Employees who have suffered harassment or discrimination often have many questions. A lawyer is an excellent resource during this stressful time. With the right New Jersey sexual harassment lawyer, you can ensure your claim is handled properly. But are you required to hire a lawyer? The answer is “no,” there is no legal requirement that you have an attorney. But there are definite advantages to hiring an experienced attorney to represent you. Call The Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi today and set up an initial consultation to discuss your concerns.
How to Proceed without a Paramus Employment Lawyer
If you don’t hire an attorney, you must handle all the steps involved with a harassment or discrimination claim.
- Determine whether to file a charge. Workers who have suffered harassment or discrimination can file an administrative charge, usually with either the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the New Jersey Department on Civil Rights (DCR). However, anyone filing under state law might instead file a lawsuit in New Jersey state court. You need to decide how to proceed.
- Gather information in support of your charge. You need to prove discrimination or harassment. That means collecting relevant evidence, such as witness statements.
- Negotiate for a settlement. Some employment discrimination or harassment cases settle outside of court. Without a lawyer, the employee handles all settlement negotiations.
There are many challenges to going alone. For example, you might file in the wrong forum. If you are bringing a legal claim under state law, you must think carefully about whether to file with the DCR or to file a lawsuit.
A lawyer also knows what evidence is useful in establishing discrimination or harassment. You will need to learn this law on your own, which might prove impossible.
You could also miss critical filing deadlines. There are different deadlines depending on whether you file with a state or federal agency or whether you file a lawsuit. Miss a deadline and you will not be successful in your claim.
We Make the Difference
Many employees decline to hire a lawyer over fears about costs. Employees do not believe they can afford a sexual harassment lawyer, so they try to cobble together a claim on their own. But an experienced lawyer like Mr. Sleemi provides tangible benefits:
- Identify the correct forum and deadlines for filing.
- Gather helpful evidence of discrimination or harassment.
- Negotiate with your employer for a possible settlement.
- Review any proposed settlement, including waivers or non-disclosure agreements to protect your rights.
- Litigate a claim properly to seek the appropriate remedies for harassment or discrimination, including possible job reinstatement.
We can discuss more about how we charge for our services in a consultation with our lawyer.
Talk with Our New Jersey Hostile Work Environment Lawyers Today
There is no excuse for workplace harassment or discrimination. Nonetheless, countless employees suffer silently. Contact the Law Offices of Usmaan Sleemi for help standing up for your rights. You do not have to suffer harassment or discrimination, and our office can take legal action to hold an employer accountable. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
