What Is Legal Expenses Insurance?
Legal Expenses Insurance (sometime called Legal Protection Insurance) can protect you and provide you the funds to cover costs of employing a solicitor to act on your behalf. This is usually sold as an add-on to household insurance policies, which covers any future claims that you might bring against your employer such as: 
- Wrongful dismissal
- Unfair dismissal
- Discrimination
- Equal pay
- Breach of contract
- Whistleblowing
The cost of bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal can be expensive and may deter you from standing up for your legal rights and pursuing legal action. This is where legal expenses insurance will be able to support you with the financial costs of pursuing your case. This includes solicitors’ costs, expert’s fees, medical reports, barrister’s fees and Employment Tribunal Fees.
Do I have Legal Expenses Insurance?
Firstly, we advise you to check the details of your insurance policies to find out exactly what you are covered for and what you will need to do to make a claim.
For employees, you must check with your employer if they have Legal Expenses Insurance. Some policies do provide legal expenses cover for all people in the household, so it is also important to check if someone in your family has Legal Expenses Insurance.
Policies can be attached to:
- Household Contents Insurance
- Household Buildings Insurance
- Bank Accountant
- Vehicle or Life Insurance
If you are in doubt, you will be able to check with your insurer/bank for further information. If you do have insurance, then you must request a claim form.
Can I Choose My Own Solicitor?
Your insurance company may tell you that you can only use their panel solicitor if you wish to use the policy to cover the claim. THIS IS NOT TRUE. The law is clear on this issue – if you have Legal Expenses Insurance it is for YOU, not the insurer to choose which solicitor you would like to act for you.
Insurers quite often try to muddy the water here and insist that you use or speak with their panel solicitor first. We can have these conversations with the insurer on your behalf to ensure that cover is secured.
Can You Assist With My Insurer?
Yes. Under freedom of choice, one of our experienced employment solicitors will be able to deal with your insurer directly. This means that with our solicitors directly dealing with your insurer, there will be minimal stress and inconvenience for you.
Will my insurer meet all your costs?
Depending on the insurer, some agree to meet our full charging rates. However, if your insurer is offering a very low rate then we might have to discuss other options. In most cases, we are able to agree a rate with the insurer that allows us to take the case forward.
We have a number of options regarding funding a case (see here) and have also arranged an insurance policy which will protect you against the risk of having to pay Tribunal fees should your case be lost.
How We Can Help
At Paul Doran Law, we have a professional obligation to provide you the relevant advice about your employment law case. If you have Legal Expenses Insurance that you wish to use to bring or defend a claim, contact one of our solicitors immediately.
By contacting us today regarding your Legal Expenses Insurance, we will be able to clearly explain the prospects of your case, allowing you to make an informed decision about choosing us.
“I moved to Paul’s law firm following a disappointing experience with another firm, he has restored my faith in solicitors.”
Deborah McM
Make an Enquiry Now
To make a free enquiry based on any of the issues raised on this page please contact us on 0808 168 7288, or complete the online contact form at the top right of this page.
We will also discuss the best methods of funding your case and seek to reach a solution that best suits your needs. This can involve a “no-win, no-fee” agreement if appropriate.