Photo: Christina @ wocintechchat.com / Unsplash- Work and lawyers
Do I Need a Lawyer? How to Decide
A plain-English way to decide whether you can handle a legal problem yourself or should hire an attorney.
2 min read - Work and lawyers
How to Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help in the US
Where to look for legal aid, law school clinics, bar association referral programs and court self-help centers.
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Contingency Fees Explained: What You Pay a Lawyer If You Win
How contingency fee agreements work, what percentages are typical, and why costs are a separate question.
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At-Will Employment and Wrongful Termination: Your Rights
Most US jobs are at-will, but there are important limits. Learn when a firing may be illegal.
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Unpaid Wages and Overtime: Your Rights and How to Recover Pay
Learn when employers must pay overtime, what counts as wage theft and how to file a wage claim.
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Non-Compete Agreements: Are They Enforceable?
How courts treat non-compete clauses, what makes one reasonable and what to do before signing or leaving a job.
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FMLA Leave: Who Qualifies and What It Protects
The Family and Medical Leave Act gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. See the eligibility rules.
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LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: Which Is Right for a Small Business?
Compare liability protection, taxes, cost and paperwork for sole proprietorships and limited liability companies.
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Unemployment Benefits: How to Appeal a Denial
Why claims get denied, the short appeal deadlines, what happens at a hearing and how to prepare.
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Social Security Disability Appeals: The Four Levels
Most initial SSDI and SSI claims are denied. Learn the appeal levels, the 60-day deadline and how attorney fees work.
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Workplace Harassment and Discrimination: Your Rights and How to Report
What counts as illegal discrimination and harassment at work, which laws apply and how to file a complaint.
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Can My Employer Monitor My Email, Computer and Phone?
What employers can generally monitor on work devices and accounts, where privacy limits apply and how to protect yourself.
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Final Paycheck Rules: When Must an Employer Pay You?
How state laws set deadlines for final pay, what must be included and what to do if an employer withholds your last paycheck.
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Can I Collect Unemployment If I Quit My Job?
When a resignation can still qualify for unemployment benefits, such as good cause or unsafe conditions, and how to document it.
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Severance Agreements: What to Check Before You Sign
How severance packages work, what rights you may give up, review periods for older workers and tips for negotiating.
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Pregnancy at Work: Discrimination, Accommodations and Leave
Federal protections for pregnant workers, including accommodations, leave and the right not to be fired or demoted because of pregnancy.
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Disability Accommodations at Work Under the ADA
How the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to employment, what reasonable accommodations are and how to request one.
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Whistleblower Protections: Reporting Wrongdoing Safely
How federal and state laws protect employees who report illegal activity, what retaliation looks like and how to document a report.
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Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees: Who Gets Overtime?
How the Fair Labor Standards Act decides overtime eligibility, common misclassifications and what to do if you were denied overtime.
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Meal and Rest Break Laws: What Employers Must Provide
Federal rules on breaks, which states require meal and rest periods and what to do if you are denied them.
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Employer Drug Testing: When It Is Allowed and What Rights You Have
When private and public employers can require drug tests, how state laws and marijuana legalization affect them and what happens if you test positive.
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Employment Background Checks: Your Rights Under the FCRA
What employers can check, the notice and consent rules, how to dispute errors and how fair chance laws limit use of criminal records.
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Employment Contract Terms to Check Before You Sign
Key clauses in job offers and employment contracts, including termination, compensation, non-competes, arbitration and intellectual property.
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Layoffs and the WARN Act: Notice Rights for Large Layoffs
When employers must give 60 days' notice of mass layoffs and plant closings, who is covered and what remedies exist.
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Workplace Safety and OSHA Complaints: Your Rights
How to report unsafe conditions to OSHA, protection against retaliation and the deadline to file a retaliation complaint.
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Paid Sick Leave Laws: Do Employers Have to Provide It?
Federal rules, state and local paid sick leave laws, typical accrual rates and what to do if you are denied sick time.
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COBRA Health Insurance After You Lose Your Job
How COBRA continuation coverage works, who is eligible, the deadlines to elect it, the cost and alternatives.
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Social Security Overpayments: What to Do If SSA Says You Owe Money
Why overpayments occur, your right to appeal or request a waiver and how repayment works.
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Unemployment Overpayments: Why You Got a Bill and How to Respond
Why states demand repayment of unemployment benefits, your appeal and waiver rights and how to avoid fraud accusations.
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Starting a Business: A Legal Checklist for Beginners
The key legal steps for launching a small business, from choosing a structure to licenses, taxes, insurance and contracts.
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Business Licenses and Permits: What You Need to Operate Legally
The types of licenses and permits businesses may need at the federal, state and local levels and how to find out which apply.
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S Corporation vs. LLC: Differences in Taxes and Liability
How LLCs and S corporations differ, the self-employment tax angle and how to decide which fits your business.
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Business Contracts Basics: Terms Every Small Business Should Include
The essential elements of a valid contract, key clauses for small businesses and mistakes that lead to disputes.
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Franchise Agreements: Red Flags Before You Buy a Franchise
What to review in a Franchise Disclosure Document, common risks and questions to ask before signing a franchise agreement.
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Terms of Service and Privacy Policies for Websites: What You Need
Why websites and apps need a terms of service and privacy policy, key contents and legal requirements like state privacy laws.
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Sales Tax for Online Sellers: Nexus, Registration and Marketplaces
When online sellers must collect sales tax, how economic nexus works and how marketplace facilitators handle tax.
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Hiring Your First Employee: Legal Steps for Small Business Owners
The legal and tax steps when you hire your first employee, including registration, forms, insurance and wage and hour compliance.
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Intellectual Property for Startups: Protecting Your Name, Code and Ideas
How trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets protect different assets and the steps new businesses should take early.
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Employee or Independent Contractor? The Tests Agencies Use
The factors the IRS, Department of Labor and states use to classify workers and what to do if you were misclassified.
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Non-Compete vs. Non-Solicit vs. NDA: What Restrictions Can You Face After a Job?
How three common employment restrictions differ and which are most likely to be enforced.
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Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs): What They Mean and How to Respond
What a PIP is, why employers use them, how to respond and whether a PIP creates legal rights.
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Workplace Retaliation: How to Recognize and Prove It
What counts as retaliation, the elements of a claim, evidence that helps and deadlines to file.
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Job References: What Former Employers Can Say About You
How job references work, what employers can legally say and what to do if a former employer is giving a bad or false reference.
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Wage Theft: How to Send a Demand Letter and File a Claim
Steps to recover unpaid wages, including keeping records, a demand letter, agency complaints and small claims or court options.
2 min read - Work and lawyers
401(k) After Leaving a Job: Your Options and Rights
What happens to your 401(k) when you leave, vesting, rollover options, taxes and penalties and how to avoid costly mistakes.
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Gig Worker Rights: Uber, DoorDash and Other App-Based Work
How classification, pay, expenses, taxes, deactivation and legal protections work for app-based gig workers.
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Tips and Tipped Wages: Who Owns Tips and What Employers Can Do
How federal and state laws treat tips, tip credits, tip pooling and service charges, and what to do if your tips were taken.
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When to Hire an Employment Discrimination Lawyer
Signs that legal help is worthwhile, how discrimination cases work, filing deadlines and what to bring to a consultation.
2 min read