How Do You Hire a Constitutional Rights Lawyer

Lawsuits arising from Constitutional rights violations are challenging and complex. If your civil rights have been violated, you require an attorney with the experience and resources to advocate on your behalf aggressively. To find a lawyer, you could turn to friends and associates for recommendations, contact your local bar association, or research attorneys online. At The Law Office of Andrew Shubin, we understand the concerns people have when hiring a Constitutional lawyer. Below, we outline some of the things you should think about when looking for legal representation.

Identify Your Constitutional Rights Violation

A person’s civil and constitutional rights could be violated in a variety of ways. Before thinking about hiring an attorney, it is crucial to understand the type of civil rights lawsuit you could be filing. Because of the challenges Constitutional law presents, many attorneys will specialize in only certain areas of civil rights violations. Some of the more common disputes and violations that our Constitutional law attorney handles are listed below.

Employment Discrimination

Employment discrimination is more common than people realize. Federal law prohibits discrimination based on a person’s age, race, religion, disability, sex, genetic information, color, and national origin. Some states offer additional protections. Before filing a lawsuit, an employment discrimination or harassment case must be reported to a government agency.

Police Misconduct

The news media is rife with stories of violations of civil rights by law enforcement. If you believe your rights were infringed upon by the police, including unnecessary force, unlawful searches, or other questionable conduct, you should speak with an experienced Constitutional lawyer.

Housing Discrimination

Federal law prohibits any housing discrimination based on a person’s sex, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, or familial status.

Gather Information Regarding Your Constitutional Claim

Before hiring a lawyer, you should gather all the evidence you have available related to your civil rights claim. Presenting evidence and documentation to your potential Constitutional attorney will allow them to understand your claim better.

You should write down every memory you have of the incident. This will not only help your attorney but will also allow you the time to put your thoughts into context. Write down important details, such as who said what, individual’s conduct, and when things occurred. Be honest about your actions as well. You do not want to keep any information from your attorney.

If any witnesses could help your case, collect their names and contact information. Witness testimony is often crucial in proving a civil rights violation. For instance, if you were the victim of abuse or overreach by law enforcement, try to get the offending officer’s name and badge number along with any witnesses’ information who saw the incident. For an employment discrimination case, you should include the names of your supervisors, managers, and any employees who witnessed the discrimination.

Do not forget to preserve physical evidence, including any document related to your claim. These documents could include everything from emails, memos, letters, reports, or any statement related to your case. When you consult with a Constitutional attorney, they will want to review all your documentation.

Interviewing a Constitutional Lawyer

Once you have gathered your evidence, including your written record of what occurred, you are ready to sit down with a Constitutional lawyer. The first thing to remember is that you are hiring this individual to represent you. You are allowed to ask questions about their qualifications and you are under no obligation to hire an attorney because you consulted with them.

For an attorney-client relationship to be most effective, especial in a civil rights case, both parties must be able to respect and trust each other. You need to be comfortable that your attorney represents your best interests and your attorney should believe that you are providing them all the information you have.

You should ask your potential lawyer about their experience and background to ensure that their practice specializes in the type of civil rights claim you have. Some attorneys have additional certifications or are members of specific associations dedicated to civil rights and Constitutional law – you have every right to ask about an attorney’s credentials.

Questions about outcomes in similar cases, including whether they settled a complaint out of court or needed to litigate, are vital to gauging a potential attorney. You want to make sure, even though you will rely on their expertise, that your attorney will listen to you before making decisions regarding your case. Make sure you know who will be working on your case. Is it the attorney you are speaking with or will the case be assigned to a junior associate. Also, ask questions regarding the size and experience of the staff. Constitutional law cases are complicated and require a trained team with appropriate resources.

Communication is vital in any civil rights litigation. Inquire about how the law office will provide status updates on the progress of your case. If you have questions once the case has begun, you will want to know how quickly you should expect a response. Sometimes emergencies arise, so understanding what arrangements are available for after-hours contact is also important.

Attorney costs are always on the mind of someone hiring an attorney. It is essential to understand the fee agreement, such as whether it is based on a retainer fee or a contingency fee.

Finally, you could ask a potential Constitutional lawyer for references of current and past clients. However, depending on the nature of the cases and clients represented, it might be difficult to provide references due to confidentiality and privacy concerns. Under these circumstances, an attorney will have to request permission to provide that information.

Call Our Constitutional Lawyer if Your Civil Rights Have Been Violated

Civil rights violations are serious offenses and require a skilled and talented Constitutional lawyer. The Law Office of Andrew Shubin has handled many delicate and challenging civil rights claims. Our attorneys and staff are available to review your claim. We will also answer any questions you have regarding our firm. Call (814) 826-3586 to speak with an attorney.