DC Solicitors host Mock Employment Tribunal

DC Employment Solicitors hosted an enjoyable and informative afternoon at a packed CIPD Mock Employment Tribunal in Portsmouth last week.

The tribunal equipped HR professionals, Company Directors and Senior Managers with an overview of how an employment tribunal is conducted, an insight into how to be as prepared as possible, as well as how it feels to be a witness in the proceedings.

The case involved an unfair dismissal claim (and age discrimination claim) brought by a young employee who had been sacked for making derogatory comments about his manager and employer. The process of a hearing was re-enacted to provide the attendees with a greater understanding of how they should deal with employment matters in order to avoid a hearing and how they should prepare if they have to attend an employment tribunal in the future. This included cross-examination by advocates as well as probing questioning by the Judge.

Employment Judge Gary Self (a barrister at Pump Court Chambers) who has a wealth of experience in hearing tribunal claims, did an excellent job at presiding over the proceedings. He dealt with the matter in exactly the same way that he might any hearing, save for amusing asides and explanations as the case developed. DC Employment Solicitors Amy Shaw and Laurence Dunn acted the claimant and the respondent roles.

Partner, Daryl Cowan ‘compèred’ the event and involved the audience from the outset.  The audience played a huge part in the success of the event and it was interesting to see how (by way of straw-polls) as the matter proceeded minds changed as to what the Judges final decision may be.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and we hope that you found it useful.