How much does a severance agreement review cost?

Cramer Law Group offers flat-fee severance agreement reviews starting at $500. This includes a full attorney review, written summary of key terms, and a phone consultation. For employees with discrimination or retaliation claims, we also handle matters on contingency.

Is a flat fee severance review worth it?

In most cases, yes. Employers rarely offer their best package upfront. An experienced employment attorney can often negotiate significantly more severance pay, extended benefits, removal of non-compete clauses, and better reference terms — frequently worth far more than the review cost.

Can an attorney negotiate my severance agreement?

Yes. Severance agreements are almost always negotiable. An employment attorney can review your agreement for red flags, assess whether you have additional legal claims that increase your leverage, and negotiate directly with your employer on your behalf.

How long do I have to review a severance agreement in Illinois?

If you are 40 or older, federal law gives you 21 days to consider any severance agreement that waives age discrimination claims, plus a 7-day revocation period after signing. For employees under 40, Illinois does not set a statutory minimum, but you should never feel pressured to sign immediately.

What rights do I waive when I sign a severance agreement?

Most severance agreements require you to waive discrimination claims, harassment claims, wrongful termination claims, and wage claims against your employer. This is why attorney review before signing is so important — you may be giving up significant legal rights.

Severance Agreement Review: What an Attorney Can Get You

Name: Cramer Law Group
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Should You Sign Your Severance Agreement Without a Lawyer?

Most employees sign their severance agreements within days of being let go — often while they’re still in shock. That’s exactly when employers want you to sign. Before you do, it’s worth understanding what you might be giving up and what an attorney can often get you.

At Cramer Law Group, we review severance agreements for employees throughout Chicago and Illinois. Our goal is simple: make sure you’re not leaving money on the table, and that you understand every right you’re waiving.

What Does a Severance Agreement Review Cost?

We offer flat-fee severance agreement reviews starting at $500. That covers a full attorney review of your agreement, a written summary of the key terms and red flags, and a phone consultation to discuss your options and negotiation strategy.

For employees who have strong discrimination or retaliation claims baked into their termination, we also handle severance matters on a contingency basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we recover more for you.

If you’re wondering “how much does a severance review cost?” — the short answer is: far less than what a lawyer can often add to your package.

What Can a Lawyer Actually Get You?

Severance packages are almost always negotiable. Employers rarely lead with their best offer. Here’s what an attorney review commonly improves:

More severance pay. Employers often offer 1-2 weeks per year of service. Experienced employees in high-skill roles, or those with legal claims, routinely negotiate 2x-4x the initial offer.
Extended health insurance. COBRA is expensive. Many employers will cover your premiums for 3-6 additional months when pushed.
Removal of non-compete clauses. Many severance agreements include non-competes that limit where you can work. An attorney can often get these removed entirely.
Better reference terms. A “neutral reference” clause ensures your former employer won’t undermine your next job search.
Outplacement services. Career coaching, resume support, or a LinkedIn recommendation can be added to the package.
Tax-favorable structuring. Attorney fees and some payments can be structured to reduce your tax exposure.

If your termination involved discrimination, harassment, or retaliation — you have significantly more leverage, and the stakes of signing without review are higher.

The 21-Day Rule (and Why It Matters for ADEA Claims)

If you are 40 or older, federal law (the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act) gives you 21 days to consider any severance agreement that waives age discrimination claims, plus a 7-day revocation window after signing. Employers cannot shorten this. If your employer is pressuring you to sign sooner, contact us immediately.

What Happens If You Sign Right Away?

Once you sign a severance agreement and the revocation period passes, you’ve generally waived:

Any discrimination claims (race, sex, age, disability, religion, national origin)
Harassment and hostile work environment claims
Wrongful termination claims
Wage and overtime claims

That’s a significant package of legal rights. In many cases, employees with strong underlying claims sign away six-figure settlements for a few weeks’ pay.

How to Get Your Severance Agreement Reviewed

Call us at 312-924-0219 or use our contact form to send your agreement. We’ll get back to you within one business day. If you’re up against your signing deadline, tell us — we handle urgent reviews.

We serve employees throughout Chicago, Chicagoland, and the rest of Illinois.