Employment Tribunals

Employment tribunals are a specialist way of dealing with employment issues that avoid taking an employer to court and all of the costs and time associated with court.

Tribunals are held in a specialist tribunal centre, and involve less procedure than a full courtroom.

An employment tribunal case will cost more to resolve than one that can be resolved informally. However, if your claim is successful, the costs will usually have to be paid by the employer. Most employers will have experience of tribunal cases, and will have their own specialist solicitors who regularly deal with claims against them.

You are allowed to represent yourself before an employment tribunal. However, you will stand a much greater chance of success if you instruct a specialist solicitor who will deal with your employer before the tribunal hearing, and advise on other informal options such as ACAS conciliation.

In the interest of a quicker and more certain outcome, it is not uncommon for an employer to negotiate a settlement either before a tribunal hearing or while a case is still being heard.