Employment Tribunal vs ACAS vs County Court

Different employment claims go to different forums. Choosing correctly affects time, cost, evidence rules, and remedies. This comparison helps you decide.

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Feature	Employment Tribunal	ACAS	County Court
What it does	Hears statutory employment claims	Conciliation between employee and employer	Civil claims including breach of employment contract
Common claims	Unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages, holiday pay	Pre-Tribunal mandatory and ongoing dispute resolution	Breach of contract, wrongful dismissal damages over £25,000
Time limit	3 months less 1 day from incident	Within Tribunal time limit; pauses Tribunal clock	6 years from breach
Fees	Free since 2017	Free	£35-£10,000+ depending on claim value
Legal representation	Permitted; free options via FRU/Bar Pro Bono/unions	Not required	Strongly advised for larger claims
Decision	Tribunal judgment — binding	COT3 settlement agreement — binding if signed	County Court judgment — binding
Compensation cap	£105,707 or 52 weeks' pay (unfair dismissal); unlimited (discrimination)	Negotiated by parties	No cap (limited to actual loss + interest)
Costs orders	Rare — only for unreasonable conduct	None — no formal process	Loser-pays in most cases above £10,000

ACAS Early Conciliation is mandatory before bringing a Tribunal claim. The County Court route is rarely used in practice except for high-value wrongful dismissal claims; statutory employment claims must go to the Tribunal.

Related guides

Employment Tribunal Basics

The Employment Tribunal is an independent judicial body that resolves disputes between workers and employers. It is less formal than a civil court but follows strict procedures and deadlines. This guide walks you through the key steps.

8 min

Acas Early Conciliation

Before you can make most types of employment tribunal claim, you must first contact Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) and go through Early Conciliation (EC). This is a free, confidential service that gives you and your employer an opportunity to resolve the dispute without going to tribunal. EC is mandatory, but participation is voluntary — neither side is required to reach an agreement, and you receive a certificate to file your tribunal claim if EC concludes without settlement.

7 min

Unfair Dismissal Overview

Being dismissed from a job is stressful. If your employer lacked a valid reason or did not follow a fair procedure, you may have been unfairly dismissed and be entitled to compensation. This guide explains the law and what to do.

8 min

Workplace Discrimination

The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of nine protected characteristics. Discrimination can take many forms — direct, indirect, harassment, and victimisation. Understanding what is unlawful and how to challenge it is essential for protecting your rights at work.

8 min read

Employment Tribunal Evidence Rules: Disclosure, Witness Statements, and Bundles

Most Employment Tribunal cases are decided on documents and witness evidence, not legal argument. Getting evidence preparation right is the single biggest factor in success. This guide walks through the disclosure obligations, how to prepare witness statements, what goes in the hearing bundle, and the practical tips that distinguish winning cases from losing ones.

11 min

Disclaimer

The information on this page was correct at the time of writing. Amounts, thresholds, and rules may change. Always check the latest official guidance.