Settlement offer - legal fees

kratosthegreat

I have recently been in discussions around a settlement offer with my employer and they will be pay legal fees up to a certain amount, as long as the agreement is signed.

My question is, although from my understanding, paying the legal fees is at the discretion of the employer, I just wondered if there is any implication of them only offering to pay in the event I sign the agreement? Seems slightly bias and as though they are encouraging me to get a solicitor for signing, which is compulsory, but would not provide the same financial support for me in terms of seeking legal assistance, in the event I didn't sign it.

May be clutching at straws and either way, it doesn't affect me that much, but seems slightly bias. Just wondered if the employer should have remained neutral in the sense that they should either offering no support for both scenarios or a fix amount for both scenarios, in terms of legal support?

I suppose I can always ask them even if they don't have any such obligation.

lulu650

Most employers will pay reasonable legal fees for the signing off of a Settlement Agreement. Could either be a solicitor or your union's trained official.

If you want someone to negotiate on your behalf or look into whether you have any legal claim, then you either need to pay a solicitor or be a member of a union. No employer is going to pay for you to do this. There is no bias.