HELP - Free solicitor advise needed

code^express

Are there any moneysaving members who is a solicitor? My husband was dismissed by his formal exployer (county council), his union washed their hands - we are unable to get free legal aid as I understand that it is now scrap!!!

He has to filed his own Employement Tribunal - we don't know what to do next. 2 days ago got a letter from the Tribunal office stating that his ex-employer would like to closed the case under rule 25(4) of schedule 1 of the employment tribunal of procedure regulations 2004 (checked website to find out what the rule was). And he email back to the tribunal stating that he objected to the rule since the bullying & harrassment issues were never fully explored as he was not given the full opportunity to do so at the final internal appeal last Sept 2006.

At the moment he is not working. Would appreciate some advise as to what we should do next after our objection to closing the case.

Thank you very much.

Nile

Hello code^express

Have you contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau yet? Ask to speak to their Employment Law Expert. An alternative option is to ask the CAB for a list of solicitors who provide a pro bono service.

Good luck

Nile

Voyager2002

I am astonished that the Union did not help. Has he contacted head office? It may sometimes happen that local shop stewards may fail to be helpful, but anyone who has paid their union dues can reasonably expect legal advice and representation at an employment tribunal. As a (former) Unison member, I am really astonished about this.

Another possibility: if you have insurance at home it may include a free legal helpline, and perhaps other legal services as well.

Astaroth

Yes, if you have legal expenses insurance on your home insurance then they will represent you if they feel you have a reasonable chance of success

Savvy_Sue

ACAS may be able to help

code^express

Voyager2002 wrote:

I am astonished that the Union did not help. Has he contacted head office? It may sometimes happen that local shop stewards may fail to be helpful, but anyone who has paid their union dues can reasonably expect legal advice and representation at an employment tribunal. As a (former) Unison member, I am really astonished about this.

Another possibility: if you have insurance at home it may include a free legal helpline, and perhaps other legal services as well.

No not HQ it came thru' the regional office & they have read the case & decided not to represent my hubby. Also, found out that they have stopped collecting my hubby's contribution on his pay packet since 2005 which he didn't even know about it. He was on sickness absence & the payroll somehow decided to take the matter without contacting my hubby. The union should have been more proactive. But as far as I am concerned the lady who is in charge of my hubby's case was more concerned with getting along with the council & point scoring against the management with my hubby in the middle as a pawn!!

code^express

Nile wrote:

Hello code^express

Have you contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau yet? Ask to speak to their Employment Law Expert. An alternative option is to ask the CAB for a list of solicitors who provide a pro bono service.

Good luck

Nile

yes, he has, the CAB did give us some phone numbers to contact. But all the solicitor we have spoke to, will charge us for any consultation fee & there is no guarantee on no win no fee and with me the sole bread winner & 3 young kids we cannot afford to do that.

digp

try the Free Rep Unit in London / Birmingham.

Astaroth

code^express wrote:

the lady who is in charge of my hubby's case was more concerned with getting along with the council & point scoring against the management

Ahhh.... so a perfectly normal union then?

Good to see they havent changed since the one time I worked for a company that had unions 10 years ago

code^express

To cut the long story short.

My hubby is on sickness benefit (depression all because of one principal officer giving him hell!! they worked together for a while when he started with the council 14 yrs ago, the P/O got promoted to another dept, than came back to my hubby's department in 2002 & that is where things started to get worse...., hubby couldn't take it anymore - panic button all the time.... P/O really make his working life hell) now, and we also get 1 parent working tax credit all in all I can understand why there are so many people out there not willing to look for job from scratch b'cos they will get more money from the benefit & tax credit than working for £5.00 an hour!!

I am not use to having hubby not working. But when I read about all these so call asylum seeker, etc in the paper claiming benefits demanding housing and get as much as they can from tax payer, why shouldn't we!