AI-compiled ET1 form. No solicitor. No mistakes.

The ET1 is the form you use to start an employment tribunal claim. You submit it online or by post after ACAS early conciliation, quoting your ACAS certificate number, and it must arrive within the time limit: usually three months less one day from the dismissal or act, or six months less one day if it was on or after 1 October 2026.

What is an ET1 form?

The ET1 is the claim form used to start a case at the Employment Tribunal in England, Scotland, and Wales. It asks for your personal details, your employer's details, the grounds of your claim, and the remedy (compensation) you are seeking. You must submit it online via the Employment Tribunals Service (MyHMCTS) or by post.

What is the deadline for submitting an ET1?

You generally have 3 months less one day (6 months less one day for dismissals and acts on or after 1 October 2026) from the date of the act you are complaining about — for example, the date you were dismissed. Before you can submit an ET1, you must first notify ACAS for early conciliation, which can extend the deadline. Missing the deadline is almost always fatal to your claim, so act quickly.

Do I need a solicitor to complete an ET1?

No. Many claimants represent themselves (known as litigants in person). However, the form requires precise legal framing — vague or incomplete answers weaken your case. Start My Claim's AI compiles your ET1 section by section using the facts you've provided, giving you a professionally structured claim without paying solicitor rates.

What happens after I submit an ET1?

The tribunal sends a copy to your employer (the respondent), who must file an ET3 response form within 28 days. A case management hearing is then usually listed to agree the issues in dispute, the evidence timetable, and a final hearing date. The full process typically takes 6–18 months.

Can I amend my ET1 after submitting it?

Yes, but only with the tribunal's permission. Amendments are not automatic and the tribunal will weigh whether allowing the change is fair to the respondent. This is why getting the ET1 right first time matters — Start My Claim's AI guides you through every section to reduce the need for costly amendments.

What claims can I include on an ET1?

You can include any employment law claim: unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, discrimination (age, disability, race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy/maternity), harassment, whistleblowing, unpaid wages, holiday pay, notice pay, redundancy pay, and more. You can combine multiple claims on a single ET1.

Time limit for an unfair dismissal claim

Cap on a week's pay (dismissals from 6 April 2026)

Maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal (or 52 weeks' pay, if lower)

ET1 Claim Form Builder — Start My Claim

AI-compiled ET1 Employment Tribunal claim form, one-off per case

AI-powered ET1 form builder for Employment Tribunal claims in England, Scotland, and Wales. Compiles your ET1 section by section from your case facts.

AI-compiled ET1 form. No solicitor. No mistakes.

Getting it wrong can end your claim before it starts. Start My Claim's AI compiles your claim form section by section from your case facts, giving you a professionally structured ET1 ready to submit via MyHMCTS.

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Free to start · ET1 included in Build from per case

Figures checked 30 September 2026.

The ET1 is harder than it looks

Tribunals see thousands of poorly drafted ET1s every year. Vague grounds of complaint, missing dates, wrong claim types, and incomplete remedy sections are among the most common reasons cases fail before they even get to a hearing.

The deadline: 3 or 6 months

You have 3 months less one day (6 months less one day for dismissals and acts on or after 1 October 2026) from dismissal or the discriminatory act. Miss it — even by one day — and the tribunal will almost certainly reject your claim.

Legal framing matters

The ET1 asks you to state the acts complained of and the legal basis. Getting this wrong — or being too vague — gives the respondent's lawyers grounds to argue your claim doesn't disclose a cause of action.

Remedy is routinely underestimated

Most claimants understate their financial losses. The Schedule of Loss and remedy section must itemise every head of loss — basic award, compensatory award, notice pay, and injury to feelings if applicable.

How Start My Claim builds your ET1

AI-guided, section by section — from your facts to a submission-ready claim form.

Tell us what happened

Complete a structured interview about your employment, the events leading to your claim, and what you want the tribunal to award. Plain English — no legal jargon required.

AI analyses your case

Start My Claim identifies the correct legal grounds (unfair dismissal, discrimination, wrongful dismissal, etc.), checks your time limits, and maps your facts to the relevant sections of the ET1.

Your ET1 is compiled

The AI drafts every section — particulars of claim, acts complained of, dates, remedy sought — in the precise legal language tribunals expect. You review, adjust, and submit.

Supporting documents

Your ET1 comes with a companion Schedule of Loss, a Chronology of Events, and your Witness Statement — everything you need for a complete, professional tribunal submission.

What's included with Build

One-off payment. Your case data never expires.

A fraction of solicitor costs

Employment solicitor

A full ET1 and supporting documents typically takes 8–15 hours of a solicitor's time: £1,600–£6,000.

AI-compiled ET1, witness statement, schedule of loss, and 8 more documents. No hourly billing.

ET1 form — common questions

Make an employment tribunal claim

The whole process, the free tools and what a claim can be worth.

If your employer won’t take part in ACAS

You can still get your certificate and file your ET1.

ACAS early conciliation

Mandatory first step before submitting ET1.

Employment tribunal time limit

Know your deadline and how to extend it.

What to bring to tribunal

Documents and evidence you'll need.

Don't miss your deadline.

Start your free assessment now — find out if you have a case and get your ET1 deadline tracked automatically.

Check what your case is worth — free

Your claim, estimated

What could you actually be owed?

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Sources: Employment Rights Act 1996 · ACAS guidance · GOV.UK Employment Tribunals