The Employment Tribunal Process: Step by Step

The Employment Tribunal Process: Step by Step

The employment tribunal is a specialist court that deals exclusively with employment law disputes.

Before You Issue a Claim: Early Conciliation

Before you can submit a claim to the employment tribunal, you must first notify Acas and give Early Conciliation a chance to resolve the dispute. This is a mandatory step. If Early Conciliation does not resolve the matter, Acas issues a certificate with a unique reference number. You cannot submit your tribunal claim without this number.

Submitting Your Claim: The ET1

The claim is submitted on form ET1 through the employment tribunal portal. The tribunal fee was abolished in 2017. There is currently no fee to submit a claim.

The Response: ET3

The employer has 28 days to respond using form ET3.

The Hearing

Employment tribunal hearings take place before a panel of up to three: an Employment Judge and up to two lay members. The hearing follows this order: claimant presents their case, respondent presents their case, both parties make closing submissions, then the tribunal deliberates.

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This article provides general legal information only. It is not formal legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client or barrister-client relationship. If you need advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a qualified legal professional.