Employment Law Pricing.
What it costs to bring an unfair or wrongful dismissal claim in the employment tribunal, with clear bands and a written estimate at the outset.
Fees last reviewed June 2026
The cost of bringing a claim
This page covers what it costs to bring an unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal claim in the employment tribunal. We agree the likely cost with you at the start and confirm it in writing, so there are no surprises. What you pay depends on how complex the claim is and how far it goes. We charge for the time your case takes; our hourly rates currently range from £165 to £325 plus VAT (£198 to £390 including VAT), depending on who handles it.
These figures apply to unfair and wrongful dismissal. Other claims — such as discrimination or whistleblowing — vary too much to band in advance, so we give you a separate written estimate for those.
What it costs
A straightforward claim with a final hearing of one to two days.
A claim with more evidence and a hearing of three to five days.
A heavily contested claim with several witnesses and a hearing of six days or more.
We will tell you which band your claim falls into once we have the details, and confirm the estimate in writing.
What affects the cost
The main things that move a claim up or down the range are: the number of witnesses; the volume of documents; whether there are preliminary hearings; whether the claim settles early; and any postponements. A claim that settles at the conciliation stage usually costs considerably less than one that runs to a full hearing.
What is included
Our fees cover taking your instructions and advising on the merits; the ACAS early conciliation stage; preparing and issuing your claim; exchanging documents and witness statements; preparing a schedule of loss; and preparing for and representing you at the final hearing.
What is not included
Our fees do not include a barrister’s fees where one is instructed (see disbursements), the cost of any appeal, or any claim other than unfair or wrongful dismissal.
Disbursements
- Brief fee (preparation and the first day of the hearing) — typically £1,000–£3,000 plus VAT.
- Daily fee for each further hearing day — typically £750–£1,500 plus VAT.
Key stages
- Initial advice We assess the claim and advise on your prospects.
- Early conciliation We deal with the ACAS process and any settlement talks.
- Issuing the claim We prepare and submit your claim form.
- Evidence We exchange documents and prepare witness statements.
- Preparing for the hearing We prepare the bundle and the schedule of loss.
- Final hearing We represent you, or instruct a barrister to.
How long it takes
A claim that settles at the conciliation stage is often resolved within 4 to 8 weeks. A claim that runs to a final hearing typically takes 6 to 18 months, and longer for the most complex claims, because of the time the tribunals currently take to list hearings.
If you are ever unhappy with our service, our client care and complaints page explains how to raise it.
The services these fees cover
Unfair & Wrongful Dismissal
Being dismissed without a fair reason or proper process, or in breach of your contract.
Learn more →Constructive Dismissal
Resigning because your employer’s conduct left you no real choice.
Learn more →Employment Tribunal Representation
Representation in preparing and presenting your claim at the tribunal.
Learn more →Who will do your work
Your matter is handled by an experienced member of our team and supervised by a senior solicitor. Here is who you would be working with.
Talk to us about your matter
Confidential, no pressure, and we will explain what is involved before you commit to anything.