What To Do Before Contacting A Lawyer
You are thinking of contacting a lawyer and want to sort out the basics first.
For a contact request through this publisher, share general facts only. The document preparation below is for a later agreed consultation: keep the records private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.
You do not need a finished case before you contact a lawyer. You need your dismissal date and a short, honest account of what happened.
What do you need first?
Work out your exact dismissal date. It decides how much of the 60-day window you have left to file a representation.1
You do not need a polished summary or a firm decision about what to do. A few plain sentences are enough.
What happens in a first conversation?
The lawyer looks at your facts and explains your options. It does not commit you to filing anything.
If the case reaches conciliation, you attend and speak for yourself, because solicitors cannot represent you there.2 Knowing this early sets realistic expectations of a lawyer’s role.
Why does acting early help?
Some people wait because they doubt their situation is serious enough. That doubt is understandable, but the 60-day window keeps running in the background.
Contacting a lawyer early does not commit you to a claim. It means you understand your position while every option is still open.
What should you do this week?
Write down your dismissal date and a short timeline of what led up to it. Read the employment lawyer page to see what a lawyer does at each stage.
The Section 20 representation page explains the filing step. For a similar first-step guide, read what to do about a misconduct dismissal.
If you want a lawyer to act for you, send your dismissal date and what happened. An independent employment lawyer can review the facts and reply about whether and how they can act.
If you are thinking of acting on your dismissal, send the date and what happened. An independent employment lawyer can confirm whether it is a case they can take on.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.
Common questions
What should I know before I reach out?
Your dismissal date and a short account of what happened are enough to start. You do not need a polished summary.
Must I decide to file a claim first?
No. Some people talk to a lawyer before deciding whether to pursue anything, simply to understand where they stand.
Can I contact a lawyer too early?
No. The first days after a dismissal are when your choices matter most, so an early conversation helps more than it hurts.
What if I have already missed some steps?
A conversation is still worth having. It shifts from prevention to working out which options remain.
Sources
- An employee who considers they were dismissed without just cause or excuse may make a written representation to the Director General of Industrial Relations within 60 days of the dismissal Mah Weng Kwai & Associates
- Solicitors are not permitted to represent parties at conciliation before the Department of Industrial Relations; an employee attends and speaks for themselves Mah Weng Kwai & Associates
Keep reading
If you are thinking of acting on your dismissal, send the date and what happened. An independent employment lawyer can confirm whether it is a case they can take on.
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
First contact: general facts only, such as date, location, employment status and a short summary. Keep documents private until an identified independent lawyer contacts you and specifically requests them.