Employment Tribunal Claim Filing Checklist

An employment tribunal claim runs on strict deadlines and a required sequence, and getting either wrong can end a good claim before anyone looks at its merits. You must notify Acas for early conciliation before you can lodge, and the whole thing must generally start within three months less one day of the event you are complaining about. There are no fees, and you do not need a solicitor. Use this checklist to get the steps and the timing right.

Acas first, then the claim form

Early conciliation is compulsory, and you cannot lodge a claim without the certificate Acas issues at the end of it. Notifying Acas also pauses the time limit while conciliation runs, which is why doing it early protects your position even if you would rather resolve things internally first. Conciliation itself is voluntary — you can decline to negotiate and take the certificate.

  • Immediately: work out your deadline from the date of dismissal or the act complained of, and notify Acas well before it.
  • Before lodging: get the respondent's correct legal name and address, which is often not the trading name on your payslip, and prepare a clear dated chronology of what happened.
  • With the claim: set out the facts and identify each claim you are bringing. Amending later is possible but needs permission and is not always granted.

Naming the wrong respondent, missing the deadline, or failing to obtain the certificate are the procedural failures that most often sink claims. Check all three before you submit.

There are no fees to bring a claim, and costs orders against unsuccessful claimants are rare, usually reserved for unreasonable conduct. Free representation may be available through a union, a law centre, the Free Representation Unit, or legal expenses cover you already hold on a household policy.

Identifying the claim

0 of 6 complete

ACAS Early Conciliation (mandatory)

0 of 5 complete

Evidence gathering

0 of 7 complete

Filing the ET1

0 of 8 complete

After filing

0 of 7 complete

Helpful organisations

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

Government

Provides free, impartial advice on workplace relations and employment law, and offers early conciliation before tribunal claims.

Visit website0300 123 1100

Employment Tribunal

Tribunal

Hears claims about employment disputes, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, and unpaid wages.

Visit website

Citizens Advice

Charity

Provides free, confidential, and independent advice on a wide range of issues including benefits, housing, debt, and employment.

Visit website0800 144 8848

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my deadline exactly?
For most claims it is three months less one day from the dismissal or the act you are complaining about — so a dismissal on 10 March gives a deadline of 9 June. Notifying Acas stops the clock while conciliation runs and adds time afterwards, but the underlying date is what everything is measured from. Where there is a series of related acts, the position is more complex. If you are close to the limit, notify Acas today and work out the detail after.
What happens after I submit the claim?
The tribunal serves it on the respondent, who has a period to file a response. The tribunal then issues case management orders setting dates for disclosure of documents, an agreed bundle, witness statements and the hearing itself. Comply with every order and every date — failing to do so can lead to a claim being struck out. Many claims settle during this period, and Acas conciliation remains available right up to the hearing.
Do I need a solicitor?
No. Tribunals are designed for people representing themselves, and judges make allowances for that. Free help is available from trade unions for members, law centres, Citizens Advice, and organisations such as the Free Representation Unit. Check whether your household insurance includes legal expenses cover before paying anyone. What matters most is preparation: a clear chronology, organised documents and a witness statement that sticks to the facts.
Could I be ordered to pay the employer's costs?
It is uncommon. The general rule at the tribunal is that each side bears its own costs, and orders are usually made only where a party has behaved unreasonably or pursued a claim with no reasonable prospect of success. That is very different from the county court, where the loser normally pays. Take the risk seriously if your claim is genuinely weak, but do not let a warning letter from an employer's solicitor frighten you out of a legitimate claim.

Related guides

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Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.