Employment Tribunal Costs
Legal fees can be expensive enough without any hidden costs or unexpected extras. We offer transparent pricing to assist your decision to instruct us to deal with your matter.
The estimates and information set out below apply to Employment Tribunal claims for Unfair Dismissal and Wrongful Dismissal, they apply to both claims brought and claims defended.
Costs
We charge at an hourly rate in line with those as outlined in our terms and conditions of business, please note that the following estimates are exclusive of VAT.
Whilst it is difficult to given an accurate estimate of the legal costs of conducting a claim, we have provided below some estimates for your information, the estimates are exclusive of disbursements and VAT:
- Simple case (such as Unlawful Deduction of Wages):
£600.00 – £5,000.00
- Medium complexity case (such as Unfair Dismissal):
£1,000.00 – £8,000.00
- High complexity case (such as disability discrimination):
£3,000.00 – £12,000.00
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such the costs of expert reports.
If it is necessary to instruct a Barrister, we will obtain a quote as to their fees at such time and will agree with you such instruction prior to the same. Please note that that such fees will be based upon the seniority or the Barrister and the complexity of the case.
There is no requirement to pay fees to commence a case at the Employment Tribunal.
Complex Factors
The factors which could make a case more complex include but are not limited to:
- If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim.
- Defending or bringing claims by or against litigants in person.
- Making or defending a costs application.
- Complex preliminary issues such as a dispute as to disability or the extent thereof.
- The number of witnesses and documents.
- I it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim, e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer.
- Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal.
Service information
The estimate of fees outlined above would include the following tasks:
- Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change).
- Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached.
- Preparing the claim form or response.
- Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party.
- Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process.
- Preparing or considering a Schedule of Loss.
- Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing.
- Exchanging documents and agreeing a bundle of documents.
- Preparing witness statements.
- Preparing bundles of documents.
- Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements.
- Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list.
- Preparation and representation/attendance at a Final Hearing, including instructions to a Barrister, where appropriate (but not their fees).
- Discussing any of these stages with a Barrister in conference.
The stages set out above may not always be necessary, however, the fee would be based upon the work undertaken on your behalf though the process.
Duration of your matter
The time it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage on which your case is resolved.
If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 3 to 4 weeks.
If the matter proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case may to take between 6 and 9 months to reach a final hearing, this timescale may be increased as a result of the complexity of the matter.
These are of course estimates and we will of course be able to provide a more accurate timescale once we have more information with regard to the matter and thereafter its progression.