Get advice!

In an ideal world, you should get advice about your rights and your options. An adviser or solicitor can:

• Help you take a step back and put things in perspective;
• Help you think about what outcome you want;
• Explain your options and the effects of choosing one over another;
• Help you gather any evidence you need to take things further;
• If your problem is at work and you decide to raise a grievance they can help you put your grievance in writing and prepare for the meeting;
• Make sure you don't miss any important deadlines for making a claim;
• Represent you at a hearing.

Advisers know about the law, but only you know about what has been happening to you and how you’d like to see it resolved. To get the most out of speaking to an adviser, you need to do a bit of groundwork in advance. The better prepared you are, the more likely you are to get the result want.

Remember to take any evidence you have prepared with you.

Write down anything you want to ask your adviser so that you don’t forget. For example:

• how much help they can give you
• whether you’ll have to pay anything and, if so, how much
• the steps involved in resolving your complaint and how long each step will take
• what your chances are of winning your case and what that means.

To get in touch with an adviser or solicitor see Where to get help.

March 2010