Florida Employment Lawyers

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

At-Will and Contract Employment

Most job relationships in Florida 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 point, so long as the reason for the termination is not prohibited. In instances involving an employment contract, Florida employment law will be used to determine the validity of the clauses contained in the agreement.

The Law of Discrimination in Florida

The laws of Florida in general prohibit discrimination. These laws apply to all stages of employment, ranging from the hiring procedure to the termination process. The laws of Florida create various categories against which employers may not discriminate. These may include religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, and race. The determination of what type of behavior is discrimination is usually a matter of some dispute, and many Florida attorneys specialize in workplace discrimination.

Interesting Facts About Florida

Florida is located at the very southeastern tip of the United States. Its official nickname is "The Sunshine State", on account of its tropical climate and beach/peninsula culture. Florida's state capitol is Tallahassee, and it is the fourth most highly populated state in the U.S. It has an extensive state university system and is largely driven by the tourism and vacation industries.

Until the year 1973, Florida had a very complex and sometimes confusing trial court system. Later on, the Florida trial court system was redeveloped to make it much simpler. Currently, Florida operates a two-tiered trial court system consisting of County Courts (a.k.a., "People's Courts") and Circuit Courts. Higher-level claims and some appeals are heard in one of Florida's District Courts, or at the Florida Supreme Court. However, the majority of legal claims and Florida originate at the County and Circuit Court levels.

Florida is also known as the "Fishing Capital of the World". Thus, many of Florida's laws involve regulation of coastal waters and various other marine issues. Florida is also known for several unique laws, covering distinct issues such as potable water, mandatory auto inspections, and prohibitions on the open-carrying of handguns.

Lawyers in Florida study diligently to learn the specific laws and regulations enforced in the state. This allows them to meet the community's legal needs in a manner that is thorough and efficient. As Florida is also national border state, many attorneys in Florida are familiar with broader international legal issues.