Overview of immigration to the UK

Various different rules and criteria apply depending on whether you want to visit, work/ study in or permanently settle in the UK.  Visiting the UK Most foreign visitors to the... read more

I need help with an elderly relative

Steps to follow If you have an elderly relative who increasingly needs looking after and you’re responsible for sorting out their care, you must first decide where they are going to... read more

Buying or selling a business

There are a number of steps that need to be worked through when you are buying or selling a business. These include: valuing the business tax advice sales... read more

I need advice with a mental health issue

Steps to follow  If you feel you have a mental health problem, your first stop should be your GP. They can provide advice or refer you for specialist services. Professionals who... read more

Overview of marriage

Who can get married? Any two people can get married in the UK provided they are: Aged 16 or over Of different sex Not too closely related Unmarried and not in... read more

Overview of civil partnerships

Same-sex marriages finally got the go ahead back in December 2005 after much government debate and a delay of almost a year to allow changes to tax laws. The Civil Partnership Act formally... read more

Claiming asylum

The UK has signed up to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which means that under certain circumstances it will offer asylum to people who may be persecuted... read more

Eviction from a home you are renting

All homes rented from a private landlord after 28 February 1997 will automatically be an assured shorthold tenancy unless your landlord has given you notice in writing that it is an assured... read more

Requirements to provide pensions to employees

There are two main types of pension in the UK: money-purchase and final salary schemes.   Money-purchase schemes include occupational money purchase, personal pensions, stakeholder... read more

Overview of accidents at work

Earning a living can be hazardous. And it’s not just occupations like firefighting and construction work that are dangerous—office work can also lead to injury. Unfortunately,... read more

Do I need a lawyer? (personal)

There are many ways to resolve legal problems, the overwhelming majority of which do not involve going to court and some of which do not require the attention of a solicitor. Having... read more

I want a pension

Steps to follow The state pension is worth less than £5,000 per annum for a single person, and about £7,500 for couples. You can draw it, if you have paid enough national... read more

I am a victim of crime

Steps to follow Report the matter to the police as soon as possible. Dial 999 if it’s an emergency, otherwise, report it to your local police station either in person, via phone or... read more

Injury of a member of staff at work

Employers have a duty to tell their employees about health and safety issues that may affect them, to provide relevant safety equipment and training, and to provide a safe place to... read more

Overview of taxation of losses

Limited companies and other organisations such as clubs, societies, associations and other unincorporated bodies have to pay corporation tax on the taxable profits they make. The... read more

What to do if you believe your lawyer is negligent

If your solicitor has not returned your calls and letters, presented you with an unexpectedly large bill, or not done what you asked them to do, then you may have a legitimate... read more

What documents do I need when meeting a lawyer?

You want to ensure that your first meeting with your solicitor is as useful as possible. To ensure your solicitor thoroughly understands your problem and can provide you with proper legal... read more

Preparing to meet your lawyer

Once you have arranged your first meeting with a solicitor, it’s a good idea to gather your paperwork together and work out what questions you want to ask. Otherwise, you could end up... read more

Overview of environmental, health and safety requirements

Employers must ensure they comply with a wide variety of requirements on health and safety and the environment. Many of these are specifically set out in law, while others are part of a... read more

I want to start a company

Steps to follow Start small, think big. Keep your expenses as low as possible, but leave yourself scope to expand. On the other hand, don’t choke off possible growth by scrimping on... read more

An employee has committed a criminal offence

Steps to follow Do you genuinely believe on reasonable grounds that the employee committed the offence? This is the test that a tribunal will apply if you dismiss the employee and the... read more

I need help with immigration

EEA & Swiss nationals If you’re from Switzerland or the European Economic Area, you and your family will usually have the right to freely enter the UK and live here, as long as you... read more

Who works in law firms?

Law firms are busy places. They come in various shapes and sizes, from sprawling multinational operations to just one solicitor working as a sole practitioner from a high street... read more

How do solicitors charge?

