How long does Acas early conciliation take?
Short answer
Up to six weeks. Notifying Acas pauses your tribunal time limit for that period, and if conciliation ends without agreement you receive a certificate and then have one calendar month — or the remaining original time if longer — to submit your ET1 claim form. The service is free.
Early Conciliation is a compulsory step before most employment tribunal claims: without an Acas EC certificate number, the tribunal will reject your ET1. The conciliation window itself runs for up to six weeks, and it is free and confidential.
What the clock does
Most tribunal claims must be presented within three months less one day of the act complained of. Notifying Acas stops that clock for the length of conciliation, and when the certificate is issued you have one calendar month from that date — or whatever remains of your original period, if that is longer — to file. Notify Acas early rather than at the end of the three months: the pause only protects time you still have.
How the process actually feels
- You notify Acas online or by phone. You do not need a solicitor, and many claimants run the whole process themselves.
- A conciliator speaks to each side separately. You never have to negotiate face to face with your employer, and Acas takes no side — it neither judges your claim nor advises you on its strength.
- Participation is voluntary. If your employer refuses to engage, Acas simply issues the certificate and you proceed to the ET1. Their refusal is not evidence against them, though conduct can matter in any costs application.
If you settle: the COT3
Any agreement is normally recorded on a COT3, which is a legally binding contract. Unlike a settlement agreement, a COT3 does not require you to take independent legal advice before signing — which cuts both ways. Read it closely, because once signed you cannot bring a tribunal claim about the matters it covers, and settlements often use wide wording covering "all claims" arising from the employment.
Early Conciliation applies to discrimination claims under the Equality Act 2010 in exactly the same way as to unfair dismissal or unpaid wages claims. For complex cases — discrimination, whistleblowing, or anything involving substantial sums — get advice before agreeing figures, from a trade union, a law centre or Citizens Advice. Remember too that going to tribunal costs nothing in fees, so a low offer should be weighed against a free hearing rather than against the risk of a bill.
Related guides
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.
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Tribunal compensation is not a lump sum a judge picks. It is built from defined components, each with its own formula, and then adjusted up or down by a short list of statutory and case-law rules before any cap is applied. Understanding that sequence is what lets you draft a realistic schedule of loss, judge whether a settlement offer is fair, and avoid the two commonest mistakes — assuming the headline cap is what you will get, and forgetting that failing to look for work can cut your award to almost nothing. This guide sets out how each element is calculated for claims in England, Wales, and Scotland.
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