FAQs
What Are Employment Lawyers?
If you have an issue at work, for example if you have been bullied or harassed, made redundant, or treated poorly because of a disability, an employment lawyer can advise you on whether there has been a breach of the law and what can be done to correct the situation.
At didlaw, we advise individuals in a wide range of situations. We are particularly known for our expertise in advising on disability discrimination, mental health issues including stress at work, and women’s rights. We have expertise in all discrimination issues regarding age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation discrimination, as well as in unfair dismissal, contracts of employment, and advising on restrictive covenants. We are passionate about these issues and will fight for your rights to get you a successful outcome, whatever that means in your case.
What Does an Employment Solicitor Do?
Employment solicitors advise individuals and organisations about their rights and obligations at work. They represent the interests of one party against the other when there are issues in the workplace. This might include complaints of discrimination, or allegations that an employee has been unfairly dismissed from their job. When disputes cannot be resolved via negotiations, an employment law solicitor can advise and represent a party in an Employment Tribunal, where a judge will decide the outcome.
There are many different types of issues and complaints that employment solicitors deal with. This includes recruitment and contracts of employment, staff handbooks, restrictive covenants, maternity, paternity and other “family friendly” rights such as flexible working, discrimination, whistleblowing, data protection, long-term sick leave, employment status, and redundancy.
Within discrimination, there are nine protected characteristics, namely age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. There might be multiple issues that interrelate and must be addressed to solve the client’s problem.
What Do Employment Lawyers Do?
When an employment lawyer is advising, they will first conduct a review of the evidence. From this review they will set out the options available and provide their opinion on the best option to pursue. Lawyers follow the instructions of clients and are duty bound to represent their client’s best interests, whatever their choice. Pursuing the client’s preferred option might include writing letters to the other side setting out any breaches of legal obligation.
In some situations a strong letter from one of didlaw’s lawyers is all that is necessary to persuade the other side to make amends. Other options can include trying to reach a financial settlement, or litigating the matter through an Employment Tribunal. If your matter does require litigation, didlaw will support and represent you through the process to make sure your claims are best prepared for success in the tribunal.
How to Find The Best Employment Lawyer
The right lawyer for you will likely be based on a few important factors, including experience, cost, and reputation. Some develop sub-specialisms or have specific experience in a specific industry. If you have a relatively simple matter, it might make sense to instruct a more junior solicitor who will help you find the outcome you are looking for in a cost-effective way. Conversely, if you have a complex matter based on an unusual legal point, a senior solicitor will be able to advise on how best to approach it.
A good personal connection and trust between lawyer and client can often be as important as any other factor in reaching the client’s goal. Being friendly and approachable is something we value at didlaw. If you need advice about a situation our team is available to discuss how we might help.
What do Employment Lawyers Deal With?
Employment lawyers deal with issues varying from complex appeal litigation to simple settlement agreements, which require the solicitor to advise the client on the terms and effects of a proposed agreement. Issues that employment solicitors advise on include recruitment and contracts of employment, staff handbooks, restrictive covenants, maternity, paternity and other “family friendly” rights such as flexible working, discrimination, whistleblowing, data protection, long-term sick leave, employment status, and redundancy.
Within discrimination, there are nine protected characteristics, namely age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. There might be multiple issues that interrelate and must be addressed to solve the client’s problem. At didlaw, our solicitors have experience across the full range of employment matters and commonly help people with issues from discrimination to redundancy.
How do I Choose an Employment Solicitor?
Personal recommendations are often the most reliable way to get an idea of whether a lawyer might be suitable for you. Websites that offer reviews of solicitors and law firms can also give you an indication of the experiences that previous clients have had. Do remember that many good firms will not appear on every or any review website, and that reviews can be misleading or out of date. Some firms will offer an initial call with a solicitor, in which you will be able to get a sense of whether that solicitor is the right one for you. Some matters can be dealt with entirely electronically and over the telephone. Many firms now work almost entirely remotely.
Where in person meetings are important to you, you might want to search for local law firms that are easy to travel to and might also be familiar with companies that operate in the local area. Factors such as the cost and experience of the solicitor will always be important to consider, and whether this is proportionate to the complexity of your matter. If you would like a call to discuss how we can assist with your case, our team at didlaw employment lawyers London will be happy to speak with you.