About Odessa Employment Lawyers
Our Odessa lawyers help businesses and individuals with their legal needs. A few of the major industries that represent Texas's economy include agriculture, oil and gas, and tourism.
Our platform has lawyers that specialize in employment law. Employment lawyers typically advise both employees and employers on the federal and state employment laws and make sure that all employees are treated fairly within the workspace. Employment lawyers can draft and review employee handbooks and contracts, assist with employment disputes, and provide guidance on other various issues. ContractCounsel’s approach makes legal services affordable by removing unnecessary law firm overhead.
Meet some of our Odessa Employment Lawyers
Mark D.
Partnering with business clients to keep their greatest asset - their employees - from becoming their biggest liability. Mark accomplishes this by working with in-house counsel and human resource professionals of several Fortune 50 companies, as well as many smaller public and privately held profit and not for profit organizations, to provide advice and counsel on the day to day employment and workforce practice issues encountered by those organizations. For over fifteen years Mark has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is licensed and practices in both Texas and Colorado and has focused his practice for the last 20 plus years on defending companies in employment and labor related matters. During this time Mark has had extensive experience in handling and responding to a wide range of local, state and federal employment issues that impact the management and operations of businesses in a wide range of industries. Mark's experience includes appearances before state and federal agencies and regulatory boards, litigation in both state and federal courts, defense of class actions and appearances before courts of appeal. While Mark regularly handles matters in litigation, he has a high regard for handling every issue with the best interest of the client’s business. Mark is a published author and regular speaks on labor, employment and workplace practice topics. Whether it be an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Wage & Hour division of the U.S. Department of Labor, or other state agency; an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or state agency charge claiming a violation of local, state or federal employment or labor laws; or the need for direction on a hiring, termination or business operational issue involving employees, Mark has extensive experience in handling these and many other employment and labor issues.
Charlton M.
Charlton Messer helps businesses and their owners with general counsel and contract drafting services. He has helped over 500 businesses with their legal needs across a variety of industries in nearly a decade of practice.
Jimmy V.
I’m a semi-retired, long-time US attorney with substantial experience in business and corporate law. I counsel startups and small businesses, help them set up corporations or LLCs across the country and draft a variety of contracts and corporate documents.
Faryal A.
Ms. Ayub is an attorney licensed to practice in Texas. Before moving to the US, she has a number of years of experience in contract review, analysis and drafting. Ms. Ayub is available to help you with your legal problems, as well as filling LLC and other business entity formation documents. To know more about her practice, please visit https://ayublawfirmpllc.com/.
Wendy C.
My legal practice is focused on business transactions like general corporate matters, fundraising, technology contract negotiation, blockchain, crypto or token analysis, and others. I hope to be a good asset to you and looking forward to finding out how I can be of help!
Domonick G.
I am a licensed attorney who specializes in business law, personal injury and contracts.
July 8, 2022
AHAJI A.
Ahaji Amos, PLLC is a Houston-based intellectual property and civil litigation firm servicing clients throughout the U.S.
August 14, 2022
Madeline P.
I am the CEO and attorney at my law firm that I started in June 2020 (as other businesses were shuttering due to Covid-19). I am currently seeking contract work to supplement my case load as I recently finalized numerous family law cases within a short timeframe.
October 19, 2022
CRAIG C.
I have 27 years of experience with drafting, editing, revising, reviewing and amending business and commercial contracts and agreements of all kinds.
November 3, 2022
Myron M.
For over 20 years Myron E. Mims Esq. has provided legal and consulting services to small and medium sized businesses. Mims served as regional counsel for a real estate investment and development firm where he managed the Company’s contract execution and management, and dispute resolution affairs. Mims was responsible for oversight and risk management of all legal affairs, including management of a robust litigation docket consisting of a seven figure, multi-party construction lawsuit, and multiple vendor and tenant disputes. Mims prepared new contract docs and implemented execution and management processes that lead to the reduction of litigation. As a managing partner of Nixon Mims, LLP Mims provided legal and consulting services to clients of that consisted of real estate, construction, telecommunications, media and food industry businesses. Mims routinely assisted clients with developing corporate governance and management protocols, strategic planning initiatives, and advised clients in the negotiation and execution of complex business transactions. Mims routinely provided operational oversight and technical analysis for management. During this period Mims obtained firsthand experience of the access to capital impediments and challenges that growth-stage businesses face.
November 2, 2022
David W.
Founder David W. Weygandt, the Singing Lawyer, is passionate about helping families and businesses stay in tune with what they care about and avoid conflict. When injustice has been done, David is proud to stand up to the modern Goliath and vindicate your rights on your behalf. David lives and practices law in The Woodlands, Texas, and assists clients all across Texas.
November 11, 2022
Nicole P.
Attorney Nicole B. Phillips is a northwestern Iowa native and devotes her practice to the area of Family Law. She is an experienced trial attorney with over 12 years of family law experience. Nicole graduated from The University of South Dakota with a degree in Criminal Justice, and attended Oklahoma City University School of Law to obtain her law degree. Prior to establishing Phillips Law Firm, P.C., Nicole built her first successful law practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she focused on Family Law, Estate Planning and Personal Injury Law, and her second successful law practice in Sherman, Texas, focusing primarily on Family Law. Nicole has one daughter, Arabella. In addition to enjoying time with her daughter, Nicole enjoys reading, family dinners, traveling, spending time with friends, and game nights.
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers NowEmployment Legal Questions and Answers
Employment
Employment Offer
Texas
Is background check part of the employment offer?
I recently accepted a job offer and the employer requested that I submit to a background check. However, I am concerned that I may not have been sufficiently informed that this was part of the employment offer. I am wondering if I am obligated to submit to a background check and if it is a requirement of the offer.
J.R. S.
Potential employers are not explicitly required to disclose that a background check is a necessary condition of employment. In certain circumstances, employers must conduct background checks and keep records of these checks. This is exemplified in the Texas Administrative Code, where an employer must maintain written documentation of a pre-employment check for at least two years regardless of the subsequent employment status of the applicant. You may want to check your offer letter for terms that indicate your employment is contingent upon meeting satisfactory requirements in lieu of specific language of "background check". Depending on the industry and or the company, they may be required to do a background check to verify licensing or education in order to mitigate their risks of negligent hiring.
Employment
Independent Contractor Agreement
Texas
What is the difference between an independent contractor agreement and consulting agreement?
I am looking to hire someone to help my startup and am not sure which agreement I should use.
Forest H.
While the basic structure and framework of a consulting agreement and an independent contractor agreement are very similar, the primary difference is in what services the consultant provides. In a consulting agreement, the consultant is providing their advice for a fee. The guidance will be in the field of their expertise and, usually, includes evaluating an aspect of your business and making suggestions regarding what to do next. An independent contractor, on the other hand, will actually perform the work. The difference is not always a bright line and will vary depending on the circumstances. In some cases, a service provider will evaluate, recommend, and then perform. In that case, they are acting as a consultant first and then an independent contractor. It is also important to properly consider the differences between an independent contractor and an employee.
Employment
Employment Offer
Texas
How to handle an unsatisfactory employment offer?
I recently received an employment offer from a company that I have been in talks with for several months. The offer is significantly lower than expected and does not include the benefits I was expecting. I am unsure of how to handle the situation and would like advice from a lawyer on how to proceed.
Garrett M.
One important thing in negotiations like this is that you don't want to let your emotions take over, which will probably lead to you burning a bridge. Even if you were very disappointed in the initial offer, try to stay composed in your communications and just let them know that this is quite a bit below the offer that you were expecting. They will probably say that the offer is more than fair when taking into the market, your qualifications, etc., so it is important that you are prepared with a counter offer and some decent arguments to back up your counter offer. Maybe they mentioned in the hiring process or the job posting that benefits would be included? Maybe you have qualifications that put you above the average market employee in this position? Regardless, employers almost always have some room to move from an initial offer that they make to a prospective employee, so it rarely hurts to ask for a little more.
Employment
Employee Benefits Agreement
Texas
If an employee is paid salary, can an employee force PTO if said employee is out with a doctor’s excuse?
I got sick and ended up missing a day of work. I went to the doctor and was prescribed meds and told to take meds and rest the next 2 days. I provided an excuse at work. When I got my pay stub, I see the manager forced 24 hours of PTO for the days I was out. Mind you, our hours of operation are 8am-5pm M-F, but I’m here every day at 6:30am and work until 8, 9 or 10:00pm some days. Please advise. Thank you for your time!
Howard B.
The rules for the salary basis of pay is governed by a federal law called the Fair Labor Standards Act. It allow an employer to deduct an entire day's pay if an entire day of work is missed. If any part of such a day was worked at all, then a full day's pay is required by law. HOWEVER, there is an exception under which partial day deductions for partial day absences is allowed if an only if the absence is for Family and Medical Leave Act leave. I'm not licensed to practice law in Texas: if there is any peculiar spin on it through state law, perhaps a Texas attorney will chime in. It is ordinary for an employer to substitute PTO for salary pay when a whole day is missed.
Employment
Employee Contract
Texas
What are the worst states to hire 1099 independent contractors from because the state will likely classify as an employee?
I'm starting a 1099 remote-based staffing service and I want to stay away from hiring independent contractors with primary residency in states that are unfriendly toward their hiring. I don't want any misclassification issues so I want to stay away from those states altogether.
Merry A.
I'm a Washington State attorney and my answer does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney/client relationship has been formed. If the person working for you will be working remotely from his or her state, the employment law of that state will govern whether the person will be considered an employee or indepedent contractor. Regardless of where that person works, what will be most important is how your contract with that person is written, and how much you try to control the person's work hours, duties, and so forth. Speaking generally, an independent contractor should be given certain work, and a dealine and expectations, and be allowed to work at 2:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. and report amount of time worked, such as 8/13/23 1.6 hours. If you have set times for work, such as 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, a court will be more likely to find that the person is an employee, not an independent contractor. If you will be using a person to work in another state, I highly recommend that you consult with an employment attorney in that state to review any paperwork you use, such as an employment contract or work contract with an independent contractor. You can find such attorneys through "lawyer referral" through the state bar association in most states, or you can try finding employment attorneys through this national organization: NELA.org Although the analysis of an employee's/independent contractor will vary from state to state, here are two articles from the US Department of Labor that may provide some general guidance to you. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/misclassification and https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/13-flsa-employment-relationship I hope that I have been of help. I am an employment attorney in Washington State, and can review documents for Washington State but generally do not do any document drafting.
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Employment lawyers by top cities
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Employment lawyers by nearby cities
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