At-Will Employment Doctrine

Texas is an “employment-at-will” state. The at-will employment doctrine means you are employed for an indefinite period of time and employment may be terminated by either the employer or employee at any time, and for any reason- subject to some exclusions such as civil rights violations or being discharged for other employment laws that have been violated by the employer. When a lawyer presents a claim for a client’s wrongful discharge he has to identify and assert an exception to the employment-at-will doctrine. In your first conversation with the lawyer he will attempt to identify any exceptions that may exist.

As a potential client you should be prepared to answer some basic questions about yourself and your employer. Be prepared to give the employer’s name, the kind of business it is engaged in, and the number of employees. You should also be prepared to state your position in the company, your job duties, and how long you were employed. Finally, be prepared to briefly answer two important questions, “What reason, if any, did your employer give for discharging you?” And “What do you believe is the reason your employer discharged you?”