A tribunal works in the manner of a court, but is a bit less formal. No wigs are worn, and the judge formerly known as a 'chairman'is now known as an employment judge. He is helped by two other people sitting one on either side of him.
As is the case with the Small Claims Court, Employment Tribunals (In the past called Industrial Tribunals) were originally intended to be the 'small man's' court, a place where people with no knowledge of the law would be able to come and have their case heard and dealt with quickly.
If that ever was the case, it definitely is not so nowadays. Employment tribunals are legalistic with employers usually being represented by lawyers and barristers. The process is long and drawn out with mountains of documents and sundry paperwork generated in the process. Should you be represented you will be spared most of this.
The employment tribunal is not a place for those ignorant of the law. Despite all the hurdles however, determined workers do actually manage to succeed when representing themselves.
To succeed without someone to represent you, you will need to regard your case as a project or a hobby that is going to last up to six months, or sometimes even more.
You will need to be highly organised, be prepared to read up the relevant law, contact witnesses, take statements, make your own 'witness statement' and pay attention to detail.
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