Employment solicitors in UK cities

It is a legally binding agreement, often offered when a job is ending, in which you accept a payment and give up the right to bring certain claims. To be valid, you must get advice on its terms from an independent adviser such as a solicitor, who has to be insured. Employers often pay towards the cost of that advice, so ask before you spend your own money. Read what the agreement says about references, restrictions after you leave and tax.

Not long, and it is counted in months. The limit is short and the rules on it have been changing, so the date of the event matters. Most claims need Acas early conciliation first, which pauses the clock but does not reset it. Northern Ireland has its own tribunals and the Labour Relations Agency in place of Acas. Check the limit for your dates straight away with Acas or a solicitor.

Some charge an hourly rate. Others quote a fixed fee for set pieces of work, such as reading a settlement agreement or a contract. A tribunal claim can run for months, so ask for an estimate in stages. Before you pay, check whether your home insurance, a trade union or another policy includes legal expenses cover. Some solicitors take employment cases on a conditional fee, so ask what you would owe if the claim fails.

Advice before a dismissal, redundancy or disciplinary process starts is usually easier to act on than advice after a claim has been made. Employers also use solicitors for contracts, staff handbooks, changes to terms, restructures and settlement agreements. The employers button picks out firms that say they act for employers, and a firm’s page tells you if it acts only for employees.

Acas runs a free helpline in Great Britain, and Citizens Advice, trade unions and law centres may be able to help. Legal aid is available only in a few employment matters. Some solicitors give a first conversation to explain your options, so ask when you ring whether it is free or charged, and what the next step would cost.