What to Do Before Contacting a Maryland Employment Lawyer: Evidence, Emails and Key Documents to Save

Whether you have concerns about something at work, you are a victim of harassment or discrimination, or you have been wrongfully terminated, one of the most important steps you can take is to ensure that you are making informed decisions. Generally, this means talking to a Maryland employment lawyer who can provide the insights and advice you need. While you can—and should—contact a lawyer immediately if necessary, it can be helpful to take some preliminary steps to prepare for your initial consultation if possible.

7 Steps to Take (if Possible) Before Your Initial Consultation

While you should not hesitate to contact a Maryland employment lawyer if you need help immediately, the following are seven steps that you should try to take before your initial consultation if you have the time to do so:

1. Locate Proof of Your Employment

Your employment lawyer will need proof of your employment in order to take legal action on your behalf. With this in mind, you should locate proof of your employment if you can. Pay stubs, W-2s, copies of emails with your work email address, and copies of communications from your employer are all examples of proof of employment that you may have available at home.

2. Save Copies of Relevant Emails, Texts, and Direct Messages

You should save copies of any emails, texts, and direct messages that are relevant to the situation at hand. With that said, depending on the situation, you may need to be careful about copying any confidential or proprietary information onto your personal phone or laptop. When in doubt, err on the side of caution—and make a note to discuss any files that you haven’t copied with your lawyer.

3. Make Copies of Any Relevant Hardcopy Documents

Along with copying any electronic records that are relevant to your situation (subject to the caveat we just mentioned), you should make copies of any relevant hardcopy documents as well. Your lawyer will need copies for his or her file. Making copies to bring with you to your initial consultation can help to streamline the process if you will be meeting with your lawyer in person.

4. Take Notes About What Happened (Why You Are Seeking Legal Advice)

When you meet with a lawyer, it will be important for you to provide as much information about your situation as possible. With this in mind, you should take notes about what happened (why you are seeking legal advice). Write down as many details as you can remember, including:

• The overall timeline of events
• Specific dates and times
• The names of all company personnel involved
• The names of any witnesses
• Any other information that you think may be important for your lawyer to know

The more information you can provide during your initial consultation, the better. Be sure to prepare your notes during your personal time, and keep them at home in hard copy or on your personal phone or laptop.

5. Prepare a List of Questions You Want to Ask

In addition to taking detailed notes, you should also prepare a list of questions you want to ask during your initial consultation. We have provided some suggestions in a previous article, but you should not hesitate to ask any questions you may have. Your lawyer may answer many of these questions over the course of your initial consultation, but if you have any remaining questions at the end, you should be sure to ask them before you leave or hang up the phone.

6. Avoid Signing Anything

If your employer asks you to sign anything, you should avoid doing so until you speak with your lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to review the document in detail and help you understand what your employer is asking you to sign and why.

7. Keep Doing Your Job (If You Are Still Employed)

Finally, if you are still employed, you should keep doing your job to the best of your ability. While this can be challenging, it can also be important. Regardless of what has happened to date, you do not want to do anything that could make your situation more difficult or more tenuous than necessary.

Schedule an Initial Consultation with a Maryland Employment Lawyer at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford

If you need to discuss your situation with a Maryland employment lawyer, we strongly encourage you to contact us right away. To schedule a confidential initial consultation with The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford as soon as possible, call 410-514-6099 or tell us how to reach you online today.