Rhode Island Employment Lawyers

Employment law are those laws approved in Rhode Island that apply to employers, employees and independent contractors. These laws apply to every aspect of workplace endeavors, such as hiring policies, wage disputes, and firing of employees. Rhode Island's employment laws set forth particular mandates that need to be understood by both employers and employees.

At-Will and Contract Employment

Most job relationships in Rhode Island are on the basis of "at will" employment, but in other cases there may be an employment contract with a predetermined term. "At will" employment implies that either the employee or the employer may end the relationship at any time, so long as the reason for the termination is not prohibited. If the employer and employee are working according to an employment contract, Rhode Island employment law will govern the different clauses contained in the contract.

The Law of Discrimination in Rhode Island

The laws of the state of Rhode Island make it illegal to discriminate in any area of the employment, such as when hiring an employee, upon issuing a promotion, or when terminating the employee. The laws of Rhode Island create different categories against which employers may not discriminate. These may include religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, and race. Discrimination in the workplace can often be challenging to determine. Rhode Island has many lawyers specializing in workplace discrimination who can be of assistance.

Interesting Facts About Rhode Island

Rhode Island is situated along the eastern portions of the United States. It has the second highest population density of all U.S. states, although it has the smallest total area. There are no county governments in the state, as Rhode Island is divided into municipalities which oversee government matters for the state's 39 towns and cities.

As one of the older U.S. states, Rhode Island played a major part in the development of early American laws and government structure. Today it is often at the forefront of legal and legislative trends. For example, Rhode Island was the second U.S. state to abolish capital punishment. Out of the 50 states, Rhode Island has one of the most complex body of tax laws.

Rhode Island's highest court divisions are the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and the Superior Court. Below these levels, Rhode Island operates District Courts and Municipal Courts. Rhode Island's judiciary is distinct in that it also has a separate Worker's Compensation Court. Many landmark cases have been heard at Rhode Island's Supreme Court. An important Rhode Island case is Picard v. Barry Pontiac-Buick, Inc. (1995, often cited in law schools as the standard example of battery.

Lawyers in Rhode Island practice law according to strict professional standards and guidelines. This helps to boost the degree of professionalism for Rhode Island lawyers. Continuing Legal Education Programs help attorneys in Rhode Island sharpen their legal skills.