Received an Employment Tribunal claim? Here's what to do first.
Don't miss the deadline. Don't respond before you understand exactly what's being claimed. And don't assume it's straightforward — or that it's hopeless.
The deadline matters. You typically have 28 days from the date the Tribunal sent you the ET1 to submit your response, the ET3. Missing it can mean judgment is entered against you without your side ever being heard. If your deadline is close, tell us in the form below and we'll treat it as urgent.
What we do in the first 48 hours
- Read the claim properly. We identify exactly what's being alleged, under which legal provisions, and what the claimant is asking for.
- Give you an honest view. A written assessment of your realistic position — strong, weak, or somewhere in between — and what defending or settling is likely to cost.
- Preserve the evidence. Early advice on what to keep, who not to speak to yet, and what not to do that could weaken your position.
- Plan the response. Identify witnesses, establish an initial strategy, and set out the staged fees for what comes next.
What it costs
| Stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| Case assessment & written recommendation | £395 (credited against your next stage) |
| ET3 / Grounds of Resistance | £695 |
| Interim relief defence (urgent) | from £750 |
***Complex cases carry a higher fee, agreed with you before that stage begins. Full staged pricing →
Kelvin Employment Consulting is an employment-law and HR consultancy, not a firm of solicitors. Representation of parties at Employment Tribunals by consultants is permitted under the Tribunal's own procedure rules. Full detail on our Regulatory status page.