I Got Fired

Today we are thrilled to have Rebecca Pontikes on the show and we are going to be talking about the issue of Consult Fees in Employment Law cases. We have discussed this issue before, in an earlier podcast, where we touched on it briefly with Jacob Small, but on today's show, we will be dealing with this issue exclusively. Listen in to find out more.

Rebecca, who has a sharp bend towards women's rights, is a Plaintiff Side Employment Lawyer, based in Boston, where she only does Plaintiff's Employment Law work. The focus of her practice is on discrimination against care givers who are Moms and Dads who get penalized at work, because they have to care for either their kids, or their ageing parents. She also does a lot of work around sexual harassment and with Title Nine plaintiffs. In addition to that, she deals with the whole gamut of Employment work, especially with Non-Compete Agreements, because in Boston they have a lot of health care and a lot of tech. Listen to find out what Rebecca has to tell you today, about the issue of Consult Fees in Employment Law cases.

Show highlights:

• Rebecca talks about what a Title Nine case means and who would call her, in that regard.
• Rebecca explains why she charges Consult Fees.
• How Rebecca's work differs from that done by firms who advertise 'no charge' for their consultations.
• The definition of a consultation could vary, from one Law Firm to the next.
• Many Law Firms have their junior Attorneys, or even Para-Legals handle their consultations.
• Some of the difficulties with dealing with Employment Law cases that most people don't know about.
• There are some resources for the people who really can't afford a Lawyer.
• Avvo.com offers a low-cost service where they will find you a Lawyer.
• Why Rebecca is passionate about having Legal Services adequately funded.
• The National Women's Law Centre, based in DC, is offering a Gender Equity Initiative, with a network of Attorneys who have agreed to take these discrimination cases.
• Why it would really be worth paying a Lawyer for a consultation.
• The National Employment Lawyers Association has a good list of Plaintiff Side Lawyers for you to use.
• On the Workplace Fairness website, they have a really good Q&A and helpful information for legal consumers and workers who have lost their job, or fear that they might lose it. (www.workplacefairness.org)
• Another resource, particularly for pregnancy and care giver discrimination cases, is the Centre For Work Life Law. (www.worklifelaw.org) They also have a hotline and some great resources.

Resources:

Rebecca's website: www.pontikeslawllc.com

So you think you've got a case? Fantastic! Where do you start? For many, the process of finding a law firm for representation can be intimidating and confusing. Lawyers tend to speak their own lingo, and with a few simple tricks, you can pick it up too!

Today's guest is Eric Bachman, an Employment Lawyer in the Washington area with experience in both the public and the private sector. Eric will share his experiences dealing with frustrated clients in regards to employment law. He will also share how firms sort through cases during intake in order to give you your best chances of being heard. Finding representation can feel like an uphill battle, but it doesn't have to be! Give this episode a listen to learn even more!

• Advice for those who are intimidated to call a law firm.
• What to expect when you begin calling a law firm.
• Troubleshooting common problems and misconceptions.
• Digging through some of the "seemingly random" common questions law firms might ask.
• Lawyers are getting limited info in intake calls.
• Sorting through the common frustrations we face.

Resources

Eric's Blog

https://www.glassceilingdiscriminationlawyer.com/

Zuckerman Law

https://www.zuckermanlaw.com/

So you got fired, or think you are about to be. Now what? Do you think you might have a wrongful termination case? Are you even qualified to try to get some compensation? Where do you even start? Since this can be a such a confusing and overwhelming time of transition, we wanted to get down to the business of finding representation. Let's take the mystery out of the search. Attorney Jacob M. Small joins the conversation today to tell you what your first steps are after you are fired!

It's no small task, but the solution is really simple. Find someone who knows their business, and feels confident about your case. We have more than a few practical ways to get you started, so listen to this week's episode to get started.

More in this episode:

• Getting a smart start for the process of reaching out to an attorney.
• Resources you can use to find a NELA affiliated attorney.
• Nuances between specialties in management firm and individual firms.
• Know that firms use marketing.
• Tips to finding a great attorney in your area.
• What is a Local Counsel, and how could one help you?
• How to take legal advice from a friend and a professional.
• Yes, a consultation fee can be a good thing!

Links

J Madison PLC

https://jmadisonplc.com/

To find an attorney near you

http://nela.org/

https://www.mwela.org/

This is the podcast for you if you've been fired recently or think you might be fired! Today's guest is Edgar Ndjatou, who has been an employment lawyer in the DC metro area for the past 7 years. Edgar has an interesting background, being born in Cameroon and growing up in NYC, and has great advice about dealing with employment law.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Where to start if you've been fired: Do you need a lawyer?
• "Buyer Beware" warnings about online legal information
• The importance of defining search terms for online legal research
• Employment lawyers: they represent either management OR employees
• What to look out for with case law situations
• Why you should research the offices of human rights in your state or local area
• Advice for federal employees
• The benefits of a well-informed client
• Edgar's pro bono work and training classes

Resources:

Where to find Edgar:

www.mnlawyerspllc.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 202-290-3724

Look for Edgar on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, too!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

www.workplacefairness.com

www.eeoc.gov

www.avvo.com

www.opm.gov

www.pacer.gov

www.nela.org

www.nolo.com

www.dol.gov

Welcome to the first episode of the I Got Fired podcast! This show is for anyone who has been fired or feels they are about to be fired. This may be the only podcast dedicated to employees who are having problems at work. My ambition is to provide you with the information you need to deal with problems in the workplace. I'm Tom Spiggle, owner of the Spiggle Law Firm, located in the Washington, DC area. I know that employment law can be complicated, so I want to meet your acute need to understand your next steps and make the best educated decision.

Let's talk about what you can expect from the podcast:

• The podcast will help you research and educate yourself about general and specific issues that are relevant to you
• We will discuss two of the major situations that could cause your firing: a "protected category"—under Title VII law, and a "noncompete" situation
• Guests will be featured who can give competent advice about employment law issues
• Some of the issues we will cover are how to contest a firing, equal pay, Fair Labor Standard Act, whistleblower and retaliation, and harassment
• Our objective is to even the playing field so you can make the best choice from the options available
• People are usually surprised to learn that many steps you can take DON'T involve hiring a lawyer, filing a motion in court, or having to talk to your employer
• We want to answer questions, give hope, and get you on to the next stage of your life!

Resources:

www.spigglelaw.com/podcast/Igotfired