Need unemployment appeal attorney in Spokane - ESD hearing next week

i had my hearing last year but didnt use a lawyer. just made sure i had email proof from my boss saying it was a layoff and showed the judge. won my case easy. lawyers are $$$ and most ppl win without them

I'm a former UI claims specialist (not a lawyer). For your specific situation, you need to be prepared to prove that despite signing a severance agreement, you did not truly voluntarily leave employment. Bring any documentation showing the employer's financial situation, any communications about budget cuts, and testimony about what was said in your layoff meeting. Also, get the exact wording of what you signed - many severance agreements have language about 'voluntary separation' but that doesn't automatically disqualify you if the underlying reason was the employer's decision. As for attorneys, Northwest Justice Project sometimes takes UI cases, but they have income requirements. Legal Services of Eastern Washington might also be able to help. For paid attorneys, look for someone who specializes in employment law rather than just general practice.

Legal services in WA state are RIDICULOUS right now!! I waited 3 WEEKS for a call back from workforce law when I had my appeal. By the time they got back to me my hearing was OVER already!!! The whole system is DESIGNED to make regular people lose. My advice is to just speak plainly to the judge and explain exactly what happened without legal jargon. That's what worked for me.

When you go into your hearing, make sure you have your fact finding interview answers ready. The judge will basically go through the same questions ESD asked you before. Also, be super clear about the timeline of events - when you were told about layoffs, when you received the severance offer, when you signed it, etc. Write it all down so you don't get flustered. I contacted Unemployment Law Project in Seattle for my appeal and while they couldn't represent me, they gave me a free 30-minute consultation that was super helpful in preparing. They might be able to do the same for you over the phone even though you're in Spokane.

I had so much trouble getting through to ESD when I was preparing for my appeal hearing last month. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 It really helped me get some questions answered before my hearing that made a big difference. The agent was able to tell me exactly what evidence the judge would be looking at from my claim file, which helped me prepare better.

Have you checked with Spokane Volunteer Lawyers Program? They sometimes take unemployment cases. Their number is 509-532-4673. Also, in my experience, you want to make sure you understand the exact reason for disqualification. 'Voluntary quit' has several sub-categories and your defense strategy will depend on which one they're using against you.

Based on what you're describing, your case type is actually fairly common. The critical factor will be proving that despite the 'voluntary separation' language, you were effectively laid off. Be prepared to testify about: 1. Who told you about the job ending and exactly what they said 2. Whether other employees were also laid off at the same time 3. If you were given any choice about continuing employment 4. Why you signed the agreement with that specific language Budget cuts forcing elimination of positions generally qualifies as employer-initiated separation regardless of what the paperwork called it. Your company-wide email about budget reductions will be helpful evidence.

Anyone gone through an appeal recently? My hearing is next month and I'm trying to figure out if they're still doing them all by phone or if they've gone back to in-person hearings?

DONT let them intimidate you with all their legal BS!!! My determination letter had all this legal garbage about 'burden of proof' and 'statutory requirements' but the actual hearing was way more straightforward. The judge just asked me questions about what happened and I answered honestly. Won my case in 20 minutes! These big companies try to trick ESD with their HR paperwork all the time and the judges know it!!