Identifying an Employment Attorney
How to Identify A Healthcare Labor and Employment Attorney:
- Ask your Program Director, fellow trainees and colleagues who have used a healthcare labor and employment attorney for a referral.
- If your training program has in-house counsel, that attorney may be able to recommend a healthcare employment attorney.
- Call the state’s Bar Association and ask for the names of several attorneys who specialize in healthcare employment. Sometimes attorneys offer a free consultation when their name was referred by the Bar Association.
- Obtain several names so that you may get a feel for personality, level of experience, etc.
Verify the Attorney’s Credentials:
Martindale Hubbell provides a free online legal directory to research an attorney’s credentials and area of expertise. Attorneys are anonymously rated by other attorneys and judges for topics such as expertise and ethics.
http://www.lawyers.com/
What to Ask a Healthcare Labor and Employment Attorney:
- Ask about his or her education.
- Ask what percentage of his or her practice is devoted to healthcare contract matters such as yours.
- Ask if he or she aware of the federal and state laws governing compensation, termination, etc.
- Ask if the attorney will personally be reviewing the contract for you, if not, who will be?
- Ask how accessible he or she will be if you have concerns or questions.
- Ask how long it will take.
- Ask what the fee will be.
- Ask if there could there be additional costs and if so, what for?
- Ask what the attorney expects from you
- Ask for references who are former clients.
What Are Some of the Key Contract Areas the Attorney Will Discuss?
- Compensation (salary or income guarantee)
- Productivity (if applicable)
- Benefits (Health and Life Insurances, vacation, etc.)
- Signing Bonus (if applicable)
- Continuing Medical Education
- Relocation Expenses
- Duties and Responsibilities to the Practice
- Term (Length of the Contract)
- Termination
- Type of Malpractice and Limits of Liability
- Restrictive Covenant
- Partnership Offering
- Buy-in Formula
- 401K
Always Keep Your Original Documents!
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