Trainee Solicitor
Elisha Luckman
Elisha Luckman is a Trainee Solicitor in our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team.
Employment Law
Employment Tribunal Prices
We advise and represent employees bringing, and employers defending, claims for unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal before the Employment Tribunal. The prices below are estimates of our legal fees for the work described. They are not a quotation for every case. Once we understand your circumstances, we will explain the likely overall cost of your matter and how it will be charged.
Our legal fees
We charge on an hourly basis. Where we charge by the hour, the rates are:
- Partner - £475 plus VAT ;
- Senior Associate - £375 plus VAT;
- Associate - £325 plus VAT;
- Trainee Solicitor - £215 plus VAT.
We will tell you who is likely to work on your matter before you instruct us.
Our hourly rates are reviewed periodically and VAT is charged at the prevailing rate (currently 20%).
Estimated Total Legal Costs
| Type of case | Employee: bringing a claim | Employer: defending a claim |
|---|---|---|
| Complex | £40,000 to £60,000 plus VAT | £40,000 to £60,000 plus VAT |
| Moderately complex | £20,000 to £40,000 plus VAT | £20,000 to £40,000 plus VAT |
| Straightforward | £10,000 to £20,000 plus VAT | £10,000 to £20,000 plus VAT |
These ranges cover our legal fees for the work listed under “What our fees include”, from initial advice through to the end of a final Employment Tribunal hearing lasting up to 5 days. They do not include the third-party costs or additional work identified below.
The likely fee depends on the work required. A straightforward case might involve one claimant, a limited number of documents and witnesses, no preliminary hearing and a one-day final hearing. Costs may rise if there are substantial documents or several witnesses; disputes about employment status or time limits; applications or preliminary hearings; counterclaims; additional allegations such as discrimination or whistleblowing; amendments; or a longer hearing. We will explain where your case is likely to fall within the published range and update our estimate if its scope changes.
What our fees include
For an employee bringing a claim, the stated fees include, where required: taking instructions and reviewing the principal documents; advising on merits, likely compensation and settlement; assisting with Acas early conciliation; preparing and submitting the claim; reviewing the employer’s response; dealing with routine correspondence and case-management directions; preparing the documents and witness evidence for the hearing; preparing for the final hearing; and liaising with a barrister for the hearing.
For an employer defending a claim, the stated fees include, where required: taking instructions and reviewing the principal documents; advising on merits, financial exposure and settlement; assisting with Acas early conciliation if applicable; preparing and submitting the response; reviewing the employee’s claim; dealing with routine correspondence and case-management directions; preparing the documents and witness evidence for the hearing; preparing for the final hearing; and liaising with a barrister for the hearing.
For either party, we can discuss settlement and negotiate on your behalf at relevant stages. A case that settles early will usually cost less than one that proceeds to a final hearing, although the amount saved depends on when it settles and the work already completed.
Additional Costs
Our displayed fees do not include counsel’s fees; additional hearing days; expert evidence; mediation; separate discrimination or whistleblowing claims; substantial applications or preliminary hearings; an appeal or enforcement. If any of that work becomes necessary, we will discuss its scope and likely cost with you before carrying it out.
Disbursement (Third-party costs)
Third-party costs, sometimes called disbursements, are payments to others involved in your case. They are additional to our legal fees unless we expressly say otherwise.
| Likely cost | Estimated amount |
|---|---|
| Barrister’s advice or drafting, if instructed | £1,500 to £5,000 plus VAT |
| Barrister’s attendance at a final hearing | £3,000 to £6,000 plus VAT per day |
There is currently no fee to submit a claim to the Employment Tribunal. Other expenses, such as witness expenses, may arise depending on the case; we will identify likely costs when assessing your matter.
The fees above do not include any settlement payment, compensation award or adverse costs order. We will advise you separately about the potential financial risks relevant to your case.
Likely Stages and timescales
The stages and indicative time from instruction are:
| Stage | What usually happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment | We review the main documents, take instructions and advise on options | 2 weeks |
| Early conciliation | We assist with the Acas process, if applicable, and explore settlement | 12 weeks |
| Claim and response | We prepare and submit the claim or response, as appropriate | 4 weeks |
| Case preparation | We deal with directions, documents, witness statements and hearing preparation | 12 months |
| Final hearing and outcome | The Tribunal hears the case and communicates its decision | Usually 12 to 30 months from commencing proceedings, subject to the Tribunal’s timetable |
These are indicative periods, not guaranteed completion dates. Tribunal listing, the number of witnesses, the length of the hearing and any applications can affect the timetable. If you are considering bringing a claim, contact us promptly: strict time limits apply, and the applicable deadline must be checked for your particular claim.
Who will work on your case
Your matter will be handled by Satbir Singh Choudry, Partner, who has around 13 years of Employment Law experience and Elisha Luckman, Trainee Solicitor, may also carry out work on your case with Satbir’s supervision.
We do not offer conditional fee or damages-based agreements for this work.
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