Bring an unfair dismissal claim in the UK
Challenge a dismissal at the Employment Tribunal. Acas early conciliation is a compulsory first step and the deadline is unforgiving.
- Timeline
- 6-12 months to final hearing
- Cost
- No tribunal fee; representation optional
- Steps
- 9 stages
Deadline — read this first
Three months less one day from the effective date of termination, paused during Acas early conciliation.
Who can file
Employees with two years' continuous service for ordinary unfair dismissal. No qualifying period for automatically unfair reasons or discrimination.
Step by step
- 1
Check you are an employee
Workers and genuinely self-employed contractors cannot claim unfair dismissal, though they may have other claims.
- 2
Raise an internal appeal
Use the employer's appeal procedure. Failing to appeal can reduce compensation by up to 25%.
- 3
Notify Acas for early conciliation
Mandatory. Acas issues a certificate with a unique reference number that the tribunal requires.
- 4
Negotiate through Acas
Conciliation lasts up to six weeks. A COT3 settlement is binding and avoids a hearing.
- 5
Submit form ET1
File online with the Acas certificate number. Set out the facts, the claims and the remedy sought.
- 6
Read the ET3 response
The employer has 28 days to respond. Their stated reason for dismissal frames the whole case.
- 7
Comply with case management orders
Exchange documents, agree a bundle and exchange witness statements by the dates ordered.
- 8
Attend the hearing
A judge sits alone for unfair dismissal; a panel of three sits for discrimination claims.
- 9
Enforce the award
If the employer does not pay within 14 days, use the Employment Tribunal Penalty Enforcement service or the County Court.
Documents you must produce
- Contract of employment and any staff handbook
- Dismissal letter and appeal outcome
- Acas early conciliation certificate
- Payslips for the 12 weeks before dismissal
- Evidence of attempts to find new work (mitigation)
Common mistakes that sink cases
- Missing the three-month-less-one-day deadline, which is almost never extended.
- Omitting the Acas certificate number, which invalidates the claim form.
- Failing to look for new work, which reduces compensatory awards.
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