FAQs
Making a personal injury or employment claim: your frequently asked questions
Accidents involving a vehicle
1. What should I do if I’ve been injured in a crash?
If you’ve been hurt in an accident on the road, first and foremost you need to make sure that you receive the medical attention you need and that the accident is reported to the police. Take photographs using your phone if you can - of your vehicle if you were driving, and the other driver’s, of the road conditions and of your injuries if they’re visible - make sure you get the other driver’s details and don’t forget to take down the details of any witnesses to your crash.
When you get home, try and write down exactly what happened, and where, while the details are still fresh in your head.
2. How do I know if I’ve got a valid Personal Injury claim?
We’ve created a quick tool to help you decide whether your Personal Injury claim is valid or not - it’s on the right hand side of this webpage. If you were injured in a car accident during the last 3 years - whether as a driver or pedestrian - and it wasn’t your fault, it happened in England or Wales and you haven’t received compensation or started court proceedings before, it’s likely that you’re entitled to claim for compensation.
If the accident happened more than 3 years ago, there are certain circumstances in which a Personal Injury claim could still be made.
If the injured party was under 18 at the time of the incident, they have until they are 21 to start court proceedings.
If the person injured suffered from a lack of capacity at the time of the accident, they may still be able to claim even if three years have passed.
To talk about your specific circumstances with a Personal Injury expert, call 0800 032 8103 for professional, no-obligation advice.
3. How much compensation am I likely to receive after my road traffic accident?
It’s really difficult to answer this without knowing the full details of your injury, as the compensation you could receive depends on how badly you were hurt, whether your injuries caused you any loss of earnings and how severely they affect your life, including the ability to work or enjoy your hobbies. We’ll be able to give you an idea of how much you might expect once we’ve spoken to you - but rest assured, we’ll work as hard as we can to get the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.
4. What is whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury to the ligaments and tendons in the neck caused when the head suddenly moves forwards, backwards or sideways. It’s a common injury in car accidents where there’s a sudden, unexpected impact. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness or reduced movement, and headaches. While in most cases whiplash isn’t a serious injury, it can be very painful and debilitating, and, in severe cases, can last for 6 months or more. If you think you might have whiplash it’s important to seek medical advice immediately to make sure more serious damage hasn’t been done to your neck and spine - visit the NHS website for more information on whiplash.
5. My road accident happened because of the road surface - can I still claim?
Yes. Oil or grit spilled onto road surfaces can lead to serious injuries. We’ve recovered substantial compensation for clients against those responsible for the spillage, or under the Untraced Drivers’ Agreement if those responsible can’t be found.
6. I wasn't wearing my seatbelt at the time of the accident - can I still claim?
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you’ll still be entitled to compensation. However, the amount you receive may be reduced if it’s found that wearing a seatbelt would have resulted in less severe injuries.
7. The driver of the vehicle that hit me wasn't insured - can I still claim?
Yes. If the driver didn’t have insurance but the vehicle he or she was driving was insured, we can help you claim off the vehicle's insurance company. If neither the driver nor the vehicle were insured, your claim will be dealt with under the Motor Insurers' Bureau Uninsured Driver Agreement.
8. The vehicle that hit me drove away from the scene and the police can’t identify them - can I still claim?
In many cases, yes, you can claim compensation through the Motor Insurers' Bureau Untraced Driver's Agreement. However, this isn’t always possible and the amount awarded to you could be limited - call our Personal Injury experts on 0800 032 8103 and we’ll take some details and give you an idea of your chance of success.
9. I was walking at night without wearing reflective clothing, and was hit by a car on a dark road - can I still make a Personal Injury claim?
Yes, but the court could reduce your compensation to reflect the fact that you didn’t take as much care as you could have. Call us on 0800 032 8103 to talk about the specifics of your accident and we’ll give you our view on the likely success of your Personal Injury claim.
10. I didn’t look before I crossed the road and got run over - can I still claim?
It depends. If the driver was travelling too fast for the road and/or conditions, or was using a handheld device, it could be argued that the responsibility for the accident is shared and you could be entitled to claim. Call us on 0800 032 8103 and we’ll take further details from you and let you know if we think you have a valid claim.
