header-logo header-logo

‘Unlawful’ fees revisited

30 January 2024
Issue: 8057 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Employment
printer mail-detail
Fees for employment tribunal claims and Employment Appeal Tribunal appeals could be reintroduced, despite the Supreme Court ruling them unlawful seven years ago in R (on the application of Unison) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) launched a consultation this week on proposals to introduce a uniform £55 fee for employment claims and appeals (as opposed to fees challenged by Unison in 2017, which ranged from £390 to £1,200 for a single claimant or £780 to £7,200 for groups). Justice minister Mike Freer said the ‘modest’ fees would contribute towards running costs and incentivise parties to settle.

Freer said the MoJ has ‘carefully considered’ the 2017 ruling and endeavoured to ensure the fees proposed ‘are proportionate and affordable’.

However, Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said tribunal fees ‘denied the poorest and most vulnerable access to justice. Nothing has changed. Tribunal fees were unfair then and they are still unfair today.’

Issue: 8057 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Employment
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll