What it Costs...

Our employment law and discrimination law experts can guide you through the ACAS Early Conciliation, tribunal and court process to help you achieve the best resolution of your claim, and we have a strong track record of successfully recovering compensation.
We can often come to a payment arrangement to help you fund your case more comfortably.

If you would like to have your situation assessed call us on 01254 274 700. Our advisers will find out a little more about your claim before passing this on to our specialist solicitors who will confirm how we can assist you. There are various payment options including:

Payment on an hourly rate

A solicitor’s hourly rate usually reflects their level of experience and seniority. Paying a solicitor on an hourly rate to deal with the whole of a claim in the tribunal or court is the most traditional method of funding. It secures you comprehensive assistance from day one, but you will need to consider whether the cost of proceeding with a claim outweighs the value of it. Typically speaking, a claim for unfair dismissal will cost at least £2,000 plus VAT (currently at 20%) and associated costs, such as barristers and tribunal fees. Fees in civil claims can exceed this amount. However, if your claim far exceeds the value of the estimated fees to be incurred and you are prepared to accept the risk that it may not succeed, then this could be a good method of funding for you. You should however be aware that only in a small minority of cases are legal costs recoverable from your opponent in tribunal proceedings.

From the outset we will outline the potential costs that you are likely to incur to take your claim to an Employment Tribunal or County Court. We will fully outline any risks to you and discuss the options available to you to successfully resolve the claim. We believe in transparency of costs and therefore provide regular updates as to the costs you to be incurred on a monthly basis. We believe in taking a pragmatic approach to resolving complaints by negotiation before proceeding with litigation, and we will discuss all options available to you.

If you wish to pursue a claim and want to know more about costs of doing so, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01254 274 700.

Insurance policy
Everyone who owns a house will have taken out buildings insurance, and as part of this type of cover you may also have the benefit of a legal expenses insurance policy which can sometimes cover legal assistance in the Employment Tribunal or County Court. You can check this by looking at your policy terms, or contacting your insurer directly. You do have freedom of choice to select the solicitor you would like to instruct, and we have extensive experience acting for clients in these circumstances. Upon becoming aware of a claim, you should contact your insurance company as soon as you can and advise that you wish to instruct your own solicitor to assist with the claim. We are able to liaise with insurers on your behalf to quickly secure cover.
Fixed price employment law advice
If you are experiencing difficulties at work we can provide you with practical advice on the options available to you as well as advice on potential claims. For a fee of £200 plus VAT we can provide an initial face to face meeting to discuss your concerns and identify the steps you can take to resolve these. For that fee we can consider documentation you have received from your employer, and following the meeting we will provide you with a written advice outlining the options available to you. In addition, we can also try to resolve the matter for you if you instruct us to do so.
Fixed fee discrimination law advice
If you believe that you are experiencing discrimination from a service provider, public body or private club or association then we can offer bespoke fixed price services at various stages of any complaint or claim.
Settlement agreements

On occasions where there is a dispute at work, an employer may offer you a settlement agreement. It is usual for an employer to make a contribution towards your costs for obtaining legal advice about this. It is very important that you are aware of the implications of the settlement agreement wording you are agreeing to as sometimes the wording can contain indemnities and restrictive covenants which need to be fully explained to you by your solicitor. As your costs are likely to be covered by your employer, you may not need to contribute towards our costs at all. We will liaise with your employer directly on your behalf to negotiate the best settlement terms possible on your behalf.

Should you require further information relating to settlement agreements, our handy guide outlines the reasons for settlement agreements and the steps to be taken when concluding a settlement agreement.

If you have received a settlement agreement or are in discussions with your employer about circumstances which could lead to your termination and are being offered a financial package, we will be able to assist you.

If you wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01254 274 700.

How much does representation at an employment tribunal cost?
The following figures are provided as an approximate guide, based on a case of average complexity dealt with by our employment lawyer:
  • Unpaid wages/breach of contract- Average £1,500 plus VAT and disbursements.
  • Unfair dismissal claim- Average £4000+VAT (£4800 including VAT) + disbursements.
  • Discrimination claim- Between £5000-£7000+VAT (£6000-£8400 including VAT) + disbursements.

Prices quoted are for representation throughout the full stage of proceedings up to a final hearing. Work would include the draft of initial pleadings, attendance at a preliminary hearing to discuss case management, dealing with the case management orders including the preparation of a schedule of loss, dealing with disclosure of documents/preparation of a bundle and drafting of witness statements. We would also instruct and liaise with a barrister for any final preparations before attending the final hearing.

In addition to the above costs, disbursements including payment for a barrister attending the hearing can range from £400 – £2,500+VAT (£480 to £3000 including VAT) depending on the length of the hearing and experience of the barrister. Additional expert reports may be required depending on the circumstances of your case. Choice of barrister will be discussed with you and you will be informed as early as possible about their cost.
The circumstances relating to every case are unique, and for this reason our estimate of fees above appears in price ranges.

These estimates are subject to a number of influencing factors, which may reduce or increase the overall cost, such as:

  • The number, type, and complexity of your complaints,
  • The number of witnesses involved,
  • Financial considerations such as the potential value of your claim,
  • Whether additional expert evidence is required,
  • Length of the final tribunal hearing and number of preliminary hearings,
  • Whether a settlement can be negotiated or whether a trial is required.
Timescale
On average an employment tribunal can take up to 12 months to reach a conclusion, although this depends on the circumstances of each individual case.
What qualifications do the team hold?
All employment law work is carried out by a qualified solicitor. Specific experience can be seen in the individual staff profiles.
What should I do next?

If you wish to discuss any of our employment law services in further detail, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01254 274 700.

Head office:

Second Floor, 58 - 62 King William Street, Blackburn, BB1 7DT

write an e-mail:

info@fmbsolicitors.co.uk

make a call:

01254 274 700
VAT registration number: 844661413
A list Directors is available upon request
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