11. I was a passenger in a car and I knew the driver had been drinking and/or had taken illegal drugs - can I still claim?
Yes, if the accident wasn’t your fault, you can still claim - although the court will take into account the fact that you knew the driver’s abilities could be impaired and so may reduce your compensation accordingly. We’ve helped many passengers claim compensation in circumstances like this - call our Personal Injury experts on 0800 032 8103 to discuss your case in more detail.
12. I was a passenger in a car being driven by a friend or family member, and the accident we had was their fault - can I claim for my injuries?
Yes, you can. It’s important to remember that any compensation you’re entitled to won’t come from their personal bank account - their insurance company pays. You might want to talk to the driver and let them know that your claim isn’t personal - it’s a practical step you need to take to recompense for the pain and out of pocket expenses incurred.
13. Who are vulnerable road users?
Vulnerable road users (VRUs) are described by organisations and road safety groups as anyone who is ‘more vulnerable to road traffic accidents than those inside - and protected by - a vehicle’. Anyone who is not in a vehicle with a protective cage, like a car, motorhome or lorry, is technically less protected in the event of an accident and considered vulnerable. Some examples of VRUs are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, moped riders and horse riders. Find out more here: http://bit.ly/2lYY5wV
Motorbike Accidents
1. What should I do if I’ve had an accident on my bike?
The first thing you need to do if you come off your bike is make sure you get the medical attention you need. Then, report the incident to the police. If possible, at the time of the accident it would be helpful to get photographs - of your bike and the other vehicle, the road conditions, your injuries if they’re visible, and the clothing you’re wearing. It’s also important to get the name and address of any witnesses, and it’s a good idea to write down everything that happened as soon as you can, while the accident is still fresh in your memory.
2. How do I know if I’ve got a valid motorbike accident claim?
Check out the handy tool on the right hand side of the page. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident at any time during the last 3 years, it happened in England or Wales and it was someone else’s fault, and you haven’t received compensation or started court proceedings before, it’s likely that you’re entitled to compensation.
If the accident happened more than 3 years ago, there are certain circumstances in which a motorcycle accident claim could still be made.
If the injured party was under 18 at the time of the incident, they have until they are 21 to start court proceedings.
If the person injured suffered from a lack of capacity at the time of the accident, they may still be able to claim even if three years have passed.
To talk about your specific circumstances with a Personal Injury expert, call 0800 587 7503 for professional, no-obligation advice.
3. How much compensation am I entitled to?
The amount of compensation you’re entitled to depends on many things, including the severity of your injury, how much it has negatively affected your life and the extent of any financial loss you experienced as a result of the accident.
Call us on 0800 587 7503 and we’ll take some details from you and give you an idea of how much compensation you might expect - but rest assured, we’ll work as hard as we can to get you the compensation you deserve.
4. I saw my doctor - what do I need a medical assessment for?
Your motorcycle accident claim can’t be progressed without proof that the accident caused you genuine physical or mental injury. This proof comes in the form of a medical report carried out by an independent and neutral doctor - the other party’s insurance company may not accept the word of your personal doctor.
5. What if the bike accident was partly my fault - can I still claim?
Yes - if the accident was partly your fault, it’s likely that the compensation you receive will be reduced to reflect your portion of the blame, but you can still make a motorbike accident claim and we’ll do our best to recover as much compensation for you as we can.
6. The driver says the accident was my fault but I don’t believe it was - can you help?
Yes. This happens all too often in motorbike accident claims, and we are well used to dealing with - and dismissing - such arguments.
7. The accident was down to the road conditions. Can I still claim?
It’s entirely possible, yes. In certain circumstances, you can claim compensation for injuries caused by road conditions/surfaces, for example, oil or diesel spillages on the road, gravel left by someone else or poorly executed road repairs. Call us on 0800 587 7503 to talk about your accident and we’ll advise you of your prospects of success.
8. I was riding pillion at the time. Can I still claim?
Yes - as a passenger on a motorbike, you are able to claim for personal injuries whether the accident was the fault of the rider of the bike or another party.
