You do not need to be a qualified lawyer to represent somebody at a tribunal. Indeed it is often unnecessary to involve lawyers, and other people such as full-time union officers or advice centre workers can do just as good a job, if not better.
However, you should be wary of the kind of independent advisor who have started to advertise their services in local papers and by other means. They offer to prepare your case and represent you at a tribunal for a fee and/or a cut of your compensation.
While some may be competent, you have absolutely no guarantee that they have any expertise. The government is so concerned at just how badly some advisers serve their clients that they are taking steps to regulate them. These are some of the things you should watch out for:
The best representation you can have at an Employment Tribunal may well be that which is provided by a trained trade union representative. He or she is very likely to have considerable experience of how the tribunals work, will understand workplace issues better and be able to spot errors made by your employer that an outside advisor would probably miss. Surveys have consistently shown that in cases where the Claimant is represented by a trade union, the Claimant is more likely to be successful and will get much better compensation.
If you are not a member of a union, you may be able to get free legal advice from your local Law Centre, if you live in a larger town or city. Otherwise, ACAS can provide advice, though not representation, as can staff at a Citizens Advice Bureau.
If you do want to use a lawyer, make sure you choose one who has direct experience of Employment Tribunal representation (as lawyers often specialise in particular areas of the law). Someone who sold your house may have no experience of employment law.
