We understand you may be concerned about the cost of legal advice and representation. It’s something we’re very conscious of as a firm, so we try to be as clear as possible about legal costs.
The cost will depend upon how much work is involved. Factors that affect the overall cost, include:
the complexity of the case
the amount of evidence involved
the legal issues the case relates to
allegations of discrimination (these tend to be complex)
making or defending a costs application
complicated preliminary issues, such as strike-out orders or disputes over employment status
applications to amend a claim or response (in legal proceedings)
if the other party does not have expert representation (we usually have to spend more time when dealing with litigants in person)
it is difficult to give a precise estimate. However, the estimates below should give some guidance to the likely cost of taking a case through the full tribunal process:
A simple unfair dismissal case would likely cost around £5,000-£10,000 to go through the full tribunal process.
More complex cases are likely to be in the range of £10,000-£25,000, particularly if the final hearing lasts more than one day.
Complicated cases involving substantial amounts of evidence or complex legal arguments are likely to exceed £25,000.
Wrongful dismissal cases tend to be simpler and require less time to complete. These will likely cost around £5,000.
These estimates are based on our experience, and include VAT and disbursements. They are based on the hourly rate for an Associate Solicitor, and include a modest amount of time for an Associate Solicitor to attend the first morning of the final hearing.
Cases do not always go through the full tribunal process as settlements are common. However, it is important to understand the potential cost because settlements cannot be guaranteed.
Your solicitor's priority is to resolve the issue in your best interests. This includes helping you to balance the likely cost of your case against the chances of winning, the possible compensation, and the benefits of early settlement.