Cost is always going to be a concern when using legal services, and you may be wondering how lawyers charge? First of all, solicitors have a professional duty to follow rules set down... read more

Rights of carers

If you are a carer who looks after a relative, friend or neighbour who needs support because of their sickness, age or disability, you have a number of rights at work and you may be... read more

Generally meeting with your lawyer

Before your initial meeting with your lawyer, you may be wondering what will happen at the meeting. What will be discussed, and what questions should you ask? What will the lawyer ask... read more

How to complain about your barrister, legal executive, or licensed conveyancer

We all expect a high standard of advice and conduct when we consult legal professionals. Usually, this is the case. Sometimes, however, things can go wrong. When they do, the prospect of... read more

I have injured myself at work

Steps to follow If you’ve been injured at work, you should (if you are capable of doing so) record the details of the incident in your employer's accident book. (All employers,... read more

What to consider when selecting a lawyer

There are several points to think about when choosing a lawyer, and the most important one is to select a lawyer with experience in the right area of law. Solicitors are usually highly... read more

Choices if you cannot afford a lawyer

Lawyers don’t come cheap, and sometimes the people who need them most can’t afford to pay. If you are unable to pay a lawyer, then there are several options available to... read more

I want to close a company

Steps to follow Make sure you tell all the relevant people. The bigger a business you have, the more people you will have to inform before you close. If you are a company or limited... read more

Contesting parking tickets

They’re the bane of motorists’ life, and among the most unpopular of all professions. While traffic wardens play Tom and Jerry with hapless drivers up and down the country,... read more

Age discrimination (business)

Many employers have, in the past, opted for youth over experience. This may be partly because they know they can pay young people less, and partly because of misconceptions and myths about... read more

I want to sell my company, I want to buy a company

Steps to follow Whether you are buying or selling a business, the first step is to put a value on it. This is a negotiable matter. Valuing a business is a complex process, so consider... read more

Overview of fraud in businesses

Definition of fraud  In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the fraud laws were overhauled by the Fraud Act 2006 which came into force in 2007. It introduced a statutory... read more

Overview of replacing your lawyer

The decision to replace your lawyer is not one you should make lightly. There are times, the night before a tribunal hearing, for example, when it may cause more problems than it would... read more

I need to restructure my company

Steps to follow There are many reasons for restructuring a company—realising value from assets, downsizing the workforce, streamlining and simplifying, taking it in another... read more

Welcoming a child

There are laws specifically designed to protect prospective or new parents and there are a range of benefits and allowances that you are entitled to as well. Pregnant employees If... read more

I have a health and safety issue

Steps to follow If you’re worried that conditions at your workplace are a potential threat to your health and/ or safety, first of all explain your concerns to your employer, or... read more

Overview of retirement

Retirement Age You can retire at any age you want – as long as you can afford it – but the default retirement age in the UK is 65. When you reach this age your employer can... read more

Overview of overtime

Introduction There are times in the life of a business when staff are going to be required to work extra hours – if you have a rush of demand for your goods or services or during... read more

I have a tax issue (corporate tax)

Steps to follow If you are a limited company, you will have to pay corporation tax on any profits at the end of the financial year. Partnerships have to pay income tax. Then there are... read more

Do I need a lawyer? (business)

Legal problems arise in business all the time and the temptation might be to run to a lawyer every time to get them to sort the problem out for you. There is no doubt that in some... read more

I have a health and safety issue

Steps to follow Employers have a duty of care to their workers and to visitors to their premises. Their duty extends to providing a safe place to work, preventing risks to health,... read more

I have a tax issue

Steps to follow If you’re unhappy with HMRC’s service – eg unreasonable delay, an avoidable mistake, or how you’ve been treated – first talk to the person or... read more

My child has been excluded/expelled

Steps to follow If your child has learning difficulties or disabilities which affects their behaviour and makes it harder for them to learn or communicate than most children of the same... read more

Special needs education

Steps to follow If your child has learning difficulties or disabilities which affects their behaviour and makes it harder for them to learn or communicate than most children of the same... read more

Disability discrimination (business)

All employers, bar the armed forces, have a legal duty not to discriminate against employees or job applicants on the grounds of disability. This has been the case since October 2004 (prior... read more

Overview of starting a new job

Pre-employment checks You’ve made it through the interview and you’ve been offered a new job – all good news, but it’s a wise idea to get the job offer in... read more

Overview of the minimum wage

National Minimum Wage rates Since April 1999 most workers in the UK have been legally entitled to a minimum wage. The national minimum wage (NMW) rates are set based on recommendations... read more

I am being bullied, I am a victim of discrimination (employees)

Steps to follow Bullying in the workplace is where someone tries to intimidate another worker. It is defined by Acas as “Offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour,... read more

