In this article, you’ll discover the answer to the question: “What does an employment law solicitor do?”
Note that the word ‘solicitor’ and the word ‘lawyer’ are used interchangeably in the UK. The actual definition of a lawyer is someone who is licensed and can provide legal advice or represent clients in court. It includes solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives.
As employment law solicitors, we support employees who have a complaint against their employers. (Unlike some, we never act on behalf of employers.)
Employment law is complex, and changing all the time. So, if you’ve got problems at work, it’s wise to get advice from someone who has the relevant expertise to help you. Also, some circumstances demand that you do so, such when you’re offered a settlement agreement (known as a compromise agreement in Northern Ireland).
Why might I need an employment law solicitor?
You can approach an employment law solicitor for help in a whole range of circumstances.
- Have you been discriminated against at work?
- Were you dismissed unfairly?
- Do you need help to negotiate severance pay?
Those are just a few of the common scenarios when you can turn to an employment law solicitor. There are a lot more, such as:
- You’re an agency worker or part-timer who is fighting for your rights
- You’ve suffered bullying and/or harassment in the workplace
- You want to make a claim for wrongful or constructive dismissal
- You’re facing a disciplinary hearing
- You want to get equal pay for equal work
- You’ve got a grievance about something at work (or a grievance has been made against you)
- Your employer isn’t paying you the right amount of holiday pay
- You want to get your entitlement to maternity or shared parental rights
- Your job is at risk of being made redundant
- You are being mistreated because you ‘blew the whistle’ on malpractice at work
Even that is not a complete list. For more situations where we can help, please browse our website or jump straight to the page where our services are listed.
What if my work problem is minor?
In the first instance, you might be able to resolve minor issues by talking informally to your line manager or HR department or trade union representative.
Even in those situations, we might be able to add our expert support to help you get the outcome you want, so it’s always worth having a chat.
When might my employment law solicitor get involved?
We help at every stage of the employment experience. In brief:
- If you’ve got a new job, we can advise on the employment contract offered to you by your new employer. For example, they might have included some restrictive covenants and we might recommend that these are negotiated to be more favourable.
- If you’ve got a dispute at work, we’ll help you get the rights you’re entitled to, resolve your complaint, and deal with any issues you’re having around the discipline and grievance process.
- If you’ve had to leave your job but not through your own choice, we can tell you your rights and help you negotiate a settlement payment.
If you want to take your case to the employment tribunal, you can depend on our employment law expertise to help you all the way through the process. We’ll be there for you, from negotiating with your employer (or their lawyers), throughout the compulsory Acas conciliation process, and in front of the tribunal judge.
The main thing to be aware of when it comes to timing is that most claims must be made within three months less one day of the date of the incident/s you’re claiming about. So it’s best to talk to us sooner rather than later!
Where are your employment law solicitors based?
As UK employment law solicitors, we have offices in Belfast, London, Leeds, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This means we can serve clients anywhere in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Employment law does vary slightly across the nation, but we can advise you on what is the local law that applies to you.
Why is using an employment law solicitor important?
Dealing with any legal issue can be a sensitive matter, especially when your career, reputation, job security and income are threatened. We have the experience of keeping emotion out of it, knowing the latest legal ramifications, and how to ‘play the game’ for the best chance of winning.
Using an employment law solicitor is your best chance of getting a successful outcome. And it’s not as scary or expensive as you might think. In many cases, your employer will even pay our fee.
The first step is an initial informal chat about your particular circumstances. There’s no charge for that, so we look forward to speaking to you soon.
Related reading
For more information on this subject, you might like to read our related articles. These include:
- Employment law services
- Expert tips on choosing your Northern Ireland employment lawyer
- Why an expert Belfast-based employment lawyer is a good choice
- How can I pay for an employment law claim?
- I need a no-win, no-fee, employment solicitor
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