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Employment Solicitors

Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, you may have been unfairly dismissed if your employer had no fair reason (conduct, capability, or redundancy) or failed to follow a fair procedure. If dismissed within 2 years you generally cannot claim unless it falls into automatically unfair categories such as whistleblowing or pregnancy. Speak to an employment solicitor for a free initial assessment.

Legal aid is not available for employment tribunal claims in England and Wales. However, many employment solicitors offer free initial consultations, no-win no-fee arrangements, or fixed-fee tribunal services. Trade union members may also receive free legal representation through their union.

Simple employment tribunal cases typically take 6–12 months from claim to hearing. Complex discrimination or multi-claimant cases can take 18–24 months. ACAS early conciliation (mandatory before lodging a claim) adds up to 6 weeks at the start of the process.

Yes — a settlement agreement is only legally binding if you have received independent legal advice from a qualified solicitor before signing. This is a legal requirement. Your employer will usually contribute towards your legal fees. Never sign a settlement agreement without advice.

The maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal is the lower of 52 weeks' gross pay or £115,115 (2024–25). For discrimination claims there is no financial cap. The basic award is calculated using length of service, age, and weekly pay (currently capped at £643 per week).