The non-unionized employment bar is broken up into lawyers who specialize in defending employers and lawyers who focus on acting for wronged employees (employee lawyers). Practically speaking some lawyers act for both employers and employees. At Floden Ward LLP we do both, especially as it can be an extension of our corporate commercial work but we do more employee side work.
Employee Counsel
Lawyers for employees act as advisors to employees who have been fired or experienced harassment or bullying at work. They review severance offers, prepare a quantum assessment of expected range of severance, advise on potential setllements and drive matters to trial. (That is assuming they are Trial lawyers and not litigators!) see our article: https://www.flodenward.com/post/the-difference-between-a-litigator-and-a-trial-lawyer . They try to maximize the amount of money their clients obtain.
Employer Counsel
If you have been terminated, it is likely that an employer side lawyer has reviewed the facts, and given advice on settlement amounts. They may have drafted your employment contract (practically employment contracts do not seem to have much legal review). They likely advised on the initial offer and drafted the release. Employer counsel advise on mitigation efforts the employee should be making and try to minimize the amount their clients pay. They defend litigation if it proceeds to trial.
If you require trial lawyers for employment matters in Edmonton, Calgary or elsewhere in Alberta, please feel free to contact us.
The information contained in this article is not legal advice. No solicitor client relationship is formed through this article. The reader is encouraged to retain counsel for advice in these matters.
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