How are employment tribunal claims funded?
Funding employment law claims is different to funding most legal action. The main reason for this is that in the Employment Tribunal each party pays their own legal costs. Whether you win or lose you will be liable for your own costs and the other party will be liable for their own costs. There are options available through insurance, legal aid and ‘No Win No Fee’ agreements under which you will not have to pay your own costs.
What funding options are available to me?
There are a number of funding options available to claimants in employment law disputes
- Acting in Person
Bringing the claim yourself, without legal representation. Click here to read more… - Private Funding
Probably the most common form of funding, where you pay your legal representative to prepare your claim and to act on your behalf. There are a number of important things you should know about private funding before you instruct anyone to represent you, click here to learn more about private funding… - Legal Expenses Insurance
Check your home contents policy and any other insurance policies you may have for legal expenses insurance as this may cover the cost of your claim. There are a number of things you should know about legal expenses, click here to read about them… - No Win No Fee Agreement (Damages Based Agreements)
No Win No Fee agreements are different in employment law cases than they are in other cases (such as those advertised on TV). Because the other side will not have to pay your legal costs if you win, the fees will come out of your compensation. Click here to read more No Win No Fee agreements… - Legal Aid (Public Funding)
Although the government intends to remove legal aid for employment law cases, it is still available and you should check your eligibility. If you have a low income, low savings or are in receipt of benefits you may be eligible. Legal aid is only available for initial advice (legal help) and is not available for representation at Employment Tribunals. Click here to read more legal aid… - Trade Unions
If you are a member of a trade union they can often provide assistance with employment disputes or provide funding for you to instruct legal advisers. Click here to read more about trade union funding…