Tribunal Representation
Our team are experienced in tribunal representation for clients against claims such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, breach of contract and TUPE. If you are facing a claim, one of our employment lawyers based in Southampton and Winchester can help you defend the case and reach the outcome you want.
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How we can help in tribunal representation
- Understanding the Tribunal process from start to finish.
- General advice on the merits of the claim you are facing.
- Drafting your response to the claim.
- Collating the relevant documents for the hearing.
- Preparation of witness statements.
- Settlement negotiations and COT3 settlement agreements.
Capped fee employment tribunal representation
Our Employment team offer a capped fee service for tribunal representation meeting certain criteria. The attached document provides all the details.
We also regularly provide Mock Tribunal training for our clients so they can understand how the Tribunal works and the process that will be followed at a hearing.
How we work with you
Whilst based in the South of England, Paris Smith acts for businesses and families throughout the UK. Technology has enabled us to provide a high level of service to our clients whether they are local to our offices or not. Our advice can be given in many ways:
- Over the telephone
- Via video conferencing
- In face to face meetings
We will talk through how you would like to be contacted and the best ways for us to meet in our early conversations with you.
Downloadable Guide on the Employment Tribunal Process
We have created a complete guide on the Employment Tribunal process. Download your copy now.
Get in touch to speak with an expert.
Introducing your key contacts
Clive Dobbin
Partner and Head of Employment, Southampton
David Roath
Partner – Employment Team, Winchester
How we’ve helped our clients
Podcast
The Employment Tribunal: What happens on the day – Part 2
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The Employment Tribunal: What happens on the day – Part 2
Welcome to part two of our two-part series on Employment Tribunals. In this podcast Employment experts Clive Dobbin, David Roath and Tabytha Cunningham answer your key questions about what happens on the day of a Tribunal. They chat through everything from how to give a witness statement to what to wear.
For more information on how our team can help you: https://parissmith.co.uk/your-business/employment-law/tribunal-representation/
Show notes
00:50
What is the set up for a typical Employment hearing?
David talks about how processes been pushed forward by the pandemic and what are the options for a virtual hearing. Do you get a choice which option you can have?
02:50
What should you know before the hearing to prepare? Tabytha explains what technology you should test if you are remote and some tips for making this process seamless.
If you have an in-person hearing, what happens when you arrive and who will be there? Be prepared for lots of waiting around.
04:25
What preliminary matters will there be on the day? Tabytha talks through how this works and what is common.
05:10
Who decides the outcome of a case? This depends totally on the claim. Simple cases like unfair dismissal will be heard by one Judge In more complex cases like discrimination, there will be a panel of three people. Our experts explain how to they work together to decide and who has the final say.
07:35
Giving evidence – how is this done and how should you address the Judge?
Our experts also explain how are different people are addressed and the common terms you might hear such as ‘claimant’, what you should wear, what to bring with you, where to stand when giving evidence and what swearing an oath means in practice.
09:45
What happens at cross examination? This is when the other side will ask questions about your witness statement. Our experts give some tips about what to expect and how to answer.
11:40
Our Employment team give top tips for preparing to be a witness and discuss the importance of the witness statements.
The key is that you should remind yourself what is said in the statement before the hearing as they often written a long time before the hearing.
13:40
Submitting additional documents – what is the process when you want to submit extra information?
15:35
Cross examination can be nerve-wracking. Our team give tips for giving evidence and cross examination, and cover the importance of preparation and overcoming nerves
20:35
Coming to a decision – what is the process and how long does this take?
21:50
What happens if you are unhappy with the decision and what are the grounds for appeal?
The Employment Tribunal process – What you need to know – Part 1
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The Employment Tribunal process – What you need to know – Part 1
Welcome to the first episode of our two-part series on employment tribunals. In this podcast Employment experts Clive Dobbin, Claire Merritt and Andrew Willshire cover the key steps in presenting a tribunal claim, and what employers should do in response to a claim.
Show notes
01:10
What is ACAS early consiliation and what do you need to do? We chat through how this process can help you address issues early and how ACAS can mediate.
More information: www.acas.org.uk/early-conciliation
03:50
What is our advice for employers about ACAS early consiliation? Should you engage and what are the benefits?
05:25
Are ACAS overburdened and what are the implications?
06:30
We cover how an employee presents a claim to the tribunal and what documents are required.
Access an ET1 form: www.gov.uk/government/publicat…t-tribunal-form-et1
07:55
We discuss what makes a claim acceptable
08:30
How much detail should an employee include in the claim? They must be concise and clear.
09:10
Should you attach documents in your initial claim submission?
09:50
What happens when you receive a claim as an employer? There are strict deadlines in this process, so explain the importance of this.
11:05
Our experts guide you through submitting an ET3 form, verifying the information that the employee has submitted, and when you have your opportunity to submit your version of numbers, dates etc.
11:50
When should you be instructing a solicitor and information gathering and submitting your response?
13:10
So the claim and response have been submitted – what happens now? We also discuss when a preliminary hearing is necessary.
14:22
Who attends a preliminary hearing?
15:00
What evidence do you need to defend a claim? We also discuss the process of ‘disclosure’ – what is this and how long does it take?
17:50
Our experts talk through the role of witness evidence
18:40
What should you do if you feel there are documents missing in the disclosure?
19:55
Employment tribunal costs – can you reclaim costs if you are successful in defending your claim?
22:00
Reaching a settlement – our lawyers answer key questions such as what options are there for settlement once a claim has been presented? Are settlements always done through ACAS?
25:05
The role of mediation – how does it work through the employment tribunal process, and how successful is judicial mediation?
25:45
How has COVID-19 affected the employment tribunal process? We know the employment tribunal is struggling to cope at the moment, so how does this affect when a final hearing can happen?
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