Applying for Jobs with a Criminal Record: Know Your Rights
What You Should Know Before Starting Business Litigation
Michelle Garrett
In the course of running a company, there's a good chance that at some point you may need to talk with a business litigation attorney about your options. The business litigation process is entered into when your operation either cannot resolve a problem caused by a third party or it has been asked to defend itself against one. Having some sense of what to expect as you go through the process can very advantageous.
It's Not About Fighting
As much as your impulse in a legal situation may be to feel like you need to fight back against someone, a good business litigation attorney is there to represent your interests above getting entangled in a drawn-out battle. In many cases, the threat of pending litigation can drive parties toward a settlement. The legal system strongly encourages parties to resolve their disputes without wasting the time and resources of the court, so be prepared to let some of your antagonism go.
When to Pursue Litigation
Not all circumstances call for getting into a legal fight, and you want to be aware of what is a good use of money and effort before you move forward. Foremost, you should be serious about whether the benefits are likely to offset the costs. In a number of instances, it may be better to either let a matter go or try to resolve it cheaply and quickly. If a situation, however, seems to be spiraling toward the point that it might be very costly, you should at least take the time to schedule a consultation with a business litigation attorney.
Documentation
When pursuing litigation, documenting everything is critical. Any serious complaint or response will lead to the production of a massive amount of documents, so be sure your organization has the resources needed to go through them, copy them and deliver them to all concerned parties.
Starting the Process
Once you've retained counsel and decided to pursue action, the first order of business is filing a formal legal complaint or responding to one that has been filed. You'll sit down with your lawyer and build an outline of what the concerns you have are and the legal remedies you're seeking. Once documents have been served to the other side, they will have a specified amount of time according to the law to respond. Parties are then expected to enter into negotiations to resolve the matter.
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I'll be up front: I have a criminal record. As someone who's spent lots--and lots--of time looking for a job in my life, I've gotten used to being up front with this fact. It's difficult to get hired with this on my record, and frankly, it never gets less scary to have to tell an interviewer about it. But that doesn't mean I'm unemployable. I'm a hard worker who can bring a lot to any company. And I also know what an employer needs to do for me. I know my rights. There's no federal law protecting me from discrimination due to my record, but there are plenty of state laws that make it a little easier for me. If you're looking for a job and you have a criminal record, read through this information. Protect yourself during a job search. Know your rights.