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Employment Tribunal Time Limits and Acas Early Conciliation

England & WalesLast reviewed 18 September 2026

You usually have to make an employment tribunal claim within 3 months of your employment ending or the problem happening. You will normally need an Acas early conciliation certificate before you claim, and this deadline is far shorter than for most other claims, so act quickly.

The Three-Month Deadline

Direct Answer: GOV.UK states you usually have to make a claim to the tribunal within 3 months of your employment ending or the problem happening.

For a dismissal the clock usually runs from the date your employment ended, and for other complaints it runs from the act complained of. Because the period is short, do not wait for an internal appeal or grievance to finish before checking your deadline, as those processes do not automatically stop the clock.

Early Conciliation With Acas

Before claiming, you normally have to notify Acas, which offers early conciliation to try to settle the dispute without a tribunal. If it does not settle, Acas issues a certificate that you need to enter on your claim form. Conciliation can change the deadline, and the exact effect depends on the dates, so use Acas's guidance or take advice on your specific dates rather than relying on a rough calculation.

Late Claims

A tribunal can sometimes accept a claim made out of time, but only where it was not reasonably practicable to claim in time, or in some discrimination claims where it is just and equitable. These are exceptions that are hard to rely on, so treat the deadline as fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to claim to an employment tribunal?

Usually 3 months from your employment ending or the problem happening. Some types of claim have different limits.

Do I have to go through Acas first?

Usually yes. You normally need an early conciliation certificate from Acas for each respondent before you can claim.

Does an internal appeal stop the time limit?

Not automatically. The tribunal deadline usually keeps running during an appeal or grievance, so check your dates.

Does it cost anything to claim?

GOV.UK says there is no fee to make an employment tribunal claim, though other costs can arise, for example if a party behaves unreasonably.

Can I claim after the deadline?

Only in limited cases where the tribunal accepts a late claim. Do not rely on that.

Can I bring a employment claim on a no win no fee basis?

Often, if a solicitor thinks the claim has reasonable prospects and is worth the cost of pursuing. Under a Conditional Fee Agreement you pay no solicitor fees if the claim fails, but a success fee is deducted from your damages if it succeeds and other costs may apply, so ask for the terms in writing and how disbursements are covered.

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What If I Lose?

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Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 18 September 2026.

  1. GOV.UK — Make a claim to an employment tribunal

    You usually have to claim within 3 months of your employment ending or the problem happening, usually with an Acas early conciliation certificate; there is no fee to make a claim.

  2. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  3. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  4. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
Review dates
Last reviewed 18 September 2026. Next review due 18 March 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.

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Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 2 August 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, ss.44–46 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Ended recoverability of success fees and ATE premiums from the losing party. Did not create or regulate CFAs.

  4. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
Review dates
Last reviewed 2 August 2026. Next review due 2 February 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.