Employment


Compliance failure puts trainee’s discrimination claim in doubt

7 June 2021

A former trainee solicitor has been given a last chance to take forward a disability discrimination claim against international firm Reed Smith, where illness meant his training contract expired.


Paralegal was unfairly dismissed over unpaid wages complaint

11 May 2021

A paralegal who believed she was a trainee solicitor was unfairly dismissed by her law firm employer because she complained about an unauthorised deduction of wages, a tribunal has found.


Tribunal throws out employment lawyer’s disability discrimination claim

10 May 2021

An employment lawyer who appeared at tribunals during a time he said he was “pretty constantly bed bound” due to a back injury has had his disability discrimination claim rejected.


Partner fired for ‘topping up’ fees fairly dismissed, Court of Appeal rules

7 May 2021

The Court of Appeal has reinstated the ruling of an employment tribunal that a law firm was entitled to fire a partner accused of ‘topping up’ legal aid fees with cash from a client’s father.


EAT upholds ‘worker’ status for barrister tribunal chair

6 May 2021

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has upheld a ruling that a barrister who sat as a tribunal chair for the Nursing and Midwifery Council was a ‘worker’ and entitled to sickness and holiday pay.


Entrepreneur with “strong views on breastfeeding” unfairly dismissed lawyer

5 May 2021

A Russian entrepreneur based in the UK with “strong views on the importance of breastfeeding” unfairly dismissed a lawyer after she took maternity leave, an employment tribunal has ruled.


Immigration and civil litigation hit hardest by Covid-19

5 May 2021

Immigration and civil litigation were the two areas of legal practice hit hardest by the pandemic last year, with private client and family law “insulated” from the impact, new research has found.


S&G lawyer wins unfair dismissal claim – but no damages

4 May 2021

A senior costs specialist at Slater & Gordon has won a claim for unfair dismissal on one ground but an employment tribunal decided it would not be just to award him damages.


CEO who “ran for the hills” loses appeal over failed unfair dismissal claim

29 April 2021

A well-known law firm did not fire its chief executive because he made protected disclosures about financial problems that were discovered at the practice, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled.


Firm discriminated against partner suffering mental health problems

28 April 2021

A former equity partner at Freeths has won a disability discrimination claim over the way the leading midlands law firm treated him after he was diagnosed with mental health problems.


Judge criticises firm’s failures in defending solicitor’s dismissal claim

26 April 2021

A conveyancing solicitor has won her unfair dismissal and discrimination claim against a well-known Essex law firm by default after it filed its defence two days late.


Law firm’s report on bank’s HR processes not privileged

26 April 2021

The report of a law firm instructed by a major bank to review how it handled an employee’s allegation of rape was not covered by legal advice privilege, an employment tribunal has ruled.


Solicitor unfairly dismissed for refusing Covid variation to contract

15 April 2021

A solicitor fired after refusing a demand to vary her contract so her firm could furlough her or reduce her wages to help it cope with the impact of Covid has won a claim for unfair dismissal.


No TUPE protection for staff after firm’s owner made bankrupt

8 April 2021

There was no protection for staff under the TUPE after the sole owner of a law firm was made bankrupt and the practice taken over, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled.


Tribunal awards ex-Kingly solicitors £37k in compensation

7 April 2021

Five solicitors, a solicitor apprentice and a legal assistant who worked at one of the largest law firms to be shut down by the SRA have been awarded more than £37,000 by an employment tribunal.

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