Employment Law Solicitor

Saphire23

Can anyone recommend a good Employment Law Solicitor particularly one who has dealt with Civil Service Dismissals. Please PM me if it is not allowed to be posted on site. I have just had a terrible Disciplinary Hearing and I don't hold much hope for my job.

The Decision manager introduced new evidence during the meeting that I had not the chance to review. I was completely flummoxed.
I am getting the decision letter on Monday 8 December 2014. I thought it would be good to see an Employment Law Solicitor this week, but not sure how to seek a good one out.

cr1mson

Do you have legal cover on your home insurance?

Saphire23

Yes I have., need to check just make sure. Also I forgot to add that I am based in London

cr1mson

Have you spoken to your insurance company? Even if reluctant to use them for whole process they could give you an initital idea.

Are you a member of a union? Can they give you reccommendations?

Saphire23

Union rep said to wait til the informal process is completed. I have been advised to word my Appeal very carefully by my union legal phone advice line so I need to scope out a solicitor ready for next week when I receive theme Decision letter.

I will speak to my insurance people

Saphire23

Thank you Crimson!!

Takeaway_Addict

Ummm you do realise that if you use a solicitor your union will not support you on this matter any further?

And you say informal? Is this for an informal warning or is it one of the formal warnings.

Another_not_new_user

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Ummm you do realise that if you use a solicitor your union will not support you on this matter any further?

Agreed. And you need to stick with your union for one very good reason - they may well be the ONLY people who can help you. The majority of civil servants are Crown Servants - they have very limited employment rights especially in relation to dismissal, and so you may not even be able to make a claim to a tribunal. Few external solicitors would be aware of this or of the special circumstances of Crown Servants, who are not actually even employees! Your union and their lawyers will be the acknowledged experts in this field.

Bonzo175

I recently worked for an agency and because (in their opinion) I hadn't signed in or out correctly (which I was not told about) they have refused to pay me for the shift that I worked.
I have tried ACAS but the agency ignored their e.mails & phone calls and I'm still left without being paid for an 8 hour shift.
Anybody enlighten me as to what I can do ?

Takeaway_Addict

Bonzo175 wrote: »

I recently worked for an agency and because (in their opinion) I hadn't signed in or out correctly (which I was not told about) they have refused to pay me for the shift that I worked.
I have tried ACAS but the agency ignored their e.mails & phone calls and I'm still left without being paid for an 8 hour shift.
Anybody enlighten me as to what I can do ?

Start a new thread ideally.

Though, if you can prove you did the shift then a small claims court would probably be your easiest option (after a letter before action).

badskindollheart

I assume you're in PCS, if so, when PCS Legal represent you they use Thompsons Solicitors.

As you've found PCS Legal won't represent you if you already have cover through your home insurance, but given that they use Thompsons this may be your best choice.

I'm confused by your mention of informal processes - if it's gone to a decision maker, then surely you are at the formal stage? Is this at the Grievance stage, and you think you will progress to Misconduct?