Employment

Employment law affects nearly everyone.  Most people work, or are dependant on someone who does.  Losing a job can be one of the most stressful things to happen to a person.  If it happens to you, it's vital that you know what your rights are.

Livingstone Brown are ideally placed to represent clients who have employment-related problems.  As one of the country's leading firms of litigation lawyers, we're not afraid to stand up to difficult and intransigent employers.  Many of our partners are frequently involved in employment tribunal cases, from straightforward wage loss disputes to complex disability discrimination claims.  Additionally, one of our senior staff, Raymond Mallon, is highly skilled in this complicated area of law.  Our award-winning IT systems help us keen up to date with tribunal decisions, and legislative changes. It's important to remember that most employers choose to instruct a solicitor to represent them at an employment tribunal.  Not instructing a solicitor yourself can put you at an immediate disadvantage. 

Employment disputes are generally deal with by the Employment Tribunal.  Applications to the tribunal can be made in a number of ways, including online.  Very strict time limits can apply.  In unfair dismissal claims, for example, the claim must be lodged with the tribunal within three months of the date of dismissal (not the date when any internal process came to an end).  Failure to do this will almost always lead to the claim being unsuccessful.  Some types of claim (such an unfair dismissal) require an employee to have been employed for at least a year before an application can be made to the tribunal; others (such as disability discrimination) do not. 

For all of these reasons, it is essential to get good legal advice, and quickly.  Knowing that you have a grievance is not enough.  You have to know whether you have grounds to make a claim, whether you've been employed for long enough, what the time limits are, what internal processes you will be expected to have invoked, what the potential remedies are, and how any compensation will be assessed. 

At Livingstone Brown, we appreciate that potential clients are worried about the costs involved in seeking legal advice.  That's why we try to set things out as clearly as possible.  Sometimes you can't predict exactly how much legal work will cost - a bitterly contested action will usually take longer, and cost more, than one where agreement is swiftly reached.  However, a monthly payment plan, with regular standing orders, interim billing, and account updates will put your mind at rest.  At all stages you remain in control.  Alternatively, payments can be made by credit or debit card.

Livingstone Brown are also the country's second largest providers of legal aid.  We'll do an eligibility test for you free of charge, and over the phone if necessary.  As experts in legal aid work, you can be assured that we will make full use of the system where available.

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