Employment lawyer consultation checklist

• The date you started, and the date of the termination or other action.
• The date you raised a concern, asked for leave or requested an accommodation, if you did.
• The date you received any severance offer, and its signing deadline.
• Any deadline a lawyer or an agency has already mentioned.

Some claims must be filed with a government agency or court within a short time. The deadline depends on the claim and on where you work. This page cannot tell you yours. If you think one may be close, say so when you book.

• Employer name, your job title and your pay.
• Who made the decision, if you know.
• What reason you were given, and how you were told.
• Whether you signed an arbitration, confidentiality or non-compete agreement.

• Offer letter, employment contract and anything you signed when hired.
• Performance reviews and any written warnings.
• Termination letter and any severance agreement.
• Recent pay records.
• Relevant emails or messages you are allowed to keep.
• A one-page timeline of events in order.

Keep only documents you are allowed to keep. Ask a lawyer before taking or sharing your employer’s records.

• Choose two or three lawyers who represent employees.
• Check each license and any public discipline with the official source: U.S. state lookups or Canadian law societies.
• Ask whether the first consultation is free, and how long it lasts.

• Would you take my case on contingency, and what percentage applies at each stage?
• Who pays case expenses, and would I owe anything if there is no recovery?
• Which deadlines apply to me?
• What are the main strengths and risks of my claim?
• Who would handle my case day to day?

Want the core questions on one page? Get the free consultation sheet by email.

• Write down each lawyer’s answers the same day, in the same format.
• Compare them side by side before deciding.
• Read the fee agreement before you sign, and ask about anything unclear.