9. I wasn't wearing my leathers/helmet/boots at the time of the accident. Can I still claim?
Yes - if the accident was someone else’s fault, you’re entitled to claim compensation. However, if the court finds that your injuries would have been less severe if you had been wearing the correct protective clothing, the amount you receive may be reduced.
10. The other vehicle drove away and the police haven’t been able to identify them - can I still claim?
Yes, in many cases you can claim compensation through the Motor Insurers' Bureau Untraced Driver's Agreement, but unfortunately this doesn’t apply to every hit and run case and the damages awarded could be limited - call our Personal Injury experts on 0800 587 7503 and we’ll discuss your case and give you our opinion on your chances of success.
11. There are a few ‘bikers only’ Personal Injury solicitors out there - why should I choose you?
Just because we seek justice on behalf of all sorts of people doesn’t mean we aren’t bike accident specialists. We've been involved in the compensation claims of 1 in 5 of all bikers injured in the UK in the past 5 years, which makes us one of the biggest law firms working on behalf of bikers - and as we’ve been doing it for 10 years, we have an absolute understanding of the needs of bikers and the complexities of motorbike-related Personal Injury claims.
Some of our solicitors happen to be bikers themselves, others aren’t - what’s most important to us when recruiting lawyers to work with our motorbike accident team is their absolute understanding of the needs of motorcyclists and their families, and their track record in securing maximum compensation, quickly and efficiently.
12. Could anything hinder my motorcycle accident claim?
Many things can hinder a motorcycle accident claim, but the main factor is liability. If liability is disputed during the motorcycle claims process, all evidence needs to be gathered to establish where the fault lies. If evidence indicates that you were at fault, this may affect your eligibility to make a personal injury claim however; you may still be able to claim for part of your compensation, depending on your specific circumstances.
There are other factors that could potentially hinder your motorcycle accident claim, however, these are all circumstantial and may not necessarily apply to your case. For more information visit: www.minsterlaw.co.uk/2018/05/could-anything-hinder-my-motorcycle-accident-claim
Serious Injury
1. How do I know if I can claim for my injury?
If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured in an accident, the tool to the right is a quick way to check whether you’re eligible for compensation - briefly, if the accident happened in England or Wales at any time during the last 3 years, it was someone else’s fault and you haven’t received compensation or started court proceedings before, it’s likely that you’re entitled to compensation.
If the accident happened more than 3 years ago, there are certain circumstances in which a claim could still be made.
If the injured party was under 18 at the time of the incident, they have until they are 21 to start court proceedings.
If the person injured suffered from a lack of capacity at the time of the accident, they may still be able to claim even if three years have passed.
To talk about your specific circumstances with a Personal Injury expert, call 0800 030 4021 for professional, no-obligation advice.
2. Will it cost me anything to claim?
We operate on a No Win, No Fee (Our No Win No Fee offer depends on you complying with our terms and conditions – call 0800 587 7502 for more information.) basis - sometimes called a Conditional Fee Arrangement - as do most Personal Injury solicitors.
If we take your case on, we expect you’ll win and you'll pay for our services - in most cases our fees are deducted from the compensation our clients receive.
To find out what this means, including what happens if you lose your case, and for more information about how No Win, No Fee (Our No Win No Fee offer depends on you complying with our terms and conditions – call 0800 587 7502 for more information.) arrangements work, visit our No Win, No Fee page.
3. How much compensation could I be entitled to?
In serious injury cases, the compensation awarded can be significant, reflecting not only the pain and suffering but also expenses like long-term care costs and adaptations to your home. It’s impossible to give an exact figure without knowing your individual circumstances - the amount of compensation you’re entitled to depends on many things, including how severe your injury is and its expected impact on your future.
4. Will you visit me at home?
Of course... We understand that a serious injury may prevent you from travelling to visit us and we’re happy to come and see you at home, in hospital or wherever suits. Seeing you in your home environment helps us understand your needs so we’re likely to suggest a home visit if possible.
