Claimant
Plain-English definitions for England and Wales. General information, not legal advice. Laws and figures change - always check the current position on GOV.UK.
Claimant The person bringing the employment tribunal claim - usually the employee or worker. You are the claimant; the employer you are claiming against is the respondent. If you bring your own claim without a lawyer you are a litigant in person.
Also known as: the claimant
Related terms
- Respondent
- The party a tribunal claim is brought against - normally the employer, though an individual (for example in a discrimination claim) can also be named as a respondent. The respondent replies to the claim using the ET3 response form.
- Litigant in person
- Someone who brings or defends a tribunal claim without a lawyer representing them. Employment tribunals are designed to be used without legal representation, and many claimants act as litigants in person.
- ET1 claim form
- The form used to start an employment tribunal claim. It sets out who you are claiming against and what your claims are. You normally cannot submit it until you have an ACAS Early Conciliation certificate, and it must reach the tribunal within the time limit.
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