If you are an at-will employee in North Carolina, your employer can terminate or punish you for almost any reason. At-will employment can be uncertain and scary, but this employer’s right is not absolute. The North Carolina Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA) forbids employers from firing or taking adverse employment actions against employees who exercise their rights in the...
Continue ReadingEn un mundo donde las polÃticas migratorias a menudo enfrentan escrutinio y crÃticas, existe una vÃa legal que busca proteger a las vÃctimas de crÃmenes mientras aborda las necesidades de las comunidades inmigrantes: la visa U. Esta categorÃa de visa única proporciona un camino para que las personas que han sido vÃctimas de ciertos crÃmenes obtengan un estatus legal...
Continue ReadingIf you are a noncitizen who wants to become a U.S. citizen, it is natural to wonder, Do I need a lawyer to apply for citizenship? In short, you do not need a lawyer for naturalization, but there are many reasons you may want one anyway. This is especially true if you have a complicated immigration history or do...
Continue ReadingPeople come to the U.S. for all kinds of reasons—to study at world-class institutions, to work, to live, or to seek a better life for themselves or their children. Before they do, they generally seek immigration benefits. But what is an immigration benefit? In short, immigration benefits are legal entitlements to stay in the U.S. temporarily or permanently. If...
Continue ReadingApplying for permanent residency, also known as getting a green card, is an exciting time in any intending immigrant’s life. It means you are one step closer to being able to stay in the U.S. permanently. If you are applying for a green card when already in the U.S., you may submit Form I-485 with another form or on...
Continue ReadingFrom the moment the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notifies you it intends to deport or remove you, your stress builds. Whether you were just placed in proceedings or have already presented your case to a judge, you may be wondering, How long does it take for an immigration judge to make a decision? Unfortunately, there is no easy...
Continue ReadingIf you’ve suffered an injury on the job in North Carolina, it can be overwhelming to think about your financial future. Fortunately, you can receive compensation depending on the extent and severity of your injuries. For North Carolina workers, there are a couple tools that can help understand your potential settlement payout. One is the North Carolina Industrial Commission’s...
Continue ReadingWe are thrilled to announce that four EMP Law attorneys were selected as Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite 2024. This prestigious honor highlights the top legal talent in the state, obtained through a vigorous peer nomination process. Of the ~1,300 that received votes, the top lawyers were recognized in their respective specialty (17 total). EMP Law attorneys were featured...
Continue ReadingIf you have suffered a knee injury in a North Carolina workplace accident, you have the right to receive workers’ compensation benefits. That said, you are probably wondering what you can expect your compensation to be. Fortunately, there is some information out there regarding the average workers’ comp knee injury settlement. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, there are some...
Continue ReadingAn on-the-job injury can take you out of the workforce temporarily or for a lifetime. We hope you don’t get hurt at work, and if you do, we hope you fully recover. However, if your work injury has taken away your ability to maintain gainful employment, you could be entitled to permanent total disability benefits through the state’s workers’...
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