Why pay £30,000 for what we offer for £179?
Both employment tribunal and small claims court are designed for self-representation. Here’s what a UK solicitor charges — and what you get for a fraction of the price.
Initial advice / case assessment
ET1 claim form drafted
ACAS Early Conciliation guidance
Witness statements drafted
Document bundle preparation
Hearing-day preparation kit
Cross-examination questions
Total (case to final hearing)
Letter Before Action drafted
N1 claim form drafted
Witness statement drafted
Defendant response analysis
Solicitor costs recovered if you win
Total (build & file your claim)
Total (full case end-to-end)
for what we offer for
Both employment tribunal and small claims court are designed for self-representation. Here’s what a UK solicitor charges — and what you get for a fraction of the price.
What employment lawyers actually charge.
Specialist employment solicitors typically charge £250–£500 per hour. A defended unfair-dismissal case to a final hearing can run to
in legal fees, win or lose. Here’s the line-by-line picture.
Solicitor figures based on 2024–25 published rates from regional and national employment law firms (Harper James, Lewis Silkin, regional ET specialists). Your case may be cheaper or more expensive depending on complexity, region, and your firm’s billing model.
The small claims track is designed without solicitors.
Small claims track has a £10,000 limit, and crucially, the rules
don’t allow you to recover solicitor costs from the loser
. So even if you win, your solicitor bill is yours to absorb. That’s why most small-claims litigants represent themselves — and increasingly use tools like ours to do it well.
Where each option wins
We’re honest about what we don’t do.
Solicitors aren’t obsolete — they’re right for some cases. Here’s where each option genuinely wins.
Solicitor vs DIY — the honest answers.
Start free. Decide later.
Two minutes to a free case assessment. No card needed. We tell you honestly whether DIY is right for your situation — and refer you out if it isn’t.
| What you need | Start My Claim | A typical solicitor |
|---|---|---|
| Initial advice / case assessment | Free — unlimited | £250–£500/hour |
| ET1 claim form drafted | Included | £800–£2,500 |
| Schedule of Loss | Included | £500–£1,500 |
| ACAS Early Conciliation guidance | Included | £300–£800 |
| Witness statements drafted | Included | £500–£1,500 each |
| Document bundle preparation | Included | £800–£2,500 |
| Hearing-day preparation kit | Included | £1,000+ per session |
| Cross-examination questions | Included | £600–£1,500 |
| Total (case to PH) | £99 (one-off) or £39/mo | £10,000–£20,000 |
| Total (case to final hearing) | £179 (one-off) or £39/mo | £40,000–£100,000 |