Employment
pricing
Approximate cost of pursuing a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal & timescale
We at Archbold offer a range of funding options for both employers and employees, including:
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Employment protection policy for businesses
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Legal expenses insurance – you may be covered under the terms of your business, home or motor insurance policy;
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Hourly fee; and
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In exceptional cases, we may consider acting for employees under a damages based agreement (previously known as a contingency – ‘no win no fee’ agreement);
Archbold Solicitors offers various funding options for employment claims, with potential preferential rates for corporate clients, returning clients, or substantial work. The costs can vary depending on the complexity and value of the case. A detailed breakdown of costs is given for unfair or wrongful dismissal claims. It is important to note that the provided information serves as guidance and not as a specific estimate. Quotes may be adjusted if unforeseen complexities arise or if the client's preferred approach requires additional work. Our solicitors will provide updated cost information and an accurate fee assessment as the case progresses.
Please note the cost information on this page relates to unfair/wrongful dismissal claims only. The estimate does not apply to more complex discrimination claim in the High Court. Please contact us for a bespoke quote.
1
SIMPLE
£8,000-£12,000 + VAT
Please note many cases settle prior to a hearing and the pre-litigation costs for negotiating a settlement generally range from around £1,500-£7,500 plus VAT (depending on how matters progress).
2
MEDIUM COMPLEXITY
£12,000 -£20,000 + VAT
Please note many cases settle prior to a hearing and the pre-litigation costs for negotiating a settlement generally range from around £1,500-£7,500 plus VAT (depending on how matters progress).
3
HIGH COMPLEXITY
£20,000 – £35,000 + VAT
Please note many cases settle prior to a hearing and the pre-litigation costs for negotiating a settlement generally range from around £1,500-£7,500 plus VAT (depending on how matters progress).
Key stages
The fees mentioned above encompass all the necessary work for the various stages involved in a claim:
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Initial instructions: Gathering your initial information, reviewing the relevant documents, and providing advice on the merits and potential compensation (this assessment may be revisited and subject to change as the matter progresses).
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Pre-claim conciliation: Engaging in mandatory conciliation before filing a claim to explore the possibility of reaching a settlement.
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Claim preparation: Drafting the claim form and Grounds to outline your case and the nature of the dispute. Alternatively, preparing a response form if a claim has been made against you.
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Claim or response review: Assessing and advising on the claim or response received from the other party.
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Settlement exploration: Actively pursuing settlement options and engaging in negotiation throughout the process.
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Schedule of Loss: Creating or considering a document detailing the losses suffered.
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Preliminary Hearing: Preparing for and attending a preliminary hearing.
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Document exchange: Sharing and agreeing on the list of documents with the other party, as well as preparing a bundle of relevant documents.
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Witness statements: Interviewing witnesses, drafting their statements, and reaching agreement on the content.
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Final Hearing preparation: Compiling the bundle of documents required for the final hearing.
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Review of other party's witness statements: Examining and providing advice on the witness statements provided by the other party.
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Issue list, chronology, and cast list: Agreeing on a list of issues, a chronological order of events, and a list of individuals involved.
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Final Hearing: Preparing for and attending the final hearing, including providing instructions to the barrister, if applicable.
Please note that the stages mentioned are only indicative, and if certain stages are unnecessary or modified, the fees may be reduced accordingly. If you prefer to handle certain aspects of the claim yourself and seek our advice only for specific stages, we can accommodate your individual needs and budget.
Timeframe.
The duration of your case, from receiving initial instructions to reaching a final resolution, varies depending on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached through pre-claim conciliation/ negotiation, it is expected to take approximately 3-6 weeks. However, if your claim proceeds to a final hearing, the timeframe is likely to be around 6-9 months, depending on when the Employment Tribunal schedules the hearing.
Please note that these timeframes are approximate, and we will be able to provide a more accurate estimate as we gather more information and progress with the matter. If any unforeseen complexities arise, we will keep you informed and provide a revised estimate.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs intrinsic to your matter, payable to 3rd parties, such as court fees, barrister’s, expert’s fees, and courier charges. You may incur the following:
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Barrister’s fees are generally estimated between £1,000 to £2,500 per day (+ VAT), depending on the level of experience of council, for providing representation at a Tribunal Hearing. For complex cases it may be advisable to instruct a more senior barrister and their fees will be higher.
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Check what it might cost to make an employment tribunal claim
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Ancillary disbursements such as courier and postage charges, etc.
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Expert fee is dependent upon type of report and can be in the range of 800-2000 VAT exclusive.
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Other unforeseen costs. No range can be give for these costs without knowing what is being required at a particulat stage of the proceedings.
Hourly rates: lawyer experience & qualification
Hourly rates vary according to seniority and experience of the professional dealing with case. We also consider the complexity, urgency, and value of the matter. Experience and qualification of people undertaking employment work at Archbold is set out in the Our Team section of this website.
VAT is charged @20%
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Solicitors with over 8 years' experience: £500 + VAT
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Solicitors with over 4 years' experience: £450 + VAT
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Solicitors with less than 4 years' experience: £350 + VAT
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Trainee solicitors, caseworkers, paralegals, and other fee earners: £250 + VAT
Solicitor Tribunal representation costs
VAT is charged @20%
If we are instructed to attend an employment Tribunal hearing then there will be an additional charges as given below. The additional charges include our travel costs:
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Solicitors with over 8 years' experience: £2,000 – £3,000 per day + VAT.
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Solicitors with over 4 years' experience: £2,000 per day + VAT.
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Soliictors with less than 4 years' experience: £1,000-2000 per day + VAT.
Other funding options
We are with you every step of the way.
There may be additional funding options that you can explore, such as legal expenses coverage provided by an insurance policy like your home insurance, including Direct Line, Halifax, Abbey Legal Protection, and others. Insurers are obligated to allow policyholders the freedom to choose their own solicitors instead of being limited to a panel firm. We can discuss alternative funding options in more detail during our initial meeting.
In some cases, we might even consider working under a damages-based agreement (DBA). Before agreeing to proceed with a DBA, we would need to evaluate the merits and commercial viability of the case. For the initial meeting and review of relevant documents, we would charge our regular hourly rates. Following that, we would assess the case and make a decision on whether to proceed under a DBA.
If we agree to take on your case under a DBA, you would be responsible for covering any disbursements incurred during the process. If we successfully recover damages on your behalf, we would then deduct a specific percentage from the awarded damages.