5. How long will it take to make my claim?
Serious injury cases can often take years to settle because the severity of the injuries require a long recovery period - but this doesn’t mean you have to struggle financially in the meantime. One of the first things we’ll do if you appoint us is ask the other party’s insurer to release interim funds, to cover the cost of treatment and rehabilitation and make sure the bills still get paid. If your claim does take years, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
6. Who will be handling my case?
Serious Personal Injury claims can be complex and involved, so your case will be led by one of our team of compassionate, highly experienced serious injury lawyers. He or she will be supported by a team of litigation executives, the size of which depends on the complexity of your case. Your team will make sure your needs and those of your family are fully met and there’s always someone to talk to who understands you and your injuries.
7. Can you provide me with rehabilitation and treatment?
Yes. As serious injury experts and one of the largest specialist law firms in the UK, we can access experts and organisations across the country to make sure you get the best treatment and rehabilitation.
8. We’re really struggling for money because of the accident - can you help?
Yes - it’s what we’re here for. Legal proceedings can take time to complete - sometimes years - which is why one of the first things we’ll do is ask the other party’s insurers to release an interim payment to cover the immediate financial losses and the cost of treatment and rehabilitation.
9. My family are having to provide a lot of care. Can they seek compensation too?
They can’t pursue their own compensation claim, but as part of your claim you can seek damages for both past and future care provided by friends and family.
10. Will I have to appear in court?
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll have to make a court appearance - over 99% of cases we handled last year were settled out of court. However, we always prepare our cases as though they’ll end up in court and, in the highly unlikely event you do have to appear, we’ll fully support you and arrange representation if necessary.
Personal Injury Claims Process
1. I’ve read bad reviews about Minster Law, how do I know I’m going to get a good service?
We encourage our clients to leave feedback of their experience with Minster Law whether positive or negative. This feedback helps us constantly evolve our processes and practises, identify any issues and reward our team members who are going above and beyond to provide the best possible service for our clients.
While there are many online review forums to choose from, we advise our clients to share their reviews on Google and Facebook, among other trusted public forums, or get in contact with us directly. This is so that we can continually monitor all feedback and address any potential concerns quickly. Using public and trusted review forums like these is also a great way for people to share their experience of Minster Law with others who may be going through a similar claims process.
Unfortunately, many review forums aren’t regulated and have limited moderation. On these type of sites, it’s not always obvious whether a review is genuine, you may see the same review published multiple times or see reviews containing offensive language. Reviews posted on these unregulated forums are also often difficult for us to manage – it isn’t always easy for us to reply and limited user profiles mean it’s harder for us to help solve any problems or pass on positive feedback to our internal teams. Our customer service team works hard to ensure all our reviews are legitimate and reflective of our clients’ experience with us and if they find a review that looks suspicious, it is reported to the website’s host as quickly as possible.
If you see a negative review about Minster Law online and are concerned about the service we provide, please contact us directly so we can discuss this in more detail with you. It’s also important to note that we settle around 2,000 cases each month, and receive only a very small number of complaints in comparison – we’d always advise you to view client feedback of our service from multiple resources before making a judgement.
2. How can I make sure I get the best settlement?
One of the first questions we’re often asked by our clients when they begin their personal injury claims journey with us is “how much compensation am I entitled to?” The truth is it’s really difficult for us to answer this until we have made a full assessment of your injuries, determined whether you have suffered any loss of earnings as a result of your accident and understand how your injuries could affect your life in the future.
3. How does your No Win, No Fee guarantee work?
We operate on a No Win, No Fee (Our No Win No Fee offer depends on you complying with our terms and conditions – call 0800 587 7502 for more information.) basis - sometimes called a Conditional Fee Arrangement - as do most Personal Injury solicitors.
If we take your case on, we expect you’ll win and you'll pay for our services - in most cases our fees are deducted from the compensation our clients receive.
To find out what this means, including what happens if you lose your case, and for more information about how No Win, No Fee (Our No Win No Fee offer depends on you complying with our terms and conditions – call 0800 587 7502 for more information.) arrangements work, visit our No Win, No Fee page.
