Experiencing sexual harassment or gender discrimination in the workplace is certainly an uncomfortable and shocking experience for virtually anyone. However, dealing with this kind of abuse can also be detrimental to one’s career, as well as one’s life. Therefore, making it very difficult to determine how to move forward following a sexual harassment encounter has already taken place. Fortunately, it is possible to find a San Francisco sexual harassment lawyer who will help you to determine the best path for moving forward. Here are a few things to look for in a lawyer specializing in sexual harassment law.
Best Sexual Harassment Lawyer
First of all, the San Francisco attorney you are considering should have a good track record. The San Francisco state bar Association has a pretty good record when it comes to the number of lawyers that are approved to practice in this area.
In addition, there are a number of other legal associations that can help you to locate the best sexual harassment lawyer, including the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and the National Security Forum. These associations can point you in the right direction if you are interested in finding local lawyers specializing in sexual assault cases.
Secondly, the San Francisco attorney you are considering should have strong relationships with his or her current clients.
After all, working with a competent lawyer can be essential if you want to ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation from your harasser.
Unfortunately, not all lawyers work well with their clients, so you may need to shop around to find the best sexual harassment attorney who can help you. You can ask friends and family members for names of lawyers they recommend, and you can also search the Internet for information about lawyers who might be able to help you.
Thirdly, you should take note of the specific language used in your claim.
If you are filing a discrimination or harassment claim against a current or former employer, you should be particularly aware of words like “hostile,” “vilical,” and “unprofessional.” In addition, you should become familiar with the types of sexual harassment that are common in the work place, such as “voyeurism,” “excessive touching,” and “verbal or non-verbal signals that provide the feeling of a threat.”
If you are a victim of workplace sexual harassment, you should be especially careful to make sure your lawyer explains the specific words or terms of a sexual harassment policy that applies to your situation accurately.
Fourth, when you are working with an attorney who specializes in workplace sexual harassment law, you should be aware of any payment arrangements made beforehand.
Many victims feel uncomfortable making the accusation against a supervisor or co-worker before they receive a settlement offer in the form of a dismissal. Therefore, it is recommended that you discuss any settlement with your lawyer before you accept it.
If a case has a potential resolution that can be satisfactory to both sides, you may decide to forgo a settlement in exchange for the assurance that your attorney will not be directly responsible for reporting the employer’s behavior to the human resources department. This can save you a lot of time and expense as well. If your attorney is unable to reach a settlement on your behalf, you should be prepared to take your case to the court as soon as possible.
Fifth, you should also be sure to check credentials of any lawyers that you plan to hire before you proceed.
It is important for a victim of sexual harassment to be able to trust their lawyer with information about settlements they are able to receive, but there are some lawyers who may try to keep this information from the victim by informing the victim that their settlement will be held in secret or by offering a settlement that is much less than the victim is entitled to.
In addition, many unscrupulous lawyers may tell the victim that they cannot pursue additional compensation if the victim continues to file complaints against the company. If you are unsure about the credibility of one of your prospective lawyers, you should ask to see documents detailing their success rate with other sexual harassment victims and you should investigate their track record before you proceed with your lawyer.
