Employment disputes can be stressful, disruptive and financially draining. They often arise at a time when your employment may be at risk or after it has ended. Even strong claims require specialist legal advice, with legal costs frequently running into thousands of pounds.
If you have been unfairly or wrongfully dismissed, subjected to discrimination or harassment at work, or dismissed after raising whistleblowing concerns, it is important to know that financial support may already be available to you.
Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI) can protect individuals by funding legal advice and representation, allowing employment claims to be pursued without the burden of legal fees.
Funding your Employment Law Claim
There are a number of ways in which we can help you resolve an employment law dispute with your employer, or pursue a claim against an organisation in the employment tribunal or civil court.
The good news is most people in the UK have LEI in place without knowing
It is commonly included within everyday financial products, such as:
- Home contents or buildings insurance
- Car or motorbike insurance policies
- Premium or Private bank accounts and credit cards
Where a policy provides cover for employment disputes, it may support a claim from start to finish, including:
- Legal advice and representation throughout the claim
- Barrister’s fees and expert reports
LEI does not affect any compensation you may be awarded. Instead, it protects you from having to fund legal costs personally while your claim is pursued.
Insurers will usually only fund cases with a reasonable prospect of success, typically assessed as a 51% chance or higher. The level of cover may also be capped at the potential value of the claim. For example, where a claim is valued at £75,000, insurers may limit funding to that amount even if the policy provides for a higher overall limit.
Employers often have access to in-house legal teams, insurance backed defence costs or greater financial resources. LEI can therefore play an important role in protecting your position and helping to level the playing field, ensuring you have appropriate legal support throughout the process.
Not sure if you have cover? Taylor Emmet can help review your policies
Taylor Emmet regularly advises individuals on employment disputes and is happy to review insurance policies to assess whether Legal Expenses Insurance cover is available. Where appropriate, we can liaise directly with insurers and provide clear advice on the options open to you.
If you believe you have been treated unfairly at work, it is important to check your insurance position at an early stage and seek legal advice to ensure your interests are properly protected.
To discuss your situation or to arrange a review of your insurance cover, please contact Taylor Emmet’s Employment Client Services team for confidential, initial advice.
Alternative Funding Options
If legal expenses insurance is not available, there are still options for funding your employment law claim. We can support you in resolving a dispute with your employer or pursuing a claim in the Employment Tribunal or civil courts through alternative funding arrangements.
Fixed Price Employment Advice
For many cases, we can provide an initial meeting at a discounted fee of £150 plus VAT to discuss your employment concerns and identify the steps you can take to resolve them. During the meeting, we will review any documentation you have received from your employer and provide you with verbal advice outlining the options available to you.
Hourly Rate
Alternatively, you may choose to instruct a solicitor on an hourly rate, which varies depending on experience and seniority. It secures you comprehensive assistance from day one, but you will need to consider whether the cost of proceeding with a claim outweighs the value of it.
