Disability Discrimination Solicitors

Q: How long do I have to make a discrimination claim?

You have three months minus one day from the last act of discrimination to start the ACAS early conciliation process, so you should contact us as soon as possible—these time limits can pass very quickly.

Your disability should never hold you back at work. If you have been discriminated against, we can help.

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Disability discrimination is when you are treated unfairly because you have a disability.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination at work or in the job application process.

It states that you cannot be discriminated against for the following reasons:

You have a disability (this also includes certain progressive illnesses, such as cancer, MS, or HIV)
You had a disability in the past (for example, a mental health condition you have since recovered from)
Someone believes that you have a disability
You are connected to someone with a disability.

Our lawyers have years of experience advising on disability discrimination cases. If you feel you have been discriminated against, we can help you claim for compensation, negotiate settlements, and even take your case to an Employment Tribunal if necessary.

Facing discrimination at work can feel distressing and unfair. We will make sure you understand your rights and the options available. We are expert negotiators who fight hard to get the justice you deserve.

Speak to our experts

We have the largest private client team in the UK, our team of experts are here to provide discreet legal advice to support you and your family.

Shah Qureshi

Partner

Find out more

Meet our experts

Shah Qureshi

Partner

Find out more

Who can claim for disability discrimination?

Discrimination can have a severe impact on your life, affecting your career, finances, and often your mental health.

Discrimination occurs in many ways. It can be intentional or unintentional, or it can even occur as a pattern of behaviour by your employer or colleagues.

We can help if you have been affected by:

Indirect discrimination
This is when a work policy or rule negatively impacts you because of your disability. For example, if an employer only accepts online applications, but an applicant’s epilepsy means they cannot use a computer, they could be unfairly excluded from applying.
Failure to make reasonable adjustments
This is when your employer fails to provide the necessary support for you to apply for a job or to do your job properly. An example might be an employer who fails to allow a disabled employee to take longer breaks to help them cope with fatigue that arises from their disability.
Discrimination arising from disability
This refers to unfair treatment because of a consequence of your disability. For example, an employee with cancer isn’t given a bonus because of the time they have taken off to receive treatment.
Harassment
When you are made to feel humiliated, offended or degraded because of your disability, or where the environment is hostile or intimidating. For example, being mocked because it takes you longer to complete some tasks because of your disability.
Victimisation
This refers to unfair treatment after making a complaint or grievance about disability discrimination, or for supporting a colleague who has made a complaint. For example, an employer threatens to fire you if you support a colleague’s discrimination claim.

With specialist experience in helping people like you resolve discrimination claims, we can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

Making an enquiry

We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.

Complete our online form
We need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phone
On the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointment
Your next step is an in-depth appointment with a specialist solicitor to discuss how we could advise you.

Get in touch

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a discrimination claim?

Your first step should usually be to raise your concerns directly with your employer and give them the chance to resolve the issue internally. If this doesn’t lead to a conclusion that you are happy with, you can start the formal grievance process.

If this doesn’t achieve the outcome you wanted, we can take it to an Employment Tribunal, beginning with the ACAS early conciliation process. ACAS helps you and your employer to try and settle the dispute out of court. This process can take a month and can be extended by two extra weeks if you and your employer agree.

When the ACAS early conciliation process ends, you will be given an ACAS certificate. If your dispute is still unresolved at this point, you can issue a claim in the Employment Tribunal. Your employer will get a copy of your claim and will have 30 days to send a defence.

The Tribunal will then set a date for a full hearing in six-to-nine months, while we work with you to prepare your case. Going through the full Employment Tribunal process may feel daunting, but we have been through it many times before, so we can support and guide you through each step.

How long do I have to make a discrimination claim?

What are the outcomes of a discrimination claim?

If your claim goes to an Employment Tribunal or to court, the outcomes could be:

Compensation
Declaration of your rights
Recommendation to your employer to stop the discrimination from happening again.

If we settle your claim through negotiation, we may be able to get a reference and an apology for you, as well as a confidentiality agreement and terms that protect your reputation.

Reaching a settlement this way can be less stressful than going to court or an Employment Tribunal, and you may also receive a better compensation settlement. 

How do employment solicitors charge?

There are a number of ways you can pay for your legal work:

Hourly rate: This is how most of our cases are funded. You only pay for the time you use.
Agreed fixed fees: In more complex cases, it might be more cost effective for us to agree a fixed fee for your work.
Legal expenses insurance: This is legal cover that’s often a bolt-on to home insurance. It’s worth seeing if you have this as it may cover some or all of your legal fees.
Trade union membership: If you are a member of a union, it might have something in place that pays your legal fees if you have an employment dispute.
Your employer: In some instances, your employer may pay some of your costs (this can be the case if you are negotiating a settlement agreement).
Third-party funding: This is where someone who isn’t directly involved in your case agrees to pay your costs.
Crowd funding: It may be possible to crowd fund your case using the CrowdJustice website (particularly if it’s of public interest).

We can review your options in an initial meeting and let you know how to best pay for your case.

Make sure to have any relevant membership/insurance documents to hand—they will help us understand any cover you already have.

Our commitment to you

Our experts always start by listening, so we understand what matters most from day one.

01
Clear legal guidance
You will always get straightforward, honest advice, with regular updates to keep you clear on the way forward.
02
Specialist knowledge
A wide-ranging team of trusted specialists who understand what it takes to protect your future, your family or your business.
03
Your needs first
Whether you’re navigating complex personal situations or business decisions, we take the time to understand your world and what’s at stake.