Employment Tribunal No Win No Fee Checker UK 2025
Employment tribunal claims are free to bring — there are no court fees. But instructing a solicitor on a conditional fee agreement (No Win No Fee) is the main route for most claimants who want legal representation. This checker assesses whether your claim is strong enough to attract No Win No Fee representation and estimates what it could be worth.
Employment tribunals are free to use — no court fees. ACAS early conciliation is mandatory before filing. Time limit: 3 months minus 1 day from dismissal (ACAS pauses clock). Basic award capped at £643/week × max 20 years. Compensatory award capped at £115,115 (2025/26) for unfair dismissal — no cap for discrimination or whistleblowing.
Employment Tribunal Compensation — What You Can Win
| Claim type | Award components | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Unfair dismissal | Basic award + compensatory award | Compensatory: £115,115. Basic: max £19,290 |
| Discrimination | Financial loss + injury to feelings (Vento bands) + aggravated damages | Uncapped |
| Whistleblowing (auto unfair) | Basic + compensatory (uncapped) + interim relief possible | Uncapped |
| Wrongful dismissal | Notice pay + contractual benefits | No ET cap (over £25,000 goes to High Court) |
| Unlawful deduction of wages | Amount unlawfully deducted | Uncapped |
| Constructive dismissal | As unfair dismissal + injury to feelings if linked to discrimination | Same as unfair dismissal unless discrimination |
Injury to Feelings — Vento Bands 2025/26
In discrimination claims, compensation for injury to feelings is assessed using the Vento bands:
- Lower band: £1,100 – £11,200 — less serious cases, one-off acts
- Middle band: £11,200 – £33,700 — serious cases not in the top band
- Upper band: £33,700 – £56,200 — most serious cases, sustained campaigns
- Exceptional cases can exceed £56,200
ACAS Early Conciliation — Why It Matters
Before filing an ET1 claim form, you must notify ACAS and give them a chance to facilitate settlement. This is mandatory. ACAS contacts both parties and offers free conciliation. The EC period (up to 6 weeks) pauses your tribunal time limit entirely. After EC ends (either settlement or ACAS certificate), you have the time remaining on your original deadline or one calendar month — whichever is longer. Start EC as early as possible to maximise negotiating time without risking your deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — tribunals are specifically designed to be accessible to unrepresented claimants (litigants in person). Judges are required to assist unrepresented parties understand procedure. Many simple unfair dismissal or wages claims are brought without solicitors. However, for complex discrimination claims, whistleblowing cases, or where significant sums are at stake, professional representation significantly improves outcomes.
A Calderbank offer is a settlement offer made on a without-prejudice save as to costs basis. If you reject it and go on to win less at tribunal than the offer, the tribunal may order you to pay the employer's costs from the date of the offer. Employment tribunals rarely award costs (unlike civil courts), but a Calderbank offer is a significant factor. Always take legal advice before rejecting a settlement offer.