How much do unemployment lawyers cost for NYS Department of Labor appeals?
My claim got denied and I'm thinking about appealing but wondering if I need a lawyer. I've heard mixed things about whether it's worth the cost. Does anyone know what unemployment attorneys typically charge for NYS Department of Labor appeal cases? My former employer is fighting my claim saying I was fired for misconduct but I think they're lying. The potential benefit amount would be around $15,000 so I need to figure out if hiring a lawyer makes financial sense.
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Hugh Intensity
Most unemployment lawyers work on contingency for appeals, meaning they only get paid if you win. Typical rates are 25-33% of your total benefit amount. For a $15k case, you'd be looking at roughly $3,750-$5,000 in fees if successful. However, many people successfully handle NYS Department of Labor appeals on their own - the process isn't as complex as other legal proceedings.
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Sunny Wang
•That's actually not as bad as I thought. Do you know if they charge upfront costs for filing paperwork or just the percentage at the end?
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Effie Alexander
Before hiring a lawyer, try calling NYS Department of Labor directly to understand exactly why your claim was denied. Sometimes it's just a documentation issue that can be resolved without legal help. I fought my denial myself last year and won - saved thousands in lawyer fees. The key is gathering all your employment records and any evidence that contradicts their misconduct claim.
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Melissa Lin
•Good luck getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor though! I've been trying to reach them about my adjudication for weeks with no success.
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Lydia Santiago
•I had the same problem reaching NYS Department of Labor agents until someone recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually got me through to a real person within a day. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth trying before paying lawyer fees.
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Romeo Quest
DONT waste money on lawyers for unemployment appeals!! The whole system is rigged anyway. I paid $2,500 to a lawyer who did basically nothing and I still lost my appeal. NYS Department of Labor almost always sides with employers no matter what evidence you have. Save your money and just file for appeal yourself - at least then you're only out the time, not thousands of dollars.
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Val Rossi
•That sucks but every case is different. My cousin won her appeal with a lawyer last year when her employer tried to claim she quit voluntarily.
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Eve Freeman
I'm in a similar situation actually. Got denied for supposedly violating company policy but they never gave me any warnings or documentation. Been going back and forth about whether to appeal or just look for work. $15k is a lot of money to fight for though, especially if you really think they're lying about the misconduct.
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Mia Rodriguez
I'd suggest trying to handle the initial appeal yourself first - you can always hire a lawyer later if it doesn't go well. NYS Department of Labor appeals have multiple levels, so even if you lose the first round, you can get legal help for the administrative law judge hearing. Start by requesting your complete employment file from your former employer (they're required to provide it) and document everything about your termination. If they really are lying about misconduct, inconsistencies in their story will become apparent. The worst case is you're out some time, but you'll save thousands in legal fees and learn a lot about your case in the process.
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Mei Chen
•This is really solid advice! I didn't know employers were required to provide your complete employment file - that could be a game changer if they're claiming misconduct without proper documentation. How long do they typically have to respond to that request? And do you happen to know what specific information I should be looking for in those files that might help my case?
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