Legal aid and sources of advice for employment matters

Legal aid may be available to people on low incomes for discrimination matters

Legal aid funding is only available for employment cases involving discrimination.  To get legal aid, you will need to pass both a merits test (that the case has prospects of success) and a means test.  To pass the means test your gross monthly income (or combined income if you have a partner) must be not more than £2,657 before tax. (If you have more than 4 child dependants, add £222 to this figure for the fifth child and each further child). Your net income (after tax, housing and other costs) must be no more than £733 per month.  If you have savings (or combined savings if you have a partner) of more than £8,000 you won’t get legal aid. If you have more than £3,000 in savings you are likely to have to make a contribution towards your legal costs. 

You can check eligibility online here.

To apply for legal aid for employment cases you must contact the Civil Legal Advice (CLA) service.  You can do so by telephoning 0345 345 4345.  You can also text ‘legalaid’ and your name to 80010 to ask CLA to call you back. This costs the same as a normal text message. The CLA will check if you are eligible and then refer you either to one of their specialist providers, or to an external adviser (local law centre or solicitor’s firm). 

Other sources of legal advice for employment issues

• If you are a Trade Union member, you should be able to get assistance and advice from your Union. If you are bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal, the Union can assess your case, and may offer representation funded by the Union. (This is one of many good reasons to join a union.) 
• If you are a member of a professional association, such as the British Medical Association, or the Federation of Small Businesses, your membership may include some legal expenses insurance, or other support in the event of an employment dispute.  
• You may have Legal Expenses Insurance through an insurance policy which you have signed up to, such as household contents/building insurance, or as as a benefit which comes with your bank account. You should check your insurance and banking documents, or contact your insurer or bank, to find out whether LEI is included. 
• Some charities or advice centres might be able to help you with free legal advice on employment law matters. You can find out if you have a Law Centre near you on the Law Centre website. 
• The Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) runs a helpline which advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. It can also accept referrals from organisations which, due to capacity or funding issues, are unable to provide face to face advice to local users of their services. 
• Acas helpline advisers give some information on how the Employment Tribunal process works, but they cannot give legal advice. See the Acas website.
• Gingerbread provides information to help single parents support themselves and their family, including in relation to some issues at work, and benefits. Visit the Gingerbread website.
• YESS Law has employment lawyers who provide “affordable” legal advice to employees and employers to settle workplace disputes. You can find out more on the YESS Law website. 

Further help 

Here is a short video about the Employment Tribunal process, and what to expect, particularly if you are going to have a “remote” hearing, meaning a video hearing: