Employment Tribunal Lawyers
Understanding Employment Tribunals
What is an Employment Tribunal?
An employment tribunal is a judicial body that resolves employment disputes between employers and employees. Acting as an intermediate step between informal resolution and court litigation, it adjudicates claims of unlawful treatment within the workplace. These employment disputes can involve a variety of issues, including:
- Unfair dismissal claims and discrimination
- Breach of contract and illegal deduction of wages
If you believe your employer has acted unlawfully, seeking legal advice from employment lawyers is crucial. It allows you to understand your rights and the process of pursuing an employment tribunal claim.
The Importance of Employment Law
Employment law serves as the cornerstone of fair and equitable working relationships, defining the rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees. It ensures that principles of justice, equality, and respect govern the workplace. Understanding employment law is paramount for both parties to prevent employment disputes and foster a positive and productive work environment.
Common Employment Disputes
Numerous types of employment disputes can arise in the workplace. Some common examples are detailed below, and navigating these types of cases requires the expertise of specialist employment tribunal lawyers who can provide comprehensive legal advice and representation.
Unfair Dismissal: Occurs when an employer terminates an employee’s contract without a fair reason or in violation of proper procedure.
Discrimination: Based on age, gender, race, religion, or disability, forming grounds for employment tribunal claims.
Other employment disputes include breach of contract, harassment, and unlawful wage deductions.
The Role of Employment Tribunal Lawyers
How Lawyers Support Your Case
Lawyers play a crucial role in building a robust case on your behalf, offering expert employment support and guidance throughout the entire tribunal process. They also ensure you have specialist representation at an employment tribunal, providing reassurance that your case is presented effectively and efficiently. From the initial stages of your employment claim, including representation during any preliminary hearing, right through to the final tribunal hearing, our team are there to support you. They can also request relevant documents from the employer and draft pleadings.
Choosing the Right Employment Tribunal Lawyer
Selecting the right employment tribunal lawyer is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Look for experienced lawyers who are employment law specialists and possess a proven track record of success in employment tribunal proceedings. Consider who can demonstrate a deep understanding of employment law and who is committed to providing personalised attention to your unique situation.
Win No Fee Employment Lawyer: What Does It Mean?
A win-no-fee employment lawyer, also known as a win-no-fee arrangement, provides legal advice and representation without requiring upfront payment of legal fees. Under a win-no-fee basis, you typically only pay your legal costs if your case is successful. It is essential to discuss the specifics of the fee agreement with your lawyer to fully understand the terms and conditions of the win-no-fee employment law arrangement. Not all types of cases are suitable for a no-win, no-fee arrangement, and the chance of success is usually determined before agreeing.
Fees and Costs in Employment Tribunal Cases
The costs for legal fees and disbursements can vary based on the complexity and duration of the case. However, we pledge to ensure that these costs are explained thoroughly, so that both businesses and individuals are aware of the likely costs associated with cases. It is important to note that there is no fee for bringing a claim before an employment tribunal.
In addition to legal fees, you may have to pay disbursement costs to third parties to progress your employment tribunal claim. These disbursement costs can include Counsel’s fees, estimated between £750 and £2000 per day, depending on their level of experience in employment cases. An additional fee of up to £ 1,000 per day (excluding VAT) may also be applied for attending a tribunal hearing. Please be aware that an administration fee of £25 plus VAT for carrying out an online search to obtain evidence of your identity and address may be charged.
- Simple case: £10,000 (excluding VAT)
- Medium complexity case: £20,000 (excluding VAT)
- High complexity case: up to £30,000+ (excluding VAT)
The Employment Tribunal Process
Key Stages of the Tribunal Process
The employment tribunal process involves several key stages, from submitting your employment claim to the final tribunal hearing. Expert employment lawyers guide you through each step, ensuring you understand the procedures and are well-prepared. Employment tribunal cases are public hearings and are usually heard by an employment judge and two tribunal members, providing a formal and structured environment for resolving employment disputes.
Time Limits for Filing Employment Claims
Understanding time limits is crucial when considering a claim in an employment tribunal. Most claims have a time limit of three months from the date of the incident. Claims with a three-month time limit include:
- Unfair dismissal claims
- Breach of contract claims
- Discrimination claims
- Whistleblowing claims
- Redundancy claims
- Equal pay claims
- Unlawful pay deductions claims
During the early conciliation process, the clock effectively stops, and this period is not included in the three-month time limit.
Pre-Claim Conciliation: A Step Towards Resolution
Before claiming an employment tribunal, a crucial step is conciliation. You must notify Acas if you intend to claim in an employment tribunal. The parties will need to take part in the Acas early conciliation scheme, which is a process that attempts to resolve the employment dispute before going to a tribunal. Suppose early conciliation fails to reach an agreement with your employer. In that case, you can then claim an employment tribunal with the assistance of expert employment lawyers, who can negotiate a settlement agreement.
How Dutton Gregory Can Help You
Our Expertise in Employment Law
Our specialist employment law firm offers expertise in employment law, providing legal advice and support to both employees and employers. Our team have a wealth of experience in employment, including winning high-value settlement agreements and employment tribunal claims for many senior executives throughout the UK. They construct clear and confident cases for all claimants and strive to negotiate a settlement.
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