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By: Art Gib

Houston, Texas is an easy place to find a labor attorney. From its humble beginnings as a frontier town to the thriving business center it is now, Houston has always had labor issues and attorneys to resolve those issues.

In fact, with its burgeoning labor force and growing status as one of the best cities for employment in the United States, Houston is bound to need more attorneys than ever to protect the labor force from unlawful treatment by employers.

That's not to say that every labor attorney is a good one. A water hole, after all, attracts protector and predator alike. In a city with such an abundance of practicing labor attorneys, it can be difficult to locate one with the ethics, record of success, and determination to win an important case.

If you are considering hiring a labor attorney for an important case, here are three crucial things you should look for before signing that retainer:

1. General or Specific -- First, understand that there are firms that offer a wide array of specialization from tax law to auto accident litigation to criminal defense. This is code for they have maybe one or two attorneys dedicated to each specialization.

This isn't terrible; their attorney dedicated to labor law may be quite talented. More likely, however, this type of firm will not have the kind of deep experience with labor disputes that you may want on your side in an important case.

2. A Winning Record -- The past is an excellent indicator of the future. Labor attorneys that deliver victory after victory to their clients are likely to do so again with future clients. As you perform your search for a labor attorney, make a point to ask about their record.

What percentage of their cases have resolved positively for their clients? How substantial have their settlements been? Ask for referrals. Remember, you have a right to press them for this information. They work for you.

3. Personal Attention -- You know from the minute you contact a firm what kind of treatment you are going to get. Some firms invite you in, treat you like family, and give you their undivided attention. They listen to your story carefully. They answer your calls faithfully. They make it a point to let you know that they are working for you.

Other firms, however, are not so inviting. If you are treated like a nuisance when you call with questions, you may have the wrong attorney. If you get the distinct impression that they are hearing what you say but doing the complete opposite, red flags should be going up in your head.

You cannot afford to be represented by an attorney who does not appreciate or trust you as their client. Safe yourself some grief and look for warning signs early on.

Houston has a plethora of solid labor attorneys. With a little legwork, you can ensure that you find the right one for your case.

Rosenberg Law (http://www.rosenberglaw.com/) is a Houston labor attorney. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

Tags: Business/Strategic Planning houston labor attorney

3 Things to Look For in a Labor Attorney