Can I get a lawyer for unemployment appeal hearing in NYS?
My unemployment claim was denied after adjudication and I have an appeal hearing scheduled with NYS Department of Labor next month. The denial letter says I was fired for misconduct but that's not what happened - I was let go because of budget cuts. I'm really confused about the whole process and wondering if I should hire a lawyer or if I can represent myself. Has anyone dealt with unemployment appeal hearings before? Do lawyers even take these kinds of cases?
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Gavin King
Yes, you can absolutely get a lawyer for unemployment appeals in New York. Many employment attorneys handle these cases, especially if the denial seems questionable. For misconduct denials, having legal representation can really help since the burden of proof is on your employer to show you were actually fired for misconduct. You can also represent yourself - the hearing process is designed to be accessible to claimants without lawyers.
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Mohammed Khan
•Thank you! Do you know if lawyers charge a lot for unemployment cases? I'm obviously not working right now so money is tight.
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Nathan Kim
I went through an appeal hearing last year without a lawyer and won. The key is gathering all your documentation - termination letter, emails, witness statements if you have them. The NYS Department of Labor hearing officers are pretty fair in my experience. If your employer is claiming misconduct but you were really laid off due to budget cuts, that should be easy to prove with the right paperwork.
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Mohammed Khan
•That's encouraging to hear! I do have my termination letter that mentions budget constraints. Should I bring anything else to the hearing?
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Nathan Kim
•Definitely bring any emails about layoffs, company announcements about budget issues, or witness contact info. The more evidence the better.
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Eleanor Foster
ugh this is exactly what happened to me!! except i've been trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask questions about my hearing and can never get through. the phone system is impossible. how are we supposed to prepare for these hearings if we can't even talk to anyone?
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Lucas Turner
•I had the same problem trying to reach NYS Department of Labor agents. I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to unemployment agents by phone - they have some kind of system that gets you connected faster. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
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Kai Rivera
Most employment lawyers will do a free consultation for unemployment appeals. Even if you don't hire them, they can usually give you good advice in that initial meeting about whether your case is strong enough to handle yourself.
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Anna Stewart
i represented myself and it was fine but honestly if theres any complexity at all get a lawyer. these hearing officers see hundreds of cases and if your employer brings their legal team you'll be at a disadvantage
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Aisha Khan
I went through this same situation a few months ago - also got denied for "misconduct" when I was actually laid off due to company restructuring. I ended up hiring a lawyer and it was worth every penny. The attorney knew exactly what evidence to request from my former employer and how to present my case. We won the appeal and I got all my back benefits. If you're worried about cost, many lawyers will work on contingency for unemployment cases or offer payment plans. Don't let your employer's false misconduct claim stand - fight it!
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Rami Samuels
•This is really helpful to know! I'm definitely leaning towards getting a lawyer now, especially hearing that you won and got your back benefits. Do you mind me asking roughly how much the legal fees were? And when you say "contingency" - does that mean they only get paid if you win the case?
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Paolo Marino
•Yes, contingency means they only get paid if you win! My lawyer charged 25% of the back benefits I received, which seemed fair since I wouldn't have gotten anything without their help. The total fee ended up being around $800 but I got over $3,000 in back unemployment payments, so it was definitely worth it. Some lawyers also do flat fees for unemployment appeals - I got quotes ranging from $500-1500. The key is finding someone who specializes in employment law and has experience with NYS Department of Labor hearings specifically.
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Axel Far
I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this myself. One thing I learned is that NYS has legal aid organizations that offer free or low-cost help with unemployment appeals if you qualify based on income. The Legal Aid Society and some local bar associations have programs specifically for unemployment cases. Also, if you do decide to represent yourself, make sure to request all the documents your employer submitted with their misconduct claim - you have a right to see their evidence before the hearing. The fact that your termination letter mentions budget cuts should work strongly in your favor. Document everything and don't be afraid to ask the hearing officer to clarify anything you don't understand during the process.
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Lucas Kowalski
•This is great advice about the legal aid organizations! I didn't know NYS had specific programs for unemployment appeals. @Axel Far do you happen to know how to find these local bar association programs? I ve'been searching online but having trouble locating the right resources. Also, when you mention requesting the employer s'documents - is there a formal process for that or do I just ask during the hearing? I want to make sure I m'following all the proper procedures.
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