Legal Aid Navigator
Employment
Help with problems at work — including dismissal, discrimination, and unpaid wages. This page explains what kind of support exists — it does not tell you what your legal rights are in your own case.
What kind of help is out there?
- Early advice — free, confidential guidance can help you understand your options before a problem gets worse.
- Conciliation — ACAS offers a free service to try to resolve workplace disputes without going to a tribunal.
- Employment tribunal — an independent body that can hear certain workplace disputes, such as unfair dismissal or discrimination claims. There are time limits for making a claim, often just a few months, so it's important to get advice early.
- Legal aid — is rarely available for employment tribunal cases, but free and low-cost advice and representation exist through other routes.
Trusted services
ACAS
Free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice, plus a conciliation service before tribunal claims.
GOV.UK: employment tribunals
Official guidance on how to make a claim to an employment tribunal.
Citizens Advice
Free guidance on workplace problems, dismissal, and your rights as an employee.
Civil Legal Advice
Check if you qualify for legal aid for a discrimination-related employment problem.
Visit Civil Legal Advice (opens in a new tab)
Telephone: 0345 345 4 345
Law centres
Free legal help from local, not-for-profit specialists, some with employment expertise.
A few terms explained
- Unfair dismissal
- A legal claim that an employer ended someone's employment without a fair reason or fair process.
- ACAS early conciliation
- A required step, before most tribunal claims, where ACAS tries to help both sides reach an agreement.
- Employment tribunal
- An independent panel that hears disputes between employers and workers.