Employment Tribunal Pricing Employees

We provide specialist advice on Employment Tribunal claims, Settlement Agreements and all other aspects of employment disputes. Our clients include every type of employee, as well as members of the Armed Forces.

As an employee, you have rights under the law that employers must respect. If you believe you have been unfairly dismissed from your job, getting the right legal advice as soon as possible is vital. This will allow you to get a clear picture of whether you have grounds for a claim and what compensation you may be entitled to.

Our employment lawyers offer clear advice and practical support to help you secure the best available outcome as quickly and simply as possible. Our Employment Department have successfully pursued claims in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal.  We aim to be completely transparent about our pricing, so you can be confident our fees are fair and you are getting good value for money.

Why Us

Our expert team is headed by Keir Hirst who has specialised in Employment Law for 20 years, so we have almost certainly many times dealt with similar situations to the one you are facing. We will explore all the options available to you, helping you determine a course of action that fits your circumstances and personal priorities.

We know that value for money and overall costs really matter when pursuing an employment claim, so will provide you with a range of estimates and keep you updated on costs at all times. This way, you can be confident we are handling matters for you in a cost effective and efficient way.

If you decide to make an employment tribunal claim, we can offer very strong experience in handling Employment Tribunal proceedings and appeals. Our team carry out their own advocacy at the Tribunal and Appeal Tribunal, providing, the robust arguments, skilled judgment and lateral thinking needed to prepare your case and achieve the best available outcome.

Keir Hirst’s advocacy has been described as “succinct and effective” by the  then President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal,  Mr Justice Langstaff in the  Employment Appeal Tribunal  case Robinson v Combat Stress [EAT].

Whether you wish to settle a claim or fight it at tribunal we will advise you on the best strategy for you and any additional fees involved.

We are proud to hold the Lexcel Accreditation issued by the Law Society. This involves the firm undergoing a rigorous audit process which ensures we maintain the highest levels of client care.

We are also members of the Employment Lawyers Association and are Founder Members of Forces Law.

Pricing

Importantly, we will advise you as to your funding options.  You may have the benefit of Legal Expense Insurance.  These policies indemnify you for your legal expenses (subject to policy conditions)

Our fees for bringing claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal are based on three bands, broadly outlined below. There are various items we will consider when deciding what pricing band your case falls into. We will make this assessment and inform you of the relevant fees at the earliest opportunity.

Fees

*if your case requires additional days at Tribunal, they will be charged at this rate. These costs are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate. Factors that may influence which band applies to your case include the need for:

• Filling out and submitting a claim form outlining your case to the relevant Tribunal centre
• Reviewing your former employer’s response to the claim
• Reviewing documentation received setting out the factual and legal basis of the claim
• Reviewing any Orders made by the Court
• Making any further applications to a Tribunal on your behalf
• Whether an Employment Tribunal hearing is required

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. We routinely carry out our own advocacy but if we instruct Counsel, typical costs for attending the Tribunal (including preparation) are between £2,000.00 – £2,500.00 plus VAT.

Exclusions and Factors Which May Make a Case More Complex

In the event that the issues become more complex, we will make sure you are informed of this at the earliest opportunity and a clear estimate of those extra costs will be provided. Factors that may lead to an increase in cost include:

• If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
• Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
• Making or defending a costs application
• Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)
• The number of witnesses and documents
• If the claim relates to an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if an employee claims they were dismissed after blowing the whistle on your business
• If the claim involves allegations of discrimination

Time Scales

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 4-6 weeks.

If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take at least 12 – 24 months. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

Key Milestones

There are key milestones, which may vary according to individual circumstances. They fall broadly into four stages:

Stage 1 – Initial Instructions

• Taking your initial instructions, reviewing papers and advising you on merits
• Preparing and Issuing the claim in the Employment Tribunal
• Reviewing and advising on the response from the other party
• Exploring and negotiating possible settlement (this could be ongoing throughout the claim)

Stage 2 – Preparing Documents

• Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing (either in person or by telephone)
• Complying with any directions ordered by the Employment Tribunal (such as preparing Schedule of Loss, Chronology, List of Issues)
• Taking witness statements from you (and any other witnesses) and agreeing the contents
• Collating and exchanging documents with the other party in readiness for the Tribunal

Stage 3 – Preparing for and Attending the Tribunal

• Agreeing and (if required) preparing bundles of documents
• If necessary, instructing Counsel
• Attending the Tribunal

Stage 4 – Outcome

• If you are successful at the Tribunal the Judge would normally advise you of the award appropriate for your case.
• If, for any reason, you are not successful we would be able to advise you on any next steps that may be possible – such as appealing the decision.