Giving tips for employment lawyer is not easy. The UK is one of the finest countries to produce lawyers, and employment lawyers hold a large number there. Their responsibilities are tricky, but the salaries are high. Independent employment lawyers even earn a significant amount every year.
Generally, Employment Lawyers deal with workplace accusation, discrimination, salary or contract related issues. Suppose you are a Law student or a general graduate, who want to pursue a career in Employment Law. You can read the following section of the blog for better understanding.
How To Become Employment Lawyer In The UK
First thing first. Becoming an employment lawyer means you will be working in the British court. So you need legal permission to represent your client (whether an employee or an employer or a company). There are three ways to become an employment lawyer in the UK-
Law/LLB Degree
You can pursue a Law Degree (3 years) from a University or a Law school in the UK. Subsequently, you can become a legal lawyer to prosecute in the courtroom. A general graduate can do a one year full-time or two years part-time LLB course to become a lawyer.
Course Completion
You can do a Legal Course to become a solicitor. Thus you can work as a personal legal advisor for CEOs or a company. Instead, there is a chance for a Bar Professional course, too to become a barrister. How about that!
Work As An Apprentice
What do you think the lawyer’s assistants do? Well, they work as an apprentice under an independent lawyer to research and gain practical experience.
You can also do an advanced diploma in employment law from an authorised platform to gain this experience.
Who Can Do Advanced Diploma In Employment Law
If you are not a law practitioner, then it is hard for you to understand law sections. So, what should you do? Employment law training can teach you many things. Some of them are necessary for your professional life, but you did not know them previously. So before jumping to the tips for employment lawyer, search whether you are of the following people or not-
- Employment Lawyer
- Paralegal
- Employment Legal Counsel
- Employment Solicitor
- Employer, HR
- Office Employee
Top 10 Tips For Employment Lawyers In The UK
When an employment lawyer starts to practice law, there are few things to keep in mind. Here are career-changing ten tips for Employment Lawyer-
1. Know The Law Facts
Before going into deep, there are some basic labour/employment laws you should know by heart. They are-
- The UK does not have any state labour laws. A company may have some additional rules, but it will not be mandatory to follow.
- In the UK, the employer can not dismiss/fire an employee without notice. Instant dismissal requires at least spared days of compensation.
- All UK employees get 28 paid holidays per year.
- The UK health ministry takes care of the health sector of all the citizens living in the country. Companies do not provide health insurance. Although some companies may provide additional benefits.
- The employee must sign a written contract of employment as proof. Without this contact paper, no worker has any ground to accuse the employer.
- Any employee or worker can do the highest 48 hours of overtime per week. Working over than that will not be paid by the employer.
- Federal protection is for all aged employees in the UK.
2. Area of Interest
That is to say; an employment lawyer does not have the expertise to prosecute a murder case. You are a legal lawman to do so, but do not have an interest there. So the interests of an employment lawyer are-
- Age discrimination
- Bullying and harassment
- Disability by working hazards
- Dismissal/Fire from work
- Discrimination on race, religion, sexuality or gender
- Employee grievances and payments
- Employment contract tricks and their victims
- Unequal payment for similar works
- Minimum wage/salary rate violation
- Parental leave and payment discrepancy
- Redundancy during work without pensions
- Extra working time without incentives
3. Employment Contracts
Employment contracts are essential when it comes to a UK job. Because Employers do a lot of tricks of words to get the advantage of employee’s not knowing. So, if you are aware of contact rules and regulations, as an advisor, you can save your client.
4. Knowledge About Employee Handbook
To clarify, the confirmation of the job company provides an employee handbook. This generally contains standard rules of the company, dos & don’ts, leave policies, etc.
For instance, it becomes hard for somebody to read and understand every section in a handbook, especially to someone who never paid attention to rules but is good at work. Therefore to avoid such conditions of your client, you must have good knowledge about ‘what a common handbook contains’.
5. Data Protection Principles
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR-UK) is one of the most strict laws in the UK. Though GDPR requires different expertise, you should know about the Data protection principles.
Indeed some companies manipulate employee data or sell it to a political party to gain additional income. That is to say; such action violates the data protection right of a citizen, worker, employee.
6. Age Discrimination
Generally, age discrimination is not allowed in UK jobs. For instance, employees can feel that he is not promoted to a specific post because of their age. As an employment lawyer, you should be able to understand whether there are any discriminations or not.
Although in certain conditions, age discrimination is allowed. For example, you can appoint a healthy and fit person to lift heavy things for a job. An unfit guy can not claim it to be discrimination.
7. Sex Discrimination
Some employer thinks a particular person can not do specific jobs. Therefore, they do not provide many jobs to men and women. For example, receptionist jobs are for everyone. Likewise, chefs can be anyone. Regardless of the men or women, you can not discriminate among sex for a particular position.
Although a man does not attempt to be a receptionist or a woman to be a chef, meanwhile, if a woman seeks a cooking job in a 5-star restaurant, the employer can not refuse if she is qualified.
8. Maternal & Paternal Leave
The UK employment act has specific rules for maternal, paternal and adoption leave. This facility allows an employee to raise the child with proper care. Some companies do not provide adequate flexibility during this time.
So you should know the ins & outs of paternal and maternal leaves. Additionally, these leaves are paid. So refusal of such leaves must be flagged as a violation of right.
9. Salary and Wage Policy
The UK employment law legislation has a specific rate of salary and wage for every age range. Some companies and employers want to find scopes in this law and fool the employees.
You can also prosecute in such cases. Thus help your client to get his/her rights back.
10. Bullying and Harassment Cases
This is one of the significant and disgraceful crimes in the workplace. Any verbal, signal or physical bullying and harassment is forbidden in the workplace.
For instance, if your client falls as a victim of bullying or harassment. You should be able to defend him/her.
Closing Note
Becoming an employment Lawyer is easy, but defending a client is tough. Because there will also be an employment lawyer on the other side, hopefully, these top ten tips for employment lawyer can change your perception.
You can also do accredited online courses to gain employment law training.
