Key stages in your claim of unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal
Costs are normally incurred in the following key stages of unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal claims:
1) After the initial consultation we’ll take your instructions, review your papers and advise you on the prospects of success in the claim and the likely compensation (note that this is likely to be revisited throughout the duration of your case and is subject to change)
2) Engaging in any pre-claim conciliation via ACAS
3) Preparing your Claim or Response
4) Reviewing and advising on the claim or response from the other party
5) Exploring settlement and negotiating a settlement throughout the ET process
6) Preparing or considering a Schedule of Loss
7) Preparing for and attending a Preliminary Hearing
8) Exchanging documents with the other party (disclosure)
9) Agreeing the contents of a bundle of documents for the full hearing
10) Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with any witnesses
11) Preparing bundles of documents for the final hearing
12) Reviewing and taking instructions on the other party’s witness statements
13) Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
14) Instructing a barrister for the final hearing
15) Preparing for the final hearing, including attending any pre-trial conference with counsel
(The above stages are an indication only and if some of the stages are not required, your fees will likely be lower).
Time spent on a matter can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the case and its duration. Examples that may increase the complexity include (but are not limited to):
- Making or defending applications, for example, to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim, for deposit orders, or to strike out a claim of defence;
- Defending claims brought by litigants in person;
- Making or defending a costs application; and/or
- Where the claim includes allegations of discrimination or whistleblowing