2007-02-05 23:50:45 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
No, access to ET's is free. Suggest you ask the CAB or other independent advice agency to help you.
2007-02-05 23:55:50 · answer #1 · answered by fengirl2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends.
Ack- don't you just hate that answer?
It depends on HOW you deal with the matter. And how much? How long is a piece of string? If you are going down the paying route the yard stick of how much depends on how long it takes to resolve. The longer it takes the dearer it gets. No good telling you that you can do it for £1,000 only for you to find it drags on for months and ends up costing £7,000!
HAVE you tried other methods of resolution? Have you contacted ACAS? Are you a member of a union? Does your occupation have an ombuds scheme? IS there a Citizen's Advice scheme in place around where you are? WHERE are you?
I am in the UK and am an employer who is really hot on these matters. I believe that if someone has a legitimate reason to address an issue with their employer or employee (in my case) in a method OTHER than by direct resolution/mitigation they should go for it!
I have also been to tribunal because I am disabled was unfairly treated by an organisation. I won. Twice.
I went with the CAB and it didn't cost me anything. This is because I represented myself.
HOWEVER, had I "employed" a lawyer, I would have had to pay if I were earning.
Basically- if you have money you cannot fight a legal battle with a lawyer for free. If you are hard up and can prove it you do not have to because you will get legal aid. In the UK though!
Just think of it like this- SOMEONE has to pay for the judge, the court, the admin, your lawyer, the defence lawyer etc.
If you win you will be awarded the costs to be paid by the defendant. BUT- this may be where things fall down.
Lawyers' bills are extortinate. Not saying that they over charge as such but they are higher than you will be expecting. And the defence's position will be to cut down the bill of the claiming lawyer. I have also won a legal battle and though I had a No Win No Fee had to cover the shortfall of the monies my lawyer managed to get for himself. So- if he claims £10,000 for the work he does and is only given £8,000 by the defence he can, legally, claim the remainder from his client. In this case myself. READ the small print before agreeing to a NWNF set up as well. Nothing in life is free!
If you go to tribunal and do so representing yourself or with a voluntary body such as CAB or the union you do not pay. This is because a tribunal is not like a court. It is set up as part of the system which protects employers and employees and if you are not using a lawyer you do not incur the usual legal fees.
It is not hard to represent yourself by the way- CAB have a team of, possibly, para-legally trained folk they will be able to let you use. You can have them accompany you to the tribunal as well. I did. Mine was better than some lawyers I know!
2007-02-06 07:58:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work for a company of solicitors, each company of solicitors in a town is given a certificate for a certain legal aid scheme to help people who can't afford these things, our company has legal aid for debt help.
I suggest you go onto the legal aid board website and put in your town and what you want help for and it should come up with the solicitors in your area which give legal aid for that, of course legal aid is dependant on various circumstances and the company will go through a questionnaire with you to see if you are entitled.
As an example, i am working full time and going through a divorce, I do get legal aid, but I have to pay a little towards the costs, around £40 per month.
2007-02-06 08:08:42 · answer #3 · answered by Christine H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the assessor, they decide who pays - and it's not always the loser. However, as an employee even if you lost it's not likely you'd have to pay.
Citizens Advice is a good place for most up to date advice, it's a while since I went through the process.
2007-02-06 08:00:31 · answer #4 · answered by chillipope 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's like any court case - there are costs involved. Lose, and you are liable. Win, and your costs are awarded from the pocket of your opponent. I'd talk to a lawyer offering no win, no fee services - or you may be able to claim Legal Aid. Speak to the CAB or your union.
2007-02-06 07:56:35 · answer #5 · answered by cuddles_gb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ACAS are helpful. They can be asked to mediate in employment disputes - check out their website http://www.acas.org.uk/
2007-02-06 08:10:21 · answer #6 · answered by bumpity-bump 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