The Free Representation Unit is a London-based charity that provides free representation at employment and social security tribunals. Law students and trainee barristers and solicitors…
A common experience in litigation is nervousness about facing the other side in tribunal.
This can happen to almost anyone. Litigants in person are often intimidated if their opponent is a lawyer. A CAB adviser might be nervous of specialist counsel. And there are a few QCs everyone is a bit scared of.
If you do not have a lawyer or other professional adviser to represent you in the tribunal, you may want to take a friend or relative with you to help you present your case. If you want to share the task of presenting your case with someone else, explain to the tribunal what you want to do.
We say in the book (at paragraph 1.19) that there is no restriction on who may appear as a representative in the employment tribunals. This…