It is now mandatory for most employment claims to be referred to ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) before they are pursued in the Employment Tribunal. This provides a valuable opportunity for the parties to explore the possibility of settlement, or some other form of dispute resolution, before engaging in formal legal proceedings.

If the case does proceed to an Employment Tribunal, there will be a number of procedural steps that need to be undertaken before a hearing can take place. These include the filing of a claim/defence, disclosure of relevant documents, creation of an agreed Tribunal bundle, and the preparation and exchange of witness statements. Each step will have a strict deadline and, as with most things in life, the better you prepare, the more likely you are to succeed.

TJD Law can assist with:

• Assessing the merits and value of a claim as a guide to potential settlement
• Negotiating and drafting terms of settlement
• Guidance and support at each stage of the Tribunal process
• Case preparation and tactical considerations
• Representation at an Employment Tribunal hearing