Frequently Asked Questions

How does the service work? 

Once you get in touch, we’ll arrange a phone appointment to understand your situation. We’ll then provide tailored advice to help you decide what to do next. If needed, we can refer you to a legal professional in our network for an appointment. While we don’t offer full legal representation, we’ll support you as much as we can.

Who is eligible for this service?

Our legal advice service is available to PAYE employees who reside in Greater Manchester and are experiencing issues at work. We aim to support people who may not have access to private legal help due to a low income. If you're unsure whether you're eligible, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to check for you.  

Do I need to pay? 

No. Our service is free of charge. We’re here to help people who may not be able to afford legal advice elsewhere. Please note that we tend to only offer one appointment per person to ensure that others have the opportunity to access our service.

Do you have any in-person appointments? 

No. All of our appointments are conducted via telephone. You will receive a call from a withheld number at the time of your appointment.

Do you offer representation or no win no fee agreements? 

We do not offer legal representation or “no win, no fee” arrangements. Our service focuses on giving advice and practical support to help you manage your situation yourself. If you need representation, we can signpost you to other services that may be able to help.

What to expect from an employment tribunal

An employment tribunal is a legal hearing in which your case is decided by a judge. It’s less formal than a court but still follows legal procedures. You’ll need to present evidence and explain your case clearly. The employer will also have a chance to respond. The judge will then make a decision. You do not necessarily require a solicitor to represent you. Around 1 in 3 people represent themselves at tribunals.

What is a grievance and how do I raise it?

A grievance is a formal complaint you make to your employer about a problem at work. For example, unfair treatment, bullying, or unsafe working conditions. You usually raise a grievance by writing a letter or email to your employer, explaining the issue and what outcome you're seeking. Most workplaces have a grievance procedure in place, which should be followed. Please see the below links for more information and a template letter:

• Step 1: Understanding the options - Formal grievance procedure - Acas
• Grievance letter template | Acas

I am facing issues at work. How can I resolve them?

Start by trying to resolve the issue informally. For example, by speaking to your manager or HR.

If that doesn’t work, you may need to raise a formal grievance.

If the problem continues or becomes serious (like discrimination or harassment), you may have grounds to take legal action. At this point, you would have to get into contact with ACAS to obtain a certificate. The certificate provided by ACAS includes a reference number that is required to register your claim in an employment tribunal.

How does ACAS work?

• ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) helps resolve workplace disputes before they go to an employment tribunal.
• Before making most types of tribunal claims, you are legally required to notify ACAS. This starts a process called Early Conciliation (EC). You don’t have to take part in conciliation if you don’t want to, but you must notify ACAS and get an Early Conciliation Certificate before you can proceed with a claim.
  • Early conciliation can either be started by calling ACAS or by filling out the form on their website. Please see the link below to start early conciliation online:
    • Notify Acas about making a claim to an employment tribunal | Tell Acas
  • If you do choose to take part and an agreement is reached between you and your employer, ACAS will record this in a legally binding document called a COT3. This means the issue is resolved and you cannot take the same matter to a tribunal afterwards. It’s important to fully understand the terms before agreeing to a COT3. If you require help at this stage, please contact us.
  • If no agreement is reached, or you decide not to take part, ACAS will issue a certificate so that you can continue with your tribunal claim.

How long do I have to bring a claim to the employment tribunal? 

In most cases, you have 3 months minus one day from the date of the issue (such as dismissal or discrimination) to start the process. Before making a claim, you must contact ACAS for early conciliation or to notify them that you are bringing a claim. Time limits are strict, so it’s important to act quickly.