contact us and schedule a free consultation today. The success with our previous clients speaks for us.
#4 Payment Methods
Be careful how you send money to your attorney. Usually, the safest way (with a built-in protection system) to pay is with a credit card. However, if you are being asked to pay by wiring money or using services such as Western Union, MoneyGram or to pay through gift cards, you are most likely about to get scammed as not a single government office will ever ask you to pay using any of these methods.
#5 Talk To Others
Before you decide to hire a particular attorney, talk to others. See if anyone has experience in dealing with that attorney. You can usually find more information on the Internet (search for forums and client review websites). Be sure to research as much as you can if you cannot find anyone in your surrounding area that has worked with that particular attorney in the past.
#6 Check-In With FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (also known as FTC) is a government organization that will (among other things) help you spot a potential scam. They usually send emails to everyone registered about the potential and newly-discovered scams and scammers. Be sure to head on to their website (ftc.gov/scams) and register to receive any alerts about potential scammers in your area.
#7 Talking To a Robot
If you are trying to get in touch with your attorney and all you hear is a robot on the other end of the line, you are most likely being scammed. Most attorneys will have a message-recording option, and someone (a real person) will get in touch with you as quickly as possible. If you call but all you hear is a pre-recorded message, with the options to press “1” to talk to an agent and other options that may sound “valid” and true, your safest way out is to hang up the call. Pressing any buttons could lead to more calls, and the deeper you go, the higher are the chances of you getting scammed.
#8 Offer Is Too Good To Be True
If your potential attorney offers you a deal that sounds too good to be true, the chances are that the offer is fake and that you are about to get scammed if you proceed. Sometimes, it does not have to be an offer, but the time it takes to solve the case (fake promises of solving your case within a few weeks or months). Be careful how you respond to those offers.
#9 Spot The Imposters
Most scammers often pretend to be someone you are familiar with. This includes:
- Government officials
- Family members
- A charity organization
- A non-government organization
- A company you do business with
You would be surprised by the amount of your private information that the scammer could have obtained somehow. Remember not to send money or private information to anyone before you confirm their identity.
Employment Law Attorneys in Los Angeles will help you solve any work-related problems. Our offices are welcoming and our attorneys are ready to start working on your case. If you want a free consultation with one of our attorneys, feel free to ask and you shall receive one, completely free of charges and without any legal obligations.
#10 Watch For Emails
If you receive an email that looks like as it is sent from the attorney that you visited earlier today, check twice before clicking on any pop-up windows or links in the email. Many scammers use these methods to obtain access to your email address, your pc, and even your linked credit cards and accounts. Be careful what you open and where you click, and always check where the email was sent from and confirm that you are dealing with someone you actually know.
Name: George S. Azadian
Bio: George S. Azadian – an experienced Los Angeles wrongful termination attorney practices in the area of employment law, exclusively representing employees. His work focuses on cases involving wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, harassment, and wage & hour disputes. He is highly regarded as one of the best Los Angeles employment law lawyers & wrongful termination lawyers.
