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If you want to discuss a particular service or need help, call us on (0247) 6641642.

Employment Law Fees

One of the main reasons people are reluctant to seek legal advice is due to concerns about high fees. At Cocks Lloyd Solicitors Ltd, we are fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which means we are legally required to be transparent about our pricing. Below, you will find comprehensive information about our pricing for Employment Law matters.

Employment Law Fees

If you have any enquiries, feel free to contact us at (0247) 6641642 or send us a message through the contact page.

Partner/Solicitor’s Rates

The hourly rate applied depends on the qualification and experience of your Solicitor. These rates are outlined below:

  • Partner/Member Solicitor: £250
  • Senior Solicitor or Head of Dept: (PQE 8yr+) £250
  • Assistant Solicitor/Fee Earner: (PQE 3/7yr) £20
  • NQ Fee Earner: (PQE 1/3yr) £180

VAT

All fees are quoted exclusive of VAT. We will charge VAT at the standard rate applied by the government, which is currently 20%.

Pricing

Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal is as follows:

  • Simple case: £2,000-£6,000 (excluding VAT and disbursements)
  • Medium complexity case: £6,000-£10,000 (excluding VAT and disbursements)
  • High complexity case: £10,000+ (excluding VAT and disbursements)

Factors that could make a case more complex:

  • If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
  • Defending claims brought by litigants in person
  • Dealing with claims where the other side (or their representative) is not proactive in responding to correspondence or complying with directions orders
  • Making or defending a costs application
  • Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties), an application for interim relief, or the admissibility of documents
  • The number of witnesses and documents
  • If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim, e.g. if you are dismissed after whistleblowing
  • Allegations of discrimination linked to the dismissal
  • Multiple claims

There will be an additional charge for attending an Employment Tribunal Hearing. We generally instruct counsel to attend hearings on your behalf, and we typically allow 1-10 days depending on the complexity of your case.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as counsel’s fees or travel/accommodation expenses. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Counsel’s fees are estimated to be between £750 to £3,000 + VAT per day for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation), depending on the experience of the Advocate. These are not included in the fee estimates above.

Key Stages

The fees outlined above cover all work concerning the following key stages of a claim:

  • Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers, and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change).
  • Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached.
  • Preparing the claim or response.
  • Reviewing and advising on the claim or response from the other party.
  • Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process.
  • Preparing or considering a schedule of loss.
  • Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing.
  • Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing on a bundle of documents.
  • Taking witness statements, drafting statements, and obtaining witnesses’ agreement on the contents of their statements.
  • Preparing the document bundles.
  • Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements.
  • Agreeing on a list of issues, chronology, and/or cast list.
  • Preparation and attendance at the Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel.

The stages outlined above are only an indication of what may be required. If some stages are not necessary, the fee will be adjusted accordingly. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only seek our advice for certain stages. This can be arranged based on your individual needs.

How Long Will My Matter Take?

The time it takes from receiving your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter largely depends on the stage at which your case is resolved and the Tribunal in which proceedings have been issued.

If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take between 1 day and 45 days. If your claim proceeds to a final hearing, your case is likely to take 26-52 weeks. This is just an estimate, and we will provide you with a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.

For expert advice and representation on employment law matters, we are always ready to help.

If you have any enquiries, feel free to contact us at (0247) 6641642 or send us a message through the contact page.