If you're thinking about taking your employer to an employment tribunal, the first question on your mind is probably: how much is this going to cost me?
Here is the answer, in plain English: filing an employment tribunal claim is completely free. There are no fees to submit your claim. No fees for a hearing. No hidden charges from the tribunal itself. You can file today and it will not cost you a penny.
But "free to file" is not the same as "free." There are real costs involved in bringing a tribunal claim — they are just not the ones most people expect. This guide breaks down every cost you might face, explains what you can avoid, and shows you how to run a strong case without spending thousands on a solicitor.
There are no tribunal fees in the UK. None. You do not pay to file your ET1 claim form. You do not pay for a preliminary hearing. You do not pay for a full hearing. You do not pay to appeal.
This was not always the case. Between 2013 and 2017, the government charged claimants up to £1,200 in tribunal fees. A claim for unfair dismissal cost £250 to file and £950 for a hearing. Those fees were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2017 in a case called R (UNISON) v Lord Chancellor. The Court found that fees of that level effectively denied people their right to access justice. Every penny paid in fees during that period was refunded.
Since then, filing a tribunal claim has been free, and the government has confirmed that it will not reintroduce fees. The Justice Secretary categorically stated in late 2025 that employment tribunals will remain free.
So the tribunal itself costs you nothing. But what about everything else?
This is where most of the money goes — if you choose to spend it. A specialist employment solicitor typically charges between £200 and £400 per hour outside London, and £400 to £700 per hour in central London.
For a straightforward unfair dismissal claim, legal fees from start to hearing can range from £5,000 to £15,000. For a complex discrimination case, costs can reach £20,000 to £50,000 or more.
But here is the crucial point: you do not need a solicitor to bring a tribunal claim. You have the right to represent yourself as a "litigant in person." Thousands of people do this every year. In fact, nearly one in three tribunal cases are now brought by self-represented claimants — and that number has been rising for years.
If you represent yourself, the cost of legal representation is zero. What you need instead is knowledge, preparation, and the right tools. That is what this site is built for.
Even if you cannot afford a solicitor for the whole case, consider paying for a one-off consultation (typically £100 to £300) to get an initial assessment of your claim's strengths and weaknesses. Some solicitors offer free initial telephone consultations. This gives you professional input without committing to full representation.
This is the cost most people underestimate. Preparing a tribunal claim takes real time. You will need to organise your evidence, write your witness statement, prepare your hearing bundle, research relevant case law, and attend hearings that can last anywhere from one day to several weeks.
If you are still employed while bringing a claim, you will need to take time off work for hearings. If you have been dismissed, the time you spend on your case is time you are not spending job hunting.
This is a genuine cost, but it is manageable if you are organised and strategic. Having the right templates and structures in place from the start saves a significant amount of time. A well-prepared claimant with good documents can be far more effective than a disorganised one who has spent thousands on a solicitor.
You will need to travel to the tribunal for hearings. Depending on where your nearest tribunal is, this could involve train fares, petrol, parking, and potentially accommodation if you are travelling a long distance. These costs are not reimbursed by the tribunal.
Many preliminary hearings are now conducted by video (CVP — Cloud Video Platform), which reduces travel costs. But a full hearing will usually require you to attend in person.
Nobody talks about this, but it is real. A tribunal claim is stressful. You will be cross-examined about your experiences. Your employer's legal team will challenge your account. The process can take months from filing to hearing. If your claim involves discrimination or harassment, reliving those experiences in a formal setting is not easy.
This is not a reason not to bring a claim. But it is a reason to be prepared — both practically and emotionally. Having your documents in order, your chronology clear, and your strategy mapped out before you walk into that hearing room makes an enormous difference to how you handle the pressure.
This is the fear that stops more people than any other: "what if I lose and have to pay my employer's legal fees?"
Here is the reality: employment tribunals almost never order the losing party to pay the other side's costs. This is one of the most important differences between employment tribunals and ordinary civil courts.
In the tribunal system, each side normally pays their own costs regardless of who wins. Cost orders against claimants are rare and are only made in specific circumstances:
Bringing a genuine claim that you honestly believe has merit — even if you ultimately lose — will not result in a cost order against you. The tribunal understands that employment disputes involve judgment calls and that not every legitimate claim will succeed.
There is one specific cost risk to be aware of: deposit orders. If the tribunal believes a specific argument or claim has "little reasonable prospect of success," it can order you to pay a deposit of up to £1,000 to continue pursuing that particular point. If you lose that point, the deposit is not returned. Deposit orders are not common, but they do happen. If you receive one, take it as a signal to carefully reassess that part of your case.
You are not as alone as you might think. Several organisations provide free support to employees bringing tribunal claims:
Let's put this in perspective. Here is what a tribunal claim typically costs under different approaches:
Option A — Full solicitor representation: £5,000 to £50,000 depending on complexity. You get expert advice and someone handling the paperwork, but you are also handing over control of your case and paying for every email, every phone call, and every hour of preparation.
Option B — Self-representation with templates and guides: £0 to £50. You prepare your own case using structured templates, guides, and the free resources available from ACAS, Citizens Advice, and sites like this one. You do the work yourself, but you keep control and you understand every element of your case.
Option C — Hybrid approach: £100 to £500. You represent yourself but pay for a one-off solicitor consultation to assess your claim, and use professional templates for your key documents. This gives you expert input at the critical moments without the ongoing cost.
The right option depends on your circumstances, the complexity of your case, and your confidence in preparing documents and presenting arguments. But the point is: cost should never be the reason you do not pursue a valid claim. The system is designed to be accessible without a solicitor.
If you choose to represent yourself, here is what you need — and none of it has to cost thousands:
If you need all of the above, our Complete Toolkit Bundle includes every guide and template in one package — six editable Word documents covering the full dispute journey from grievance to final hearing, at a significant discount versus buying each separately. It costs less than a single hour with most solicitors.
An employment tribunal claim is free to file. There are no tribunal fees. The risk of being ordered to pay your employer's costs is very low. And you do not need a solicitor to bring a claim — though you do need to be prepared.
The real barriers are not financial. They are knowledge and confidence. If you understand the process, have your documents in order, and approach your case strategically, you can run a strong claim without spending anything beyond your own time.
Do not let cost be the reason you give up a valid claim. The system was designed to be accessible. Use it.
Every other site tells you to hire a solicitor. We show you what the solicitor would tell you — in plain English, with a clear plan of action.
If you are considering a tribunal claim, start here:
Employment Law Simplified — know your rights, protect your position.