Costs for Employment Tribunal Claims

Druces for Business

Costs for Employment Tribunal Claims

The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires solicitors to provide detailed information as to the costs of certain services via our website. For individual clients, this includes Employment Tribunal claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal.

The information we provide is either the average cost or a range of costs, based on hourly rates for our lawyers, or other bases of charging, together with any likely disbursements. Disbursements are costs that we incur with third parties on your behalf (such as court fees) which we re-charge to you in our bill.

In addition, we provide information about the solicitors who will manage your case, their qualifications and experience.

The information provided is based on our experience of the costs we charge for typical transactions or cases. Our actual charges may vary, depending on the complexity of your matter and in cases where complications arise. We will always give you an individual cost estimate at the outset of your matter, taking into account the actual circumstances of your case. We will also update our estimate if any complications arise which may impact on our costs.

The cost of Employment Tribunal Claims for Unfair or Wrongful Dismissal

Our fees and disbursements for a standard Unfair or Wrongful dismissal claim are set out below. In some cases, for example where the Respondent decides to settle the case before going to Tribunal, the costs may be less.

In other cases, where the basis of your claim is complex, the costs may be more, and we may need to instruct Counsel to advise and/or draft documents and represent you in Tribunal. In such cases you would have to pay Counsel’s fees in addition to our fees.

The fees below relate only to unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal claims. They do not relate to claims for complex constructive unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment, victimisation, protected disclosures, transfer of undertakings (TUPE), unlawful deduction of wages, breach of the working time regulations and equal pay disputes.

Our fees and disbursements for this work are based on the number of hours we take, multiplied by the hourly rates for the fee earners involved.

Taking your instructions, reviewing any relevant documents and advising you about your unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal claim: Initial budget – £2,700 plus VAT;
Compiling a detailed chronology of events: Initial budget – £1,350 plus VAT;
Initiating the Early Conciliation process with ACAS through the online form, speaking with ACAS to start conciliation: Initial budget – £450 plus VAT;
Speaking with ACAS during Early conciliation process: Initial budget – £1,800 plus VAT;
Drafting ET1 Claim form & Particulars of Claim: Initial budget – £3,600 plus VAT;
Reviewing ET3 Response Form and Respondent’s Defence: Initial budget – £1,800 plus VAT;
General correspondence with the Respondent’s representatives: Initial budget – £4,500 plus VAT;
Drafting lists of Issues and Agenda for Preliminary Hearing if required: Initial budget – £2,250 plus VAT;
Preparation for and attendance at preliminary hearing at Tribunal if required: Initial budget – £3,600 plus VAT;
Drafting Schedule of Loss: Initial budget – £1,800 plus VAT;

11. Reviewing case documents and drafting disclosure list: Initial budget – £2,250 plus VAT;

12. Reviewing Respondent’s disclosure list and requesting documents: Initial budget – £1,350 plus VAT;

13. Agreeing Hearing bundle index: Initial budget – £450 plus VAT;

14. Drafting witness statements: Initial budget – £3,150 plus VAT;

15. Preparation for Tribunal Hearing: Initial budget – £2,250 plus VAT;

16. Attendance at Tribunal Hearing (1 day): Initial budget – £3,150 plus VAT.

Total initial budget of £36,450 plus VAT.

We may agree with you that we will instruct Counsel to appear at the final hearing on your behalf. We anticipate that a junior Counsel’s fee for a 1-day hearing would be in the region of £2,500 to £3,000 plus VAT.

Employment Tribunal claims for unfair and wrongful dismissal normally take between 6 to 12 months to conclude but this depends on the complexity of the claim and the number of days the Tribunal will need to allocate to hear the claim. Employment Tribunals are busy places and so there can be delays with the time it takes to process a claim and provide directions, as well as obtain a date before the Tribunal.

The principal fee earner who will work on these matters is Phillip Vallon. Phillip is a solicitor qualified in England & Wales, with over 10 years’ post qualification experience. Phillip is an experienced employment and immigration lawyer. Phillip’s hourly rate is £450 plus VAT per hour.

Trainees: Where appropriate some of the work required to be carried out on your case may be undertaken by a trainee solicitor, whose charge out rate is £160- £180 per hour, subject to the supervision of a more experienced lawyer.

If you have any questions regarding this cost information, please contact Phillip Vallon.