Can I represent myself

An individual is entitled to represent themselves or their business at a court or tribunal. This is the case whether the individual is a claimant or a defendant. It may seem a daunting... read more

Rights to maternity leave

If you’re an employee and expectant mum, you’re entitled to 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave (OML) and 26 weeks additional maternity leave (AML) which – as long as you... read more

Termination of employment contracts

If you or your employer wants to terminate your employment, your employment contract will usually set out how much notice one must give the other before you leave. This may be more generous... read more

Overview of race discrimination

The Race Relations Act 1976 outlaws race discrimination in the workplace (as well as in education, transport and the provision of goods and services). This means all employees and job... read more

Overview of employment rights (personal)

Employees and workers in the UK enjoy a number of employment rights by law. You are classed as an employee if you are a working under a contract of employment. Employment... read more

I have a benefits issue

Steps to follow Do you think the Benefits Office or another body (eg, CSA, HMRC, local council) has made a mistake in calculating your benefits which has resulted in you not receiving the... read more

Overview of pay (pay rises, pay cuts, notice pay, etc.)

Your employer should tell you when you start work how much you will be paid, how it will be paid to you and when. This must be put in writing within two months of you starting... read more

I am having a baby, I need flexible working hours, I am owed money

Steps to follow If you’re pregnant, you’re allowed time off work for antenatal care. This can include medical appointments, as well as antenatal or parenting classes if... read more

I am being bullied

Steps to follow If you’re being bullied, your first move – if you feel able to - should be to talk to the bully and tell them, in a calm and controlled manner, that you find... read more

Making staff redundant

There are many reasons why you may need to make staff redundant including closure or relocation of your company, a need to cut costs by reducing headcount or simply because some posts... read more

Workplace bullying

Acas defines workplace bullying as: “Offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate... read more

What is redundancy?

If your employers are considering making you redundant – which will result in the termination of your employment – they have a duty to treat you fairly and there are number of... read more

I have an employment issue

Steps to follow Are you an employee? Your employment status determines what rights you have. If you are paid a salary, do the work personally (rather than sub-contract it out), if your... read more

Overview of employment rights (business)

As an employer in a UK company you have a number of duties and obligations to the people working for you under employment legislation. The duties you have depend largely on what category... read more

Sexual harassment

Employees have a right not to be sexually harassed in the workplace, and employers have a duty not to let this happen. It causes stress and humiliation, and benefits no-one. Ultimately,... read more

I am a victim of discrimination

Steps to follow It is illegal for your employer to treat you less favourably (ie discriminate against you) because of your: gender; marital status; gender reassignment; pregnancy and... read more

Age discrimination (personal)

Since 1 October 2006, age discrimination in the workplace has been banned, meaning employees are legally protected from discrimination on the basis of their age, just as they are from sex... read more

Overview of sex discrimination

The Equality Act 2010 outlaws discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sex, marital status, civil partnership status and gender reassignment. It covers: recruitment and... read more

Disability discrimination (personal)

If you are an employee or a job applicant and you have a disability, then you have certain rights under UK law. These include the right not to be discriminated against at work or during the... read more

I want to hire an employee, I want to fire an employee, I am being made redundant, I have been fired

Steps to follow Have you been fired following a certain number of warnings? Or fired on the spot? You can only be fired for a first offence if there has been gross misconduct. This... read more

Can I cut the pay of my staff?

In harsh economic times, most companies start to examine how they can cut costs and save cash, with eyes almost inevitably turning to the company’s employee wage bill which will... read more

What constitutes gross misconduct?

If you have done something at work which is so damaging to your employer’s business or organisation that it amounts to “gross misconduct”, your employer can dismiss you... read more

Gross misconduct or being fired

Gross misconduct or being fired Gross misconduct is behaviour in the workplace which is so serious that it warrants dismissal for a first offence without... read more

Choosing an employment lawyer

Employment Law If your dream job is turning into a nightmare, or your ‘perfect’ employee is wreaking havoc in the workplace, then you may need the help of an employment... read more

Overview of sex discrimination in employment

Under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (SDA 1975), it is illegal for your employer, or a prospective employer, to discriminate against you because of your gender, your marital status or... read more

Advice on employment rights

Steps to follow If you have a contract of employment you’ll usually be classed as an employee and are therefore entitled to a number of employment rights. These include statutory... read more