Because the Labor Commissioner regularly oversees wage and hour issues and enforces the law, you may think you do not need to hire a wage and hour lawyer. This is incorrect, as hiring a wage and hour lawyer to handle your lawsuit will benefit you greatly. A wage and hour lawyer can explore many options to obtain significant outcomes that representatives from the Labor Commissioner cannot. A wage and hour lawyer can protect your legal rights and secure the compensation you deserve. Laying out your legal options Depending on your wage and hour violation, your lawyer can decide on the best method to resolve your matter. As we discussed above, a wage claim can take many paths. Your lawyer can determine the best course of action, given your circumstances and the willingness of your employer to cooperate and admit liability. Assessing your damages Another way a wage and hour lawyer can help you is by assessing the damages of your lawsuit. Your lawyer can identify many damages you may not consider in your claim. In addition to the unpaid wages you seek, you can include your lawyer’s fees as damages and enforce additional legal penalties employers should pay under the law. California, for example, has a “waiting time” penalty where an employer must pay the equivalent of 30 days of an employee’s unpaid income. Providing personal attention to your lawsuit The right wage and hour lawyer will exhaust all options possible to recover the most compensation from your lawsuit. If settlement negotiations do not work, they can move on to a Labor Commissioner claim or lawsuit. They know your options under the law and take time to pursue every available avenue to obtain your unpaid wages. Operating on a contingency fee basis Another benefit of hiring a wage and hour lawyer is that they work on a contingency fee basis. With a contingency fee arrangement, you agree to pay your lawyers’ fees from a percentage of your compensation when you win your lawsuit. Instead of paying hourly fees, which can become expensive for some clients, your lawyer will set up an arrangement to receive a percentage of your compensation. This arrangement is beneficial for both you and your wage and hour lawyer. You do not stress about paying your lawyer out of pocket, and your lawyer will do their best to help you obtain maximum compensation.