EMPLOYMENT LAW
McQuade Byrum PLLC offers a comprehensive employment law practice.
We help employees handle the full range of employment disputes, including, representing clients in:
- negotiating employment contracts and severance agreements
- litigating discrimination actions, contract disputes and wrongful termination actions in state and federal court, before administrative agencies and in arbitration
- handling disability and security clearance appeals
For employers interested in taking a proactive approach to avoiding litigation and employment disputes, we offer consulting on a wide range of personnel issues. We review personnel policies and practices and identify areas that may be out of compliance with current law or that are not being implemented properly.
Whether for an employee or an employer, legal advice is best delivered at the earliest stages of a dispute, or even before a dispute arises, when we can look at the client's long-term interests and develop effective strategies for neutralizing or resolving problems.
From the creation to the termination of the employment relationship, we engage with clients to find practical solutions to their issues. In order for this to happen, clients must know their rights, understand their options and make informed decisions about their case. No one answer fits all scenarios and we work with clients to clearly define their situation, identify their ultimate goal and evaluate realistic paths to achieve that goal. Careful strategy is important in reaching a resolution. Part of the strategy is always resolution without litigation and we focus on constructive negotiations and creative solutions to address the issues. However, when litigation becomes necessary, we are experienced trial attorneys ready to represent our client's interests in Court proceedings.
The first step in working with us is a simple phone call to our potential employment law client phone line at 703-548-4200 extension 13. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The message on that line will give you basic information about our process and ask for certain information from you: your name and address; the name and location of the employer; and a brief statement about the nature of your matter. If you prefer, you can also provide this information on the email form by clicking here.
Once we have confirmed that we have no conflicts, someone from our office will call you back to schedule an appointment. The return call will generally be within 24-48 hours or the next business day. If you fail to hear back from us within that timeframe, please call or email again as there may have been an issue with your message.
Marni Byrum conducts all employment law initial consultations. She charges a flat $500 for this meeting. That is less than 1.5 hours of her time (for which she bills $350 an hour) and the first meeting usually takes about 1.5 hours, sometimes more depending on documentation. However long the initial consultation appropriately lasts, the charge is the flat $500.
At this first meeting, you will be asked lots of questions so that we understand your situation as completely as possible. In order to assist us, please bring with you a brief chronology of your facts and any relevant documents you have including correspondence, complaints or reports.
After we understand what your issues are, we will explain how the law applies to your situation and what your rights, obligations and options are. We may also advise you as to ways you can protect yourself before the process goes any further. We will give you our recommendations as to how to proceed. We will then work together to come up with an agreed plan of action in your particular case.
At the end of this meeting, you are not obligated to hire us. All you owe us is the $500 flat fee for the initial consultation. You must pay that in cash or by check as we do not accept credit card payments.
If we choose to work together, and depending on what we are being hired to do, we can then determine what an appropriate "advance" should be in your matter. This is not what the case will cost but the amount you must pay up front and from which we draw as work is done on your behalf. Except in rare cases, our most minimum advance is $2,500. Our average required advance is $5,000 for a case that is not yet in litigation or $7,500 if we will need immediately to file something with the Court. The advance amount, however, is always customized and may be much higher depending on the circumstances and issues presented.
Most potential clients leave this first meeting much less stressed and anxious, with much more information and knowledge about what can and cannot happen, and with a plan in mind as to how to proceed.
If you wish to schedule an initial consultation with Marni Byrum, please call our potential employment law client number at 703-548-4200 extension 13, or send our Employment Law Intake Form. Do not provide any information other than what is requested. If you provide additional information, we may not be able to keep it confidential.
PLEASE NOTE: For those who are clients in other capacities, McQuade Byrum PLLC is also able to prepare or modify your Last Will and Testament, Powers of Attorney, Medical Directives and similar documents. If you are interested in this service, please let us know at your initial consultation or at any point during our representation in your employment law matter.
