New York City Attorneys for Employment Disputes
At Phillips & Associates, we handle a wide range of employment discrimination lawsuits in New York City. As a worker faced with discrimination or harassment, you may be wondering which remedies may be available to you and how to find the best employment law firm in New York. We have successfully represented many clients who have faced discrimination due to sex, race, religion, disability, national origin, and other protected characteristics. Our New York City employment lawyers strive to provide personalized representation to each of our clients and seek maximum compensation on their behalf. Following are some Frequently Asked Questions by people seeking an attorney.
How Do I Find a Good Employment Law Firm in New York?
To find the best employment law firm for you, it is crucial to look at the firm's experience. You should feel comfortable asking a prospective attorney question. You may want to ask whether they have previously handled matters involving the protected characteristic with which you are concerned and whether they were successful. For example, if you have a sexual harassment lawsuit, you will want to find lawyers who have previously successfully handled sexual harassment lawsuits. On the other hand, if you were fired for asking for reasonable accommodation because you are in a wheelchair, you will want to know whether the law firm has experience handling disability and retaliation claims. Similarly, if you were not hired, and you believe that it was because you are Muslim, you should choose an attorney who has experience handling claims of religious discrimination, as well as national origin discrimination. In some cases, a worker has multiple protected characteristics, and it is not clear which of them is the exact reason why the worker faces discrimination.
You should also pick a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable. It is important to be very honest with your attorney about what happened to you, so your attorney can choose the best strategy for your case. For example, if you were sexually assaulted by a coworker, you should pick an attorney to whom you can explain everything that happened, including any concerns that you have about the events leading up to the assault. If you do not feel comfortable with a prospective attorney or feel fearful about being completely honest, you should not choose that attorney.
Are There Differences Among Federal, State, and Local Laws That My Lawyer Should Know?
Yes. Your lawyer should be able to tell you which law is most favorable to your case and which procedures should be followed to pursue damages under that law. For example, if you believe that you have been a victim of sexual orientation discrimination, it is most likely advisable to proceed under the New York City Human Rights Law, which provides express protection based on sexual orientation. Although the EEOC has noted that sexual orientation is a subset of sex discrimination in past guidance, there is no express protection based on sexual orientation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or any other law.
Should a Lawyer Be Able to Tell Me How Much My Discrimination Case Is Worth?
Even a very experienced lawyer may not be able to predict with certainty how much your discrimination case will be worth. However, they should be able to tell you how much other similar cases have been worth and why they were worth that. The damages available can vary dramatically depending on which law forms the basis of your claim.
For example, you may be able to recover punitive damages in a claim brought under the New York City Human Rights Law. However, you cannot recover punitive damages in a lawsuit brought under state law. Your compensatory and punitive damages will be capped under Title VII and other federal laws enforced by the EEOC. A good lawyer should know which remedies are available and which you are likely to be able to obtain, assuming that a jury finds that there is liability.
Consult Our New York City Lawyers for Sophisticated Guidance
At Phillips & Associates, we may be able to help you if you are concerned about finding the best employment law firm in New York City. Our attorneys fight employment discrimination and harassment in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Westchester County, and New Jersey. Contact us at (866) 229-9441 or through our online form.