Taking your employer to a tribunal.
Employment tribunals and authorities exist so people can bring claims without a lawyer, and many do. Most cases start with conciliation or mediation, and many settle there. If yours goes further, the tribunal decides on the evidence, so your documents, your timeline and your witnesses matter.
How it works
From the claim to the decision.
Tap each step to see what usually happens. Who decides, and what comes first, differ by place: choose yours below.
A general outline. Every case is different.
General information, checked against official sources on 2 October 2026. It isn’t advice about your case. The rules in their own words ↓
Preparing your case
Prepare the way tribunals expect.
Seven things worth doing:
- Every deadline in one calendar.From the tribunal’s directions, with reminders.
- A one-page timeline.Each important date, what happened, and the page that shows it.
- Your documents, numbered.Contract, letters, emails, payslips: indexed, so “page 12” means the same to everyone.
- Your witness statement.Numbered paragraphs, in date order, facts only.
- Your witnesses.Confirmed, with their statements in on time.
- What you’re claiming.Lost pay, notice, holiday, and how you worked each out.
- Your questions for them.For the employer’s witnesses, written in advance.
Read every letter from the tribunal: directions are orders, and missing one can harm your case.
Free tool
Your documents, in one numbered bundle.
Drop in your contract, letters, emails and payslips. You get one PDF with an index and every page numbered. It runs in this browser; nothing is uploaded.
Writing your statement? How to put your side on paper →
See it in the app
Your claim, in order before the hearing.
- Add every paper.Contract, emails, notes, the dismissal letter. Before the language model reads a word, names become tags.
- Every date on one line.Each step with its source, and the gaps, like the warnings nobody can find.
- It quotes the law where you live. Coming in early accessThe sections that apply to your case, in the law’s own words, with a link to the official text. Change the country above and it changes too.
- It prepares your bundle.An index in date order and the point in dispute, each with its paper.
Sample case. Names and papers are fictional. PROVEAiBLE is built for any case where papers matter.
What the rules say
The rules, in their own words.
Five questions about employment claims, answered only from the rules and official guidance, with the passage that answers it highlighted.
Quoted from the official text. It isn’t advice about your situation, and employment law changes often: check the official site. In the US and Canada employment law is set by each state and province; California and Ontario are shown as examples.
Questions people ask
The questions that keep you up at night.
Do I have to try conciliation or mediation first?
In England and Wales you must notify Acas before most claims. New Zealand expects mediation first. In Ireland and Australia it’s voluntary but common, and many cases settle there.
Could I have to pay my employer’s costs?
Usually not just for losing. In England and Wales costs can follow unreasonable conduct or a claim with no reasonable prospect of success; in Australia each side usually pays its own; the WRC doesn’t award legal costs; in New Zealand a successful party can claim costs. In California, costs can follow an unsuccessful appeal to the superior court.
Can I bring someone with me?
Usually. In England and Wales a colleague or supporter can come; in Australia a support person can usually attend conferences; in New Zealand friends, whānau or supporters.
Do I need to share documents that don’t help me?
In England and Wales, yes: you must share relevant documents even if they don’t help your case, and so must the employer.
What if my employer offers to settle?
Consider it carefully, and get advice before you sign: a settlement usually ends the claim for good.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not necessarily. These bodies are designed for people to bring claims themselves, and many do. A one-task lawyer can help with the hardest parts.
You’re not alone
You don’t have to do this alone.
Many people bring these claims without a lawyer, using services built for them. Free help can tell you whether your situation needs a lawyer; watch the time limits, and ask early.
Showing help for England & Wales. Change it with “Where you live” above.
“I built this after going through a court case myself.” — Andrew, founder
With a lawyer or without one, walk in with your papers in order.
PROVEAiBLE reads your papers, sets out the facts with their pages, shows where the papers disagree, quotes the law for where you live, and prepares your papers for the hearing. It never tells you which legal step to take, or how it will turn out. Law for more countries: coming in early access
Sources, checked 2 October 2026
- England & Wales: GOV.UK; The Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 (SI 2024/1155)
- Ireland: Workplace Relations Commission; Workplace Relations Commission; Workplace Relations Commission
- Australia: Fair Work Commission; Fair Work Commission; Fair Work Commission; Fair Work Commission; Fair Work Commission
- United States (California): California Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE); California Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE); California Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE); California Labor Code
- Canada (Ontario): Ontario Ministry of Labour; Ontario Labour Relations Board
- New Zealand: Employment Relations Authority; Employment Relations Authority; Employment Relations Authority; Employment Relations Authority; Employment Relations Authority
General information, not legal advice. Laws, rules and court processes change; check the official pages and your own papers before you act.