Is It Worth Hiring an Employment Lawyer in Maryland?

If you are dealing with a legal situation at work (or if you have recently lost your job), one of the most important decisions you need to make is whether to hire a Maryland employment lawyer. In the employment context, a wide range of issues can warrant legal action, and employees (and former employees) need to know when they can—and should—stand up for their legal rights.

Should you hire a lawyer to stand up for your legal rights?

The answer to this question depends on the specific circumstances at hand. To find out if you have grounds to take legal action, you will need to speak with a lawyer who has experience representing employees (or former employees) in similar circumstances. Scheduling an initial consultation does not obligate you to move forward, and, generally speaking, this is the only practical way to find out if you need legal representation.  

7 Reasons Why It’s Worth Talking to a Maryland Employment Lawyer

Whether you are a victim of harassment or discrimination, you are facing a workplace investigation, or you are dealing with any other legal situation at work, here are seven reasons why it will be worth scheduling an initial consultation with a Maryland employment lawyer:

1. You Need to Have an Accurate Understanding of Your Legal Rights

While employees in Maryland have clear legal rights, understanding your legal rights can be complicated. Are you protected under federal or state law? Which specific law applies? What are your specific rights under the circumstances at hand? All of these are important questions that an experienced Maryland employment lawyer will be able to answer for you.

If you don’t have a clear understanding of your legal rights, you won’t be able to assert them effectively. This means that if you are entitled to legal or equitable remedies, you won’t be able to seek the remedies you deserve. As we discuss in greater detail below, failing to assert your legal rights effectively can potentially have long-term career consequences as well.

2. You Owe It To Yourself to Make Informed Decisions

Given the importance of asserting your legal rights effectively, you owe it to yourself to ensure that you are making informed decisions. In this situation, you do not want to rely exclusively on information you find online. Every employee’s circumstances are unique, and what is true for someone else won’t necessarily be true for you. By consulting with an experienced Maryland employment lawyer, you can ensure that you are making informed decisions based on the specific circumstances of your case.

3. You Need to Avoid Potentially Costly Mistakes

Along with ensuring that you are making informed decisions, you also need to ensure that you avoid potentially costly mistakes. An experienced Maryland employment lawyer will be able to help here as well. Your lawyer can explain what not to do as your situation continues to unfold, and if you decide to take legal action, your lawyer can continue to provide custom-tailored advice throughout the process while advocating on your behalf.

4. You May Need to Meet Strict Deadlines (and Other Requirements)

If you have grounds to take legal action, you may need to meet strict deadlines in order to seek the remedies you deserve. You may need to meet various other substantive and procedural requirements as well.

The specific requirements you need to meet will depend on the specific law that applies in your case. An experienced Maryland employment lawyer will be able to explain all of the pertinent requirements. Your lawyer will be able to assist with meeting these requirements as well—including preparing any necessary legal documents and filing these documents appropriately and on time.

5. Protecting Your Legal Rights Isn’t Easy (But It Is Important)

From gathering the evidence you need to taking appropriate legal action against your employer, protecting your legal rights is not easy. However, it is extremely important. If you overlook any of your legal rights or fail to take any of the steps that are necessary to assert them effectively, you won’t receive the outcome you deserve.

While there are no guarantees, an experienced Maryland employment lawyer can help make sure this doesn’t happen. Your lawyer can provide all of the information you need to make informed decisions, and then your lawyer can take all necessary and appropriate steps on your behalf.

6. You May Be Entitled to Various Remedies

If you have a claim against your employer for harassment, discrimination, or any other unlawful adverse employment action, you may be entitled to various remedies. Depending on the circumstances of your case, these could include financial remedies (i.e., back pay with interest) and equitable remedies (i.e., reinstatement or promotion), among others.

An experienced Maryland employment lawyer will be able to explain the remedies you are entitled to seek under the circumstances at hand, and then you can use this information to decide whether taking legal action is worth it. This is a critical decision, and as we said above, you owe it to yourself to ensure that you are making informed decisions with your long-term best interests in mind.

7. The Decisions You Make Now Could Impact Your Career in the Future

When deciding whether to take legal action, it will also be important for you to think about how your current circumstances could impact your career in the future. For example, if your employer has wrongfully claimed that it terminated your employment “for cause,” this could limit your employment prospects in the years (or decades) to come. An experienced Maryland employment lawyer will be able to help you think carefully about these types of considerations as well.

Speak with an Experienced Maryland Employment Lawyer in Strict Confidence

Are you wondering whether you should hire an employment lawyer to represent you? If so, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. To find out what you need to know in order to make informed decisions about your next steps, call The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, LLC at 410-514-6099 or request a confidential consultation online today.