Should you choose to instruct us, our fees to represent you are then based on a rate per hour, which you can see as follows:
Occasionally there will be a Trainee Solicitor who will work with one of our Solicitors on your claim. We will notify you of this if this is the case, and their hourly rates are charged at £120 + VAT. Throughout your claim with us you it will also be necessary for you to engage with our Legal Secretary, Sam Grant.
The rates may also vary if you have a legal expenses insurer covering your fees. If this is the case we will agree a rate with the insurer which is negotiated at the outset and typically between £190 and £220 per hour at Partner level plus VAT, and between £160 and £190 plus VAT at Associate and Assistant solicitor level. These rates are lower than private fee rates because of the frequency of instructions and the financial support provided by a major insurer throughout a claim.
Without knowing the details of your particular claim it is difficult to estimate the time that will be involved in representing you, and therefore the overall cost as this will be determined by the complexity of your claim. Based on our years of experience, a typical case of unfair dismissal will incur between £7,000 and £9,000 of our fees plus VAT and advocacy costs over a period of some 9 to 12 months.
At the start of your claim we will provide you with an overview of the work we will be undertaking on your behalf with an estimate timescale and relevant costs taking into account your own particular situation. During your claim, we will stay in contact with you to update you with any developments, as well as any changes that will need further work.
A straight forward claim for unfair dismissal would arise if there are no issues with your length of service or time limits and there are no further applications made after preliminary hearings.
Complications that would increase the time spent on your claim and therefore your overall costs would include:
- If a second preliminary hearing is required.
- If there are other claims, such as discrimination or whistleblowing.
- Where there are applications made to amend the claim.
- Where there are applications to tribunal for specific orders to be made.
- If further hearings are required due to a disability. In this situation, there will be more directions issued by the employment tribunal, as well as the need for medical evidence and expert witnesses.
- If judicial mediation is required.
- If there is an excessive number of witnesses, documents to read or email chains.
- If we need to apply for a reconsideration of the judgment or wish to appeal.