4. How much will I have to pay you if you win my case?
If we win your Personal Injury case and secure compensation for you, you might have to pay a success fee. How much this will be depends on the type and value of your Personal Injury claim - we’ll be able to give you a better idea when we know more about your accident - but there will be nothing else for you to pay over and above this if you comply with our terms and conditions.
5. Will my home or car insurance cover my Personal Injury legal fees if I win?
Quite possibly. If your policy includes ‘before the event legal expenses’ - and many do - it should cover some or even all of the costs of your claim. If you’d like to raise a Personal Injury claim and you don’t have legal expenses cover on either your car or home insurance policy, one of the team can set you up with an after the event policy called Legal Expenses Insurance (sometimes called After the Event Insurance) - if you call us on 0800 032 8103, we can give you a quote on this and talk through your options.
6. How long will it take to make my Personal Injury claim?
No two claims are the same so it’s difficult to give you an exact timescale without knowing more about your accident - and even then, how long it will take ultimately depends on whether the other party’s insurer accepts responsibility or not. What we can say is that we’ll work to settle your claim as quickly and efficiently as possible, and will keep you up to date with the progress of your claim. Your litigation executive will be in touch with an update every 28 days.
7. How soon after an accident should I contact a Personal Injury solicitor to seek compensation?
You must start your Personal Injury claim within three years of your accident, and we’d recommend seeking expert advice as soon as possible. Claims for children and those incapable of managing their own affairs can be started outside the three year period, and the courts can allow certain other claims to begin outside the three year limit.
8. Will a solicitor be dealing with my Personal Injury claim?
It depends on the complexity. Straightforward claims are overseen on a day-to-day basis by one of our highly trained litigation executives. Because they specialise in Personal Injury cases, their single minded focus is on getting you the best result in the shortest amount of time. If for any reason your Personal Injury claim becomes less than straightforward, it will be passed on to a more specialist team to handle.
9. Will I have to go to court to receive my compensation?
Most Personal Injury cases settle out of court, but if the other party’s insurer denies responsibility, it may be necessary for you to appear in court. We’ll support you every step of the way and arrange for you to be represented in court if necessary.
10. Do I have to have any kind of medical assessment?
Yes. To successfully proceed with your Personal Injury claim, we’ll need to prove to the other party’s insurance company that your injuries are both real and were caused by the accident in question. To do this, we’ll need a medical report.
11. How far will I have to travel for my medical assessment?
We have medical partners all over the country, so you shouldn’t have to travel too far at all. We’ll work with you to identify a time and place to suit you.
12. The accident didn't happen in England or Wales - can I still claim compensation?
In certain circumstances, yes, but we'd need to hear more about your specific accident - give us all call on 0800 032 8103 for free, no-obligation advice.
13. How is my claim processed?
Please take a look at The claims process page for an idea of how a typical Personal Injury claim is handled.
14. My insurance company has recommended a solicitor but I’d like to choose my own - can I?
Of course - you’re free to choose any solicitor you like and you don’t have to stick with your insurer’s recommendation. We’d recommend choosing a firm with a dedicated road accident team with the necessary experience to handle your claim.
15. What is an interim payment?
An interim payment is an amount paid to you in partial settlement of your claim. When an interim payment is made, it means your Personal Injury claim hasn’t been fully settled and the other party’s insurers still need to deal with the other parts of it.
16. What does limitation mean?
Limitation is the period of time after which you’re not allowed to make a claim against someone who caused an accident.
17. What if the accident was partly my fault - can I still claim?
Yes. Even if the court finds that you’re partly to blame for the accident that caused your injury, you’re still entitled to compensation. The legalese for this is ‘contributory negligence’ and your damages will be reduced according to how much of the responsibility the court believes you share. So, if they decide you’re 50% at fault, your compensation will be reduced by 50% to reflect this.
18. What if I want to stop my claim at any time?
You can stop your Personal Injury claim at any point - but you should be aware that, depending on how far along we are in the process, we may have incurred fees on your behalf that we’ll have to pass on to you.
