Claiming on your own or on behalf of someone else
A representative is someone who can act on your behalf to complete the claim, write to the employment tribunal or present your case at a hearing.
Who can act as a representative?
Free representation can include:
- friends
- colleagues
- family members
- trade unions (if one is available to you)
- Citizens Advice advisers
- advisers from law clinics or law centres
Paid representation be through legal professionals, including:
- solicitors
- barristers (called 'advocates' in Scotland)
- legal executives
- claims management companies (regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA))
How to find and get a representative?
The following links open in a new tab
- Find a solicitor in England and Wales(opens in new tab) – list of solicitors run by The Law Society
- Find a solicitor in Scotland(opens in new tab) – database of solicitors run The Law Society of Scotland
- Free Representation Unit (FRU)(opens in new tab) – charity providing legal advice, case preparation and advocacy for people not eligible for legal aid or who cannot afford lawyers (this service is not available in Scotland)
- In Scotland, some university law clinics can provide advice and represenation. You can find a list at The Scottish University Law Clinic Network (SULCN)(opens in new tab)
- local ‘law centres’ – not-for-profit legal practices providing legal aid for people who cannot afford lawyers.
A trade union may also be able to pay for a solicitor and free legal advice is available from Citizens Advice(opens in new tab) or Citizens Advice Scotland(opens in new tab).
The Equality Advisory and Support Service(opens in new tab) can help with discrimination claims.
Some people may also be able to get help to pay for legal advice through legal aid.