A lot of people ask me about why I charge a Consultation Fee of $400. Employment Law is different from other areas of the law. For example, with a traffic accident case, a lawsuit can be filed shortly after the accident. So a number of attorneys provide free consultations to individuals because a decision on filing a lawsuit can be made shortly after.
For people with Employment Law issues, the situation is a lot more complicated. Employment law requires employees and former employees to follow a “process” or protocol in order to address their issues. The purpose of meeting with me is to find out where you are in that required process and what options you may have.
The consultation fee is to make sure that only people who are serious about pursuing a path that may result in a lawsuit meet with me. The fee is also based on my years of training and experience to help guide you to the next steps. You are getting the benefit of my real world experience in employment law and other areas of the law. That is why a Consultation Fee is required.
Resilience And Strength
In Hawaii, where the cost of living is among the highest in the country, unpaid wages or miscalculated overtime can create real financial pressure for workers in Hilo and across the Big Island. Understanding state and federal wage rules is an important first step...
Losing your job can be especially difficult when you believe your employer fired you for an unlawful reason. In Hawaii, not every termination violates the law, but employees may have legal protections in certain circumstances. If you believe your employer wrongfully...
Planning for the future means protecting what matters most. Many people wonder which legal documents belong in an estate plan. The answer depends on your specific situation, but certain core documents form the foundation of nearly every complete plan. Key documents...
Pregnancy discrimination often happens to women when they are already pregnant. Their boss may deny them the ability to go to medical appointments, for instance, or make it difficult for them to take maternity leave. If a woman announces her pregnancy and then has her...
When a parent passes away, you may already know that you are going to inherit assets. Perhaps you have talked with them about how they want to pass on financial assets or tangible assets. Maybe you have read the estate plan, so you are aware of the exact specifics and...
Pregnancy can bring about many life changes, both at home and in the workplace. One thing that should never be part of that experience is workplace discrimination. Employees should be able to focus on their health and growing families without worrying about unfair...
About a dozen states, including Hawaii, have enacted laws to prohibit employers from having “captive audience” meetings of a political nature. In other words, they can’t require employees to attend such meetings or events. These laws also prohibit employers from...
When employees leave their jobs, businesses must ensure they pay them for all time worked. Employees usually receive at least one paycheck after their job officially ends. In addition to paying the departing worker’s salary or hourly wages, employers may also need to...
When a loved one who never wanted to talk about their eventual death – let alone any kind of estate planning – passes away, family members don’t often expect to find a will. Sometimes there is none. That’s when intestacy laws take over. Other times, they find multiple...
Small things can soon add up. Yet, because they are individually minor, people often dismiss them as insignificant. This is true for many things, including acts of discrimination at work. If your manager told you that they hated people of your skin color or race or if...