There are three different levels of advice services:
Tier One: advice and information
Tier Two: casework (e.g. helping you resolve a dispute at work, writing letters and making telephone calls)
Tier Three: Employment Tribunal representation
Generally the earlier you are in your case, you may only need a Tier One or maybe Tier Two provider. The later you are in your case, such as having lodged a Tribunal claim, you’ll need a Tier Three provider.
It may not be strictly accurate, but we have given an indication of the Tier an advice agency falls in to help you understand what organisations might be able to best assist you.
GOV.UK Tier One | The government’s general information service. | |
ACAS Tier Two only | A statutory body, who help employees and employers resolve work place disputes. ACAS officers aren’t there to give you impartial advice you in your best interest – their mandate is to get cases settled. | 0300 123 1100 |
Local CAB Tier One and Tier Two | General employment law advice. | 020 3855 5234 towerhamlets@eastendcab.org.uk Citizens Advice Tower Hamlets |
National CAB phone service (England) Tier One | General employment law advice. | Telephone advice: 03444 111 444 |
Law Centre’s Tier One, Two and Three | Specialist employment and discrimination advice, casework and representation. There are many individual Law Centre’s across the country and many are no longer constrained to helping only those clients that live/work in their borough. | |
The RCJ Citizens Advice’s specialist Employment Advice Service Tier Three | Specialist employment and discrimination law advice, casework and representation. | https://www.rcjadvice.org.uk/housing/employment-law-advice-service/ |
The Free Representation Unit Tier Three | Representation in the Employment Tribunal. We are now able to refer clients to FRU but we only do this where we have already accepted a client under one of our services and assessed a case is reasonably arguable. We do not act as a “post box” for referrals. You may get another organisation to refer you and/or there are some circumstances in which you can refer yourself. | |
Advocate Tier Three | Free representation before the Employment Tribunal. | https://weareadvocate.org.uk/apply-for-help/how-our-service-works.html |
BPP’s Employment Law Telephone Advice Line (ELTAL) Tier One | One-off advice on employment law. | Telephone advice: 0207 633 4534 Email advice: elfhelp@my.bpp.com http://probono.bppuniversity.ac.uk/blog/projects/employment-law-telephone-advice-line-eltal/ |
University of Greenwich’s Legal Advice Centre Tier One | One-off employment advice. | https://www.lawworks.org.uk/legal-advice/individuals/university-greenwich-legal-advice-centre |
Free Legal Answers (a LawWorks project) Tier One | One-off legal advice on family, debt, consumer, housing and employment. | |
Protect Tier One and Two | Niche advice and some casework/representation on whistleblowing. | |
Rights of Women Tier One | Niche advice on issues affecting women, such as sexual harassment. | https://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/ Telephone advice: 020 7490 0152 |
Working Families Tier One | Niche advice on issues affecting young families, such as making flexible working requests. | https://workingfamilies.org.uk/ Email advice: https://workingfamilies.org.uk/contact-us-for-advice/ |
Maternity Action Tier One | Niche advice on issues facing pregnant women and new mothers. | https://maternityaction.org.uk/ Telephone advice: 0808 802 0029 Email advice: https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice-form/ |
Pregnant Then Screwed Tier One | Niche advice on issues facing pregnant women and new mothers. | https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/ Email advice service: https://pregnantthenscrewed.beaconforms.com/form/0eb5dc8e |
Civil Legal Advice Tier One, Two and Three | Legal aid contracts awarded by the Government to independent and impartial advice providers (such as traditional law firms and Law Centres). Only available in discrimination law matters for those how have income and savings below the applicable thresholds. | Check your eligibility: www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice Find a discrimination law legal aid provider: https://find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk/ Providers in East London include: |
Equality Advisory Support Service Help and advice on discrimination and human rights Tier One | Provide telephone advice on discrimination law. | www.equalityadvisoryservice.com Telephone advice: 0808 800 0082 |
Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Tier One, Two and Three | A statutory body that gives advice and information on discrimination and human rights law. They also provide specialist representation in litigation in a limited scope of cases. | Information about discrimination law: www.equalityhumanrights.com |
Employment Rights Hub
Tier One and Tier Two
| Free employment advice and casework; not a litigation service. Only for residents of Newham. | 020 3373 6494 www.Newham.gov.uk/advice-support-benefits/employment-rights-hub |
Mary Ward Legal Advice Centre (branch based in Newham)
Tier One only | Free advice on any employment issue (probono services provided by volunteer lawyers) | 020 7831 7079 275-285 High Street To get help you need to complete their online form here: Employment Advice – Mary Ward Legal Centre |