UNFAIR DISMISSAL CONCILIATION PRICING PACKAGE OPTIONS EXPLAINED:
Our transparent and comprehensive conciliation pricing package options are the most budget friendly and expansive in the market, with all 5 pricing options covering stages 1-4 of the unfair dismissal claim process outlined below, with a typical duration of 1-2 months after initial contact with us to completion.
During this period, 99% of our clients will either receive a negotiated offer of settlement or achieve full settlement of their matter.
All prices shown are maximum fees up until completion of stage 4 of the claim process, and we also provide flexible pricing for specific needs