Employment Law Costs and Funding Options

Funding options (VAT calculated at 20%)

We believe our employment law costs should be transparent from the outset and should never be a surprise.

We offer a number of flexible funding options from acting for you under a fixed fee, where possible, to stage-by-stage quotes and forward-thinking cost planning with regard to our hourly rates. Such fees will be bespoke in every case, but we set out guidelines as to what costs might look like below.

In appropriate cases, we may be able to act for you under a Damages Based Agreement (a type of ‘no win, no fee’ agreement).

It is also important for you to check if you have legal expenses covered as part of your insurance policy. It may be that your legal fees could be covered by your insurer.

Likely employment law costs

It is important to know what the likely cost of taking a claim to the tribunal – or defending one – will be. Employment law firms are obliged to publish this information for unfair and wrongful dismissal claims.

Essentially, the more time-consuming a case, the greater the cost. There are several factors to consider. Some of these include:

✔  The number of claims brought.

✔  The type and complexity of claims brought.

✔  The length of history.

✔  The number of witnesses involved.

✔  The amount of time the hearing is listed for.

✔  How co-operative/professional the opponent/their adviser is.

Costs in unfair and wrongful dismissal cases

Although it is difficult to provide a standard range of costs, the normal range of fees you can
expect if you instruct us are as follows:

Simple case: (one day, one claim, one witness for each side) – £3,000 – £7,500 (plus VAT)

Mid-complexity case: (2 – 3 days, 2 claims, 3 – 4 witnesses) – £7,500 – £18,000 (plus VAT)

Complex case: (4 – 5 days, 3+ claims, 4+ witnesses) – £18,000 – £30,000 (plus VAT)

Additional costs

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as medical experts (where relevant) or to Counsel (barristers). You will pay these fees directly to the expert or barrister.

Counsel’s fees can be between £1,500 to £10,000 per day (usually plus VAT), depending on the experience of the barrister, for attending a Tribunal Hearing. Depending on the complexity and work involved, Roy may sometimes need to seek Counsel’s opinion, which could cost you anything from £1,000 to £5,000 (usually plus VAT).

Occasionally the Employment Tribunal may ask for a payment into the Tribunal to allow you to continue your case (known as a Deposit Order). This is unusual and is usually up to £1,000 for each issue the Tribunal may think has a limited chance of success.

Key stages in the Employment Tribunal process:

• Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation of your claim or the defence of the claim (this is likely to be revised throughout the matter and subject to change).
• Entering into pre-claim conciliation (which is mandatory) via Acas to explore whether a settlement can be reached.
• Preparing the ET1 (Claim Form) or ET3 (Response).
• Exploring settlement and negotiating for settlement throughout the process.
• Preparing or considering a schedule of loss.
• Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing.
• Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents.
• Drafting statements and agreeing their content with the witnesses.
• Preparing and agreeing the bundle of documents.
• Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements.
• Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list as ordered by the Tribunal.
• Preparation and attendance at the Final Hearing (this may include instructions to Counsel).

Book Your Consultation

Bicester | Banbury | London | Reading

01869 325 883 | hello@magaralaw.co.uk

Bicester

Banbury

London

Reading

01869 325 883 | hello@magaralaw.co.uk

• Fri: 09:00 am – 06:30 pm
• Sat: 10:00 am – 01:00 pm
• Sun: Closed