Fees and How We Work
Nobody publishes their unfair dismissal fees, so people ring around in the dark. Here is how ours work, in the order you will meet them.
The Initial Consultation
An initial consultation costs €400 plus VAT, payable in advance, by phone, Zoom or in person at either office. It is a working session, not a sales call: one consultation establishes the legal position, the documents that decide it, the realistic routes and the deadlines. For a dismissal that means the date of dismissal and the six-month WRC clock, whether the Unfair Dismissals Acts apply to you at all, which of the fair grounds the employer is relying on and whether the procedure matched, what the section 7 formula would and would not count as financial loss, and whether a letter, a mediation or a complaint is the right first move. Many people leave the consultation knowing they do not need to spend any more.
Work After the Consultation
Any work after that is quoted in writing under section 150 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 before it starts, on an hourly basis, so you know the rate and the likely range before anything is incurred. Money on account is required before larger matters begin, such as a full WRC hearing or a Labour Court appeal, and the quote is updated in writing if the scope changes. A single letter to the employer, a review of an exit offer or a short piece of advice on a disciplinary hearing is a small matter and is quoted as one.
Who Pays the Costs at the WRC and the Labour Court
The WRC and the Labour Court do not award legal costs. Each side pays its own, whatever the outcome, so there is no risk of being ordered to pay the employer’s costs at those stages. Your own fees are not recoverable from the employer and are paid from any award. Court proceedings, including enforcement and appeals on a point of law, are different and are explained before any are issued.
Section 149
In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement (section 149, Legal Services Regulation Act 2015). We do not offer, and cannot offer, any arrangement under which our fee depends on the result.
Before You Book
Two free tools will sharpen the consultation: the WRC Deadline Calculator works your dates through, and the Dismissal Claim Route Finder shows which routes typically fit. The contact page lists what to have ready.
Book a Consultation
One session establishes the legal position, the documents, the routes and the deadlines - and whether you need to spend any more.
Call 01 5827148