went to c top lawyer re discrimination case....very disappointed. anyone else had same experience or want to share advice?

[wotuc]

went to c top lawyer a couple of days ago as I believe I have a case. this lawyer kept telling me all the risks and putting me off making a a case telling me it would be cheaper if I fight myself.....er well why would I bother coming to them if that was the case????? the only reason why i wanted to take further in legal sense is that I had exhausted all I could do myself. I have wasted hundreds of pounds on this pre consultation before it reaches a case. Even though my session did not last full hour I got charged for that time anyway. and to top it of felt like lawyer was bored of what I was saying and wanted to go home. So upset and shell shocked by this session

Katie I wouldn't engage with emsyj. Unfortunately she has form on other employment threads for saying that only employment lawyers know best.

As you know (and I experienced) that isn't always the case. When you get to my level of PQE it is easy to accept that other professionals have something to offer but it takes a while and a lot of more junior lawyers always think they know best!

"Unfortunately she has form on other employment threads for saying that only employment lawyers know best. "

Do I really? How interesting, it's news to me! I don't recall ever having said any such thing, but perhaps you know me better than I know myself, eh?

Loving your snidey comment about your level of PQE by the way - miaow! I should point out though that you don't actually have a clue what my level of PQE is... Not very lawyerly to make wild assumptions based on zero knowledge, is it?

You know, I am utterly delighted every single day when I wake up in the morning and don't have to go to work as a lawyer any more - and this reminds me why!

Sorry if I got the wrong end of the stick KatieMiddleton, that was just how I read it.

Sorry emsyj if you don't like what I said. Maybe I'm getting you confused with another poster with a very similar name who posts with such authority in some of the employment law threads and dismisses anyone who isn't legally qualified.

There are plenty of lawyers who think they know best and ime it is something that most grow out of the more experienced they become. Of course there is always the exception to that and I apologise unreservedly if that exception is you.

I took a company to a Tribunal about 10 years ago. I'm also a qualified HR professional. I decided I wanted a strong City firm to represent me (this thread has made me as I used to work in the HR department of a Magic Circle law firm).

Anyway the solicitor who represented me actually suggested to me that I do the bulk of the behind the scenes work which I did. This was to save costs (and they didn't usually take on individual's cases).

I did win for sex discrimination, constructive dismissal and breach of contract and received a large pay out. Costs were in the region of about £12,000 and as you don't ordinarily get your costs back, you have to be prepared to take the hit on that.

It's also very stressful. I think you have to be 100% committed to seeing it through both financially and emotionally.

The lawyer will want your case if it is a good one and IF it is the type of work they do. It is in the lawyer's interest to take your case if it stands a chance of success, that's how lawyers make money (even if they are employed by a law firm since they will have targets to meet). Does the firm concerned actually do work for individuals? Most larger law firms don't unless they consider you to be of strategic importance.