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Hi everyone. I am just answering a couple of frequently asked questions today. It is
February 23, 2013. The first question is why can’t I find an attorney to handle my unemployment
appeal in New York State? That’s a complex question. Unfortunately, New York State makes
it difficult for attorneys to get paid for representing people in unemployment hearings
in New York State. The claimants for benefits at an unemployment hearing their attorney
can only get paid if he wins and he can only make $200.
Even if he wins or she wins they still have to wait about eight months to get paid. Now
to do an unemployment hearing right you’re prepping for a couple of hours. You’re going
and you’re spending the morning or the afternoon there. To do a good job takes time. So unfortunately
nobody does it that I know of. I’ve been looking for an unemployment attorney for my
clients too for a very long time. Now you may ask, why does my employer have
representation? As far as I know there are no limits on how much an attorney can charge
an employer for fighting someone’s unemployment. That makes it tough. It makes it tough, because
you have to represent yourself most of the time. If you don’t want to do that, what
I suggest is call the Unemployment Action Center. It’s a group of law students and
what they do; it’s actually a really good idea. The group gets together law students
and it trains them on how to help people and they go out and they actively try to help
people trying to get unemployment benefits. You can Google their name and you will get
their phone number. I know they’re active in New York City. Now do call them in advance
because I know they’re very busy. So, hopefully they can help you out and I am sorry no we
don’t handle unemployment hearings. We only handle them currently for existing
clients, we handle them as a favor and we never charge for it. So unfortunately we will
not be able to assist you with that. But I wish you the best of luck; I hope you do get
benefits, ok. I mean it’s unfair I’m not really a fan of the system but I think this
is something you can probably get through on your own. It’s a very simple hearing
process. There’s almost no rules of evidence. Just go in, bring your documents, bring your
witnesses and tell your story. That’s your main concern here. Good luck.