Our dedicated team of solicitors have extensive experience in pursuing claims at the Employment Tribunal and challenging decisions in the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
We appreciate that pursuing a claim is often the last resort and usually having sought to reach a resolution before doing so. We will vigorously pursue actions on our client’s behalf and pride ourselves on providing practical and straightforward advice and guidance on each step of the process.
Over the years, we have developed strong links with leading sets of barristers’ chambers which enable us to provide the best possible service to you.
Acas Early Conciliation & Time Limits
For the majority of claims, you cannot make an employment tribunal claim without going through the Acas Early Conciliation process first.
Early conciliation is when an organisation called Acas tries to help you reach an agreement with your employer. You can find out more about Acas Early Conciliation here.
You must start early conciliation by a deadline. This is usually 3 months less 1 day from the date of what you are complaining about.
When you have finished early conciliation, you’ll have at least a month to make your tribunal claim.
It is important that a claim is submitted within the relevant deadline, as there are only very limited circumstances in which the employment tribunal will accept a claim that is submitted late and you should, therefore, seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity.
Funding
At the very outset, we will advise you on your options and how to meet or fund your legal fees. These options include:
- Private client retainer.
- Legal expenses insurance (It is not uncommon for people to have legal expenses insurance either as an extension to a home contents policy or specialist legal expenses insurance. If you have insurance which might cover employment disputes, your legal expenses insurers may agree to this firm being instructed on your behalf).
- Damages-Based Agreement.
- Trade union funding.
- Equality and Human Rights Commission (for discrimination claims).
- Legal Aid (for discrimination claims).
We also offer advice or assistance on a discrete segments of an employment tribunal cases including advice on the merits and quantum (i.e. the strengths and value of a claim), advocacy whether at the case management / preliminary hearing stage or at the final hearing, the drafting of a schedule of loss, the drafting of factual witness statements etc. We may be able to provide a fixed fee for this work.
Please click here to view our pricing information for bringing Employment Tribunal Claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal.
Costs
In the Employment Tribunal, the general rule is that each side will pay their own costs but in certain limited circumstances, the Tribunal may order one side to pay costs to the other (e.g. where one of the sides has brought or conducted their case unreasonably).
Appeals
Appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal are possible in limited circumstances (e.g. on point of law).
There are strict time limits in which to submit an appeal to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
If you are considering bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal, or have done so, then please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone to speak with a solicitor from our employment team without obligation or simply fill out our enquiry form and one of our specialist employment lawyers will contact you.
