Independent, practical help for litigants in person in England & Wales.
Written by John Barwell
Nine months after Royal Assent, the Employment Rights Act 2025 is a half-built statute. Tribunal time limits double on 1 October 2026, but the unfair dismissal changes do not begin until January 2027 — and for dismissal the test is the date the employment ends, not the day the decision is announced. A state-of-play guide to what is in force, what is not, and how to time a claim in the overlap.
Written by John Barwell
Whistleblowing · COT3 settlements · Early-years safeguarding The EAT decision in Mrs A Darlington v London Borough of Islington is an orthodox application of COT3 construction principles. Its wider significance lies in the gap it exposes: Parliament has created a sectoral recruitment-stage whistleblowing shield for NHS applicants, but not for workers in regulated early-years settings. … Continue reading “Darlington v Islington: COT3 settlements and whistleblowing protection gaps”
Written by John Barwell
The ET3 response is not ordinary correspondence. This article explains why a late, defective, rejected or missing response can trigger Rule 22 risks, restrict respondent participation, and require a properly evidenced extension application.
Written by John Barwell
Employment tribunals were meant to be accessible for all, but unrepresented claimants—known as Litigants in Person—face a justice system that’s structurally rigged.
Written by John Barwell
Learn practical steps to navigate ACAS and Employment Tribunals as a Litigant in Person and overcome the challenges of self-representation.
