Law organizations for employment run the gamut from local, city, and state, to national and international. Which one is right for you? Primarily, it depends on the problem you are facing and where you live. For example, those in California should start by consulting with a California nonprofit employment law or employment attorney organization.

The kinds of problems employment law organizations address will vary and, to make things easier, there are specific organizations that will deal with specific problems. Are you starting a new business and perhaps looking for compliance rules and regulations? Are you facing a wrongful termination complaint and need to know your rights? Has your staff suddenly started to think about unionizing and you want to know your options? Or perhaps your assistant has just "come out of the closet" and you need to know what, if any, type of impact this could have on your business relationship.

Before you attempt to find the employment law organizations best suited to solve your problem, you must first clearly identify the precise problem.

Begin to define the problem with a list that includes:

1. A detailed description of the specific problem.
2. The people who are affected by the problem.
3. If it is a company-wide issue or contained within a single department or person.
4. The financial/legal ramifications and whether it violates organization employment law.
5. The desired outcome.

Additionally, help in defining your problem can be found by utilizing a free employment law consultation, employment law groups, employment rights organizations or lawyers who deal with employment law. There are also organizations for employment lawyers, a local employment law counsel directory, and professional employment law organizations which offer free or no cost consultations. Usually, you can also obtain a free consultation by a lawyer for employment issues.

Once you have determined the specifics of the problem, then you are ready to find the right employment law organizations to help you.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get the facts from local employment law organizations when starting a new business

You don't need an attorney to start a business; what you do need is a DBA registration. A DBA (Doing Business As or doing business under a fictitious name) is the key for any new business; it is needed for a bank account, for the lease of an office space, and by the IRS for tax purposes. Depending on what state you live in, registering a DBA is as easy as going to the county clerk's office or your city hall, filling out a form, and paying a small fee. If you are a new business owner, this may be your first resource for employment law information because you will be provided with a booklet on employment laws in your area and details on how to obtain them in regards to your state of residence.

I recommend: JumpUp has good advice for putting it all together regardless of where you live, and all the registrations can be done easily online. Other sites with the same abilities include: DBA form, DBA-filings, or LegalZoom.com.

Consult with employment law associations to determine your rights to hire and fire someone

The ability to hire and fire comes under the guidance of your state unemployment office, sometimes known as the Employment Security Department or Economic Development, which is part of each state's Labor Department. This resource serves as a secondary defense system for employment law organizations seeking support at the state level. Although most of their functions come in the form of helping workers file for unemployment compensation, this department is also available to help businesses comply with state and federal employment laws. Additionally, you may want to consult with an employment attorney organization or one of many employment law groups.

I recommend: Check out the State Labor Offices information provided by the US Department of Labor to find a contact in your state. The state-by-state listings include contact information, such as: name, title, address, phone number, and website address. Additionally you can find employment law groups that serve various states, such as The Employment Law Group, P.C. serving Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, or law organizations for employment rights at the national level, such as NELA (National Employment Lawyers Association).

Rely on an employment attorney organization for help with union matters

Union activities and acceptance or denial by an employer is a federal matter, governed by the US Department of Labor and regulated by well over 180 different laws. It is in your best interest to know the rights afforded to both employers and employees when it comes to union issues and there are many resources and organizations that can help.

I recommend: First, become familiar with a Summary of the Major Laws provided by the US Department of Labor. Then, visit the official site of the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations) to see what each union requires of its members and employers. One final step may be to search FindLaw and hire a union lawyer to protect your rights.

Get information from employment rights organizations on general workers' issues or specific problems

The workforce demographics are constantly changing and so are the laws that govern them. Identifying characteristics such as sexual orientation, race, age, gender, or any other specific issue which can be discriminated against in the workplace will have their own Employment Law Organizations to address the specific problem.

I recommend: Visit the National Workrights Institute web site for an overview of each of the most common workplace issues. Then, review the laws, regulations, and technical assistance services set forth in the Employment Law Guide available from the US Department of Labor.

Don't lose hope when searching for employment law organizations

The maze through employment law organizations can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. There are a variety of employment law groups, professional employment law organizations, and employment law associations to come to your aide.

I recommend: Just as all roads for employment start and end with the US Department of Labor, so should your search for help. Additionally, you can find professional employment law organizations and other legal resources in your area at Lawyers.com or the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) web site.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Know what the problem is. By knowing what the problem is, you'll be better prepared to find the solution.
• •  Don't think you are the only person to have this problem. It may very well be more commonplace than you realize.
• •  Because employment issues are governed by local, state, and federal laws, their respective offices have staff members willing and able to help.
• •  Realize that employment law organizations are available for the benefit of employees and employers alike.