Employment Attorney

Employment attorneys represent either employees in workplace disputes or employers in employment law compliance and defense.

With employment litigation averaging $200,000+ per case and businesses needing ongoing counsel, attorneys generate revenue of $130,000-$450,000 annually with profit margins of 40-50% through hourly fees, contingency cases (plaintiff side), and retainers.

The practice requires a law degree, bar admission, and expertise in employment law and workplace regulations.

Employee-side attorneys often work on contingency (30-40% of recovery) for discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination cases, while employer-side attorneys charge $200-$500 per hour for defense, advice, and policy work.

Services include discrimination and harassment claims, wrongful termination, wage/hour disputes, employment contract negotiation, severance agreements, and workplace investigations.

Many attorneys specialize in employee-side or employer-side representation (representing both creates conflicts).

Success factors include strong litigation skills, understanding of employment regulations, and ability to handle emotionally charged situations.

Employee-side work requires case selection and ability to evaluate damages, while employer-side work benefits from developing long-term client relationships.

Marketing focuses on professional networks, online presence for employee-side work, and business relationships for employer-side work.

With workplace issues increasingly complex in 2025 and remote work creating new employment challenges, employment law offers opportunities for attorneys passionate about workplace justice or helping businesses create compliant work environments.