Contracts of employment - legally binding from when?

[hardworkingandnice]

Does a contract of employment legally start from date of signing or from the first day of employment please?

Would have thought that the terms of your employment (dress, hours etc) will begin from the first day of employment (which will be specified in the contract - presumably the first day you walk into the office), but that by signing the contract you'll be contractually bound to begin the employment and thus adhere to these terms from this later date. You'll therefore still be under contract before starting work. The exact terms of the contract may change this however (and I'm happy to be corrected by an employment lawyer!).

depends on the specific clause, but generally the contract will be from signing

What GreenBlacks said ^^

Yes what greennblacks said. Can you tell us the context - is there a contract or part of a contract you are hoping to get out of?

Even if something is legally binding it doesn't mean you can't get out of it, depending on what it is and what the other party could do about it.

Haven't started working there yet.
Need to pull out but have signed contract.

Well they could technically sue you for breach of contract. In reality they probably won't as it wouldn't usually be worth their while. You may well have burned your bridges in terms of working there in future though.