If your claim is taken to court, proceedings are issued and then you decide to stop everything, you won’t be able to recover the damages you originally applied for and could end up being liable for both the defendant’s costs and our own. For this reason, you need to be sure you’re willing and able to see your claim through to the end before starting it.(Our No Win No Fee offer depends on you complying with our terms and conditions – call 0800 587 7502 for more information.)
19. What if the other person isn’t insured? What if the vehicle is stolen or untraced?
We specialise in claims against uninsured drivers and have recovered millions of pounds in compensation for those injured by uninsured and untraced drivers.
If the person responsible for an accident is not insured, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau has a duty to pay full compensation under the terms of the Uninsured Drivers’ Agreement. Even if the driver cannot be traced, we can pursue your claim against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau through the Untraced Drivers’ Agreement.
The other side’s insurer may refuse to deal with the claim for various reasons. At Minster Law Solicitors we specialise in such insurance indemnity issues, which can become very complex.
20. How do I cancel my claim
If you wish to cancel within the timescales outlined in your Conditional Fee Agreement and Terms and Conditions, you need to download our cancellation form, complete it and send it to us by email or post, although we will accept a verbal cancellation via telephone. Please click here to view the form.
Employment claims
1. What Services do you provide in relation to employment claims?
We act for Claimant’s in employment law disputes, offering and advice and representation.
2. What is the cost for these services?
Our work is charged per hour and our rates are as follows (plus VAT):
Grade A (£250) – Solicitors, Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) with over eight years post qualification experience including at least eight years litigation experience and senior legal advisers with equivalent experience.
Grade B (£200) – Solicitors and Legal Executives with over four years post qualification experience including at least four years litigation experience, senior legal advisers with equivalent experience and Costs Lawyers depending on the complexity of the work.
Grade C (£175) - Other Solicitors, Legal Executives, Legal Advisers of equivalent experience, Client Liaison Managers and Costs Lawyers depending on the complexity of the work.
Grade D £150) - Trainee Solicitors, Paralegals, other Legal Advisers, Trainee Costs Lawyers and Costs Draftsman.
For customers of our contracted Insurance partners we act under Legal Expenses insurance for a reduced hourly rate of £90 plus VAT. This is subject to the terms and conditions of the insurance policy being met. Customers can choose to use this cover to instruct a solicitor of their choice provided they enter into our terms and conditions in line with the policy.
3. Can I claim through my Legal Expenses insurance?
If you can claim depends upon whether or not the terms of the policy are met for example this depends on factors such as;
is the issue/claim covered under the policy
does it have good prospects of success – over 50%
is it proportionate to use the cover to pursue the case?
The event occurs during the period of the policy of insurance
Are all other terms of the insurance policy met?
4. How will I know how much the costs of my claim are?
While your case is being dealt with by us we will provide you with an update in relation to the costs incurred on your matter every 6 months.
5. How many hours would you expect to spend on an average employment case?
This can vary greatly depending on the facts and circumstances of the case. However, a standard unfair dismissal case may take in the region of 20 hours work to complete from issue of the claim to the final hearing. The final hearing would then take on average a further 7 – 14 hours.
A more complex matter, such as a discrimination claim may take around 40 hours work to complete from issue to final hearing. The final hearing would then take on average a further 21- 35 hours to complete.
6. What might increase the costs incurred/time spent in my case?
There are various factors that can increase the cost of running a case, which may increase the risk that your insurance will not cover all the costs of your claim. These can include;
Matters that are legally very complex
The other sides poor conduct in defending your claim
Delays in the tribunal system/ court process outside our control
7. How long does an employment tribunal case take to complete?
This very much depends on the complexity of the case and the geographical area the claim is brought in. There are regional employment tribunals all over the UK and the speed with which they deal with cases can vary enormously. However, on average we would estimate that a basic unfair dismissal case may take around 8 months to complete, while a more complex discrimination matter may take around 12 months to complete. If the matter is settled via negotiation then the timescale may be less than this.
8. What are the key stages in an Employment Tribunal claim?
The first step in bringing an employment tribunal claim is to register the claim with ACAS Early Conciliation https://ec.acas.org.uk/ before the expiry of the deadline for the claim. A claim cannot be issued without having completed this process. ACAS contact the other side to try and reach an amicable solution via conciliation.
If the matter is not resolved via conciliation then a claim needs to be issued to the Employment Tribunal within the prescribed time limit. This is done online at https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/employment-tribunal.
The Claim form is then sent to Respondent (employer) and they are given 28 days to formally response to the claim setting out if they admit or deny the claim.
Once the tribunal has the documents they can then make case management orders to progress the case. These include exchanging all relevant documents, valuing the claim, preparing documents for use at the hearing and preparing witness statements. This is either done by the Tribunal alone or at short hearing.
ACAS remain involved throughout the case to try and see if it is possible to reach a settlement (www.acas.org.uk). Many cases do settle after the claim has been issued but before a final hearing.
However, if the case doesn’t settle there will then be a final hearing to decide if you will win your case. This will be heard at the employment tribunal centre nearest to the Respondent’s premises. The hearing can take anything from a day to multiple days depending on the complexity of the matter and number of witnesses. The tribunal will hear from all witnesses and question them as well as considering the paperwork before reaching decision.
If you are successful the tribunal will then decide what compensation to award to you.
9. Will my case be handled by a solicitor?
Yes, we have a mix of qualified solicitors. They are all experienced in dealing with employment law issues such as unfair dismissal, contract disputes, redundancy, wages, discrimination, TUPE and whistleblowing. The current team is;
Supervisor- Rachel Clayton, Associate Solicitor, Admission date 1 September 2008: Employment Solicitor. Practising in employment law since 2006. Currently spends 100% of time as an employment fee earner.
Liz Spooner, Solicitor, Admission date: 1 April 2003: Employment solicitor. Has practised employment law since 2011. Currently spends approximately 95% of time as an employment fee earner.
Briony Wood, Employment Solicitor, Admission date 1 August 2018: Employment Solicitor. Originally qualified as a Fellow of CILEx in 2016. Practising in employment law since 2009. Currently spends 100% of time as an employment fee earner.
Rosie Owen, Solicitor, Admission date 1 March 2018: Employment solicitor. Carried out a 6-month training seat with the team during her training contract. Currently spends 100% of time as an employment fee earner.
Fatima Ali, Solicitor, Admission date 11 May 2011: Employment Solicitor. Practising in employment law since 2008. Currently spends 100% of time as an employment fee earner.
10. What other means of funding are available for Employment Cases?
Claimants in employment tribunal cases can sometimes receive legal representation from their trade union.
You may also find that other solicitors offer Damages Based Agreements or ‘no win no fee’ agreements in relation to employment matters. This is not something that we offer.
It is also possible to obtain legal assistance via Civil Legal Advice who provide government funded assistance (‘legal aid’). This is in relation to discrimination matters only. https://www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
You could also engage a local solicitor and pay privately for this. Solicitors can be found via the law society website http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/
Complaints
1. What do I do if I'm not happy with the service you've provided?
We want to give you the best possible service. However, if at any point you become unhappy or concerned about the service we have provided then you should inform us immediately, so that we can do our best to resolve the problem.
In the first instance, it may be helpful to contact the person who is working on your case to discuss your concerns and we will do our best to resolve any issues at this stage. If you would like to make a formal complaint, then you can read our full complaints procedure here. Making a complaint will not affect how we handle your case.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority can help you if you are concerned about our behaviour. This could be for things like dishonesty, taking or losing your money or treating you unfairly because of your age, a disability or other characteristic.
You can raise your concerns with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
2. What should I do if you cannot resolve my complaint?
The Legal Ombudsman can help you if we're unable to resolve your complaint ourselves. They will look at your complaint independently and it will not affect how we handle your case.
Before accepting a complaint for investigation, the Legal Ombudsman will check that you have tried to resolve your complaint with us first. If you have, then you must take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman: Within six months of receiving a final response to your complaint, and no more than six years from the date of act/omission; or no more than three years from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint.
If you would like more information about the Legal Ombudsman, please contact them.
Visit: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Call: 0300 555 0333 between 9am to 5pm.
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Legal Ombudsman PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