UKC

Has anyone used a no win no fee solicitor to take on an unfair dismissal case?

I can't afford to fund it myself and I do believe my employer has behaved very inappropriately against me. I'm currently being offered a settlement agreement to go quietly which is not very much!

The no win solicitor however wants £500 to review the case which is a big ask when you're facing no income!

Anyone used one in similar circumstances? Are there 'hidden' fees?

Try citizens advice first.  Some branches have access to an employment solicitor or other specialist for free. 

Are you in a union?

Did you take additional legal expenses with your home insurance? That often covers it.

I had this and didn't know about it, it worked great for me, something I wouldn't have done without it.

Employment disputes are now more expensive and I suspect the £500 (which is just for the advice) will increase as there are alot of fixed fees.

Basically the system was becoming flooded with alot of spurious claims and the govt upped the costs as a deterrent for claims.This seems to have worked as it has put alot of ambulance chasing employment solicitors out of business or on the margins.

I suspect that if you got to Citizens Advice you will still have to pay these fees.

If they have offered a settlement just try and negotiate an upward figure without involving a solicitor.An extra £500 would be a target amount.

Unless law has changed recently, Settlement Agreements require the employee to have had the benefit of legal advice.  Which means it can't happen unless the employer makes a payment towards the legal fees if you refuse.  I've never dealt with one where we, as employer, didn't offer to pay for advice as it is part of the cost to the employer of reaching agreement.  You should ask your employer for legal fees to cover at least a couple of hours of legal review and discussion.

I have spoken to a solicitor and negotiated up the settlement a little. It's not very much at all and will unlikely be enough to see me through to a new job.

I've got 'motor legal cover' on my car insurance but the blurb just says it recovers legal expenses in recovering loss after accident etc?

You need some objective advice. I've seen it from one side where the law favoured the company but the bad (family) advice pushed for more and ultimately the company withdrew the offer and offered minimum. So they lost out.

I think you should ask you company to pay for you to get some advice - if they think they've been fair then that will be cheaper than escalating legal costs.

Ball park how much are we talkign about in respect of the settlement . Is it many thousands of £'s, hundreds of £'s or what.

need a bit of perspective?

No win, no fee means you won’t have to pay your solicitor. But if you lose in court, the other party can potentially claim their legal costs from you. So you still pay. And punitively so.