When you pick someone to represent you in anything, you want to make sure that he/she is someone you trust and respect.  Choosing an attorney to represent you in an employment discrimination claim should be no different.  The attorney-client relationship that is formed in an employment discrimination case can be a very personal one.  There are oftentimes private details that must be shared, and you need to be comfortable speaking about those details with your attorney.  You also want an attorney who has experience representing individuals in claims of discrimination before the Texas Workforce Commission and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as in filing discrimination lawsuits in State and Federal Court. 

What should I look out for when talking to an employment discrimination attorney?

In addition to the obvious emotional aspect of an employment discrimination claim, you also want an attorney who believes in your claim.  Now, this does not mean that you should expect to walk into an attorney’s office and have the attorney tell you that he/she can guarantee you a certain result or some specific amount of money.  When an employment discrimination attorney tells you in your first meeting that he/she will get an exact amount of cash in your pocket at the end of the process, you should probably run for the door.  There are far too many variables to take into account in evaluating a claim, and it is impossible to know how a case is going to turn out before it even begins.  However, an experienced attorney may be able to provide you with a range of possible damages and what types of monetary settlements he/she has seen in similar types of cases. 

Pick the attorney you think is right for YOU!

Employment discrimination claims are often brought after an employee has been fired from his/her job.  It can be a very emotional time.  You want to make sure that you are picking an attorney who you feel can best serve you and your claim.  You may decide that you like the attorney’s game plan, you may have been referred to the attorney by a friend or a colleague, or you may just like the attorney’s personality or demeanor.  At the end of the day, you need to choose the attorney who you think will have your best interests at heart. 

If you are looking for an employment discrimination attorney in the Central Texas area, you can always contact the Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas or the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information Service.