Member Article

Citizens Advice Gateshead offers alternative to Legal Aid

Since Legal Aid for employment law effectively stopped on 1 April 2013, many people with a genuine employment grievance find it almost impossible to access the professional legal assistance they require.

In a bold move, Gateshead Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Enterprises has come up with a solution which not only helps these individuals but also helps to fund the Citizens Advice’s free services to 15,000 local residents a year.

So far, their low cost “Job Law” service – which is around half the cost of a commercial lawyer - has helped over 150 people and recouped over £530,000 in compensation for them!

Gateshead CAB Enterprises is an independent social enterprise which puts 100% of its profits back into the Citizens Advice Bureau to provide free local services.

Now Job Law, run by Gateshead CAB Enterprises, is offering its own version of employment “legal aid” with employment and discrimination law advice to individuals at half the usual commercial cost. The first consultation is free and the service is offered on a pay as you go basis.

Far from being a threat to existing employment lawyers, Job Law is also hoping to team up with firms of employment lawyers who can refer individuals to them whom they are unable to help. In turn the law firms will be helping the valuable community work of the Citizens Advice Bureau.

As one of the only Citizens Advice social enterprises in the UK to offer this service, Job Law helps individuals not only in the North East, but all over the country. For instance:

A senior female manager in a professional firm was subjected to bulling and marginalisation over a period of time. She resigned as she felt she was being gradually forced out of the business. Job Law represented her in a Tribunal claim for constructive dismissal. The case went to a final hearing over a number of days. The client won her case and she was awarded compensation of over £20,000.

In another case a female client who was employed in a small branch of a national organisation was subjected to a campaign of sex discrimination and harassment over a period of two years by her manager. Our client was not sure how to deal with the situation. After receiving our advice she made a formal grievance which the employer ignored so she resigned and made a Tribunal claim. Following a preliminary hearing Job Law negotiated a financial settlement for the full amount of her claim and so avoided the distress for the client of having to give detailed evidence of her ordeal.

Job Law is led by well-known employment and discrimination specialist Richard Owen, who has over 35 years’ experience of advising and Tribunal representation in employment and discrimination cases, and involves legal advice and support in all aspects of employment and discrimination law, including advising on the merits of potential cases, drafting claims, witness statements and representation in Employment Tribunals hearings

Richard Owen, says “Since 1 April 2013, many people with a genuine employment grievance have had nowhere to turn. They often can’t afford commercial law fees which can be more than £190 per hour and if they go to No Win, No Fee solicitors they can end up losing up to 35% of any compensation awarded. As a result of this and the Tribunal fees which are now payable, many people in this situation end up doing nothing or representing themselves which puts them at a disadvantage as most employers are legally represented. So they usually end up losing out and rogue employers go unpunished. At Job Law, we’re delighted to have helped so many people get the justice they deserve at a fraction of the cost of a commercial solicitor. What’s more, the service helps to fund the valuable work of the Citizens Advice service in Gateshead so it’s a huge Win Win all round!”

For more information about this service, go to Job Law or contact Richard Owen directly on richardo@cabenterprises.org.uk, 0191 440 8114.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kate Slater .