PRELIMINARY MATTERS

• A claim on an employment issue has to be brought within three months from the event e.g. a dismissal
• In most cases, ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) muyst be contracted within this time for early conciliation to see if there can be a resolution. Only if the matter cannot be resolved can a claim be issued
• Most claimants obtain advice on the strength of the case before issuing a claim. Advice can be obtained from a specialist lawyer or a trade union
• The claim must set out detailed reasons for the action and must be filed with the tribunal within the time limit. Unlike a court claim, there is no fee involved. The claim will be passed to the employer who will have the opportunity to make comment on it