Can I Afford an Attorney to Sue My Company?

After the holidays, many Americans are left wondering where all their money went.  In fact, this year individual Americans  thought they would spend close to $1,000 on gifts.  To add insult to injury, some people may also need to get an attorney to help with some legal issues they want to handle before it’s too late.  There may be no way around paying an attorney’s fees, but in some instances, attorneys use fee structures that make it possible to afford an attorney.

1) Free Initial Consultation

Nowadays, a lot of attorneys will offer a free initial consultation.  One area where free initial consultations are often offered is in employment law.  I actually offer free initial consultations for any employment case I’m considering taking.

The main reason I do this is common sense..  My goal in representing you, your friends and family, or co-workers, is to let your employer know that they did something wrong, and that they should think twice before doing it again.  If I charged for initial consultations, I may discourage people, who are already in financial crisis, from getting legal advice.  This would go against my mission to make sure that all employees are treated fairly, so I don’t don’t charge for them.

2) Contingency Fee Agreements

Another way that you may be able to afford an attorney for your case, is if the attorney offers contingency fee agreements.  Contingency fee means the attorney’s fee is a percentage of any settlement or verdict the attorney can obtain.   Attorneys will front the costs of representation, such as filing fees and deposition costs, and recover them in addition to the fee at the end of the case. Attorneys also take on the risk for the client, because if there is no recover, the attorney does not get paid.

Contingency fees can work well with some employment law issues, because clients do not have the stress of paying attorney fees and  litigation costs while they are searching for a new job.    Contingency fees are not suited for every employment law issue, and they are prohibited in some practice areas, like criminal defense and family law.

So…Can I Afford an Attorney?

Yes, it’s very possible that you can afford an attorney! The important thing to remember, is to not be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand how much you will have to pay the attorney.  With the advent of the free initial consultation and contingency fee agreements, more people have access to attorneys than ever before, and that is a good thing.  If you or someone you know has an employment law issue, contact me and schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your situation in more detail.

James J. Hux is the Owner and Sole Attorney at Hux Law Firm, LLC. His practice areas include employment discrimination, personal injury, and general civil litigation throughout the State of Ohio.