Although most of us will never encounter the court system outside of maybe a traffic ticket, some circumstances may require legal action. Here are three common civil (non-criminal) actions that you may want to hire a lawyer for, and what to expect.

1. Workplace discrimination is the unfair treatment of an employee based on their protected class. Federally protected classes are: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. Your particular state may have its own civil rights laws with additional protected classes.     Discrimination cases are based on unfair treatment of a person in one of the above-protected classes or harassment of one of the members of a protected class. If you want to pursue a case like this, keep notes of your treatment. Your first step should be to contact the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), and they will investigate your claims. The EEOC may offer to mediate the case between you and your employer or give you a “right to sue” letter so you can hire an employment law attorney. 
2. A debt collection lawsuit is a legal action initiated by a creditor to collect an unpaid debt. You should never ignore a lawsuit, even if you do not believe the suit is legitimate. You can submit a written response contesting the lawsuit to the court, contact the creditor directly and try to negotiate a settlement, or hire a civil law attorney.  
3. Family law cases include adoption, child abuse, child custody, divorce, and guardianship. A family law attorney can evaluate your case to determine the best approach for your situation. Family court can be a highly complex place, and guidance from a competent lawyer will help you reach your desired outcome. 

At your initial consultation, an attorney will review the facts of your situation and determine if you have a viable legal case. Upon acceptance, you will sign a client engagement agreement that outlines the services provided and the associated cost and fee schedule. A consultation alone does not mean the attorney represents you. A client-attorney relationship is not established until a signed agreement is in place and payment for services has been received. 

Depending on the case, you may be charged a flat fee or be billed hourly. A flat fee means the client pays a fixed price for a specific service, regardless of how long it takes to complete. An hourly rate is when the attorney charges a specific rate per hour spent on the case. The attorney will estimate the amount of time required to complete the service and bill hours accordingly against the amount received. A client can expect an initial payment of $1,500, followed by additional payments as the case progresses.

The Louisville Urban League is dedicated to fostering economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities, with our focus on Jobs, Justice, Education, Health, Housing, and Black Business.

We provide many services, including job coaching, record expungement, health navigation, financial counseling, and support for small businesses.

For more information call (502)585-4622 or visit lul.org.