Pricing for Employment
We aim to be upfront and transparent about our fees, so we will look to discuss these with you from the outset to avoid any surprises. Each solicitor’s level of experience will dictate their hourly rate.
When we speak to you we will require complete instructions and documents to review your matter fully, understand your circumstances and the type of help you need. Once we have done this, we will be able to provide you with the most suitable options. Examples of how you can pay for your legal advice include:
1. A fixed hourly rate
2. A fixed fee for each stage of the work ( say for example agreed fees for one hearing or agreed fees for the initial conference, prepare your statement of case etc)
3. Staged payments
Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal
1. Simple case: £7500 £15,000 (excluding VAT and disbursements)
2. Medium complexity case: £10,000 -£35,000 (excluding VAT and disbursements)
3. High complexity case: £25,000 -£80,000+ (excluding VAT and disbursements)
Factors that could make a case more complex:
1. If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
2. Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
3. Making or defending a costs application
4. Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)
5. The number of witnesses and documents
6. If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
7. Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal
There will be an additional charge for attending each Tribunal Hearing and trial cost’s.
Disbursements:
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Counsel’s fees may be payable to defend or proceed with your claim. Counsel’s fees will vary depending upon the seniority and experience of the counsel instructed and on the complexity of the matter. Trial cost a brief fee and refreshers. A brief fee is an agreed fee that covers all the pre-trial preparation and the first day of the trial, this is estimated from £2000-£10,000. A refresher is the agreed fee for each subsequent day of the trial which includes the ongoing preparation before and after the court, this is estimated £1500 – £6000 per day.
This is just an estimate (depending on the experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing. We would discuss with you the level of counsel’s fees or any other third-party fees before incurring such fees on your behalf. Counsel’s fees can, in certain cases, be of a similar level to our fees (see above for the range of our fees). (Including preparation). Above is an estimate and it is the barrister who will provide an indication in relation to their fees.
Limited chances for a No Win No Fee
In limited circumstances, we may be able to deal with your matter on a no-win no fee basis. In these cases, if we are successful in securing compensation for you, we will retain a proportion of your compensation in order to cover your legal costs. This includes any sum recovered by way of a settlement or award made by the court or employment tribunal.
Key stages:
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:
1. Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
2. Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
3. Preparing claim or response
4. Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
5. Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
6. preparing or considering a schedule of loss
7. Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
8. Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
9. Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
10. preparing bundle of documents
11. Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
12. Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
13. Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel.
The stages set out above are an indication and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.
How long will my matter take?
The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 8-16weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take over a year to resolve. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.
VAT
Above rates are exclusive of VAT this is charged at 20% (if applicable)
Fee earner category and applicable rates (per hour):
Solicitor with over 8 years experience: £373
Partner, Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years’ experience: £289
Solicitors with 3 years + experience: £260
Solicitors with less than 3 years experience: £230
Trainees and paralegal: £ 150
All fee earning members are subject to supervision
Our fees mentioned above are for one application only and does not include disbursements which may be incurred or become necessary. Furthermore, this does not include home office fees, IHS, court fees, application fees, third party fees and any other necessary expenses. In addition, if your matter proceeds further and becomes more complex then we may revise and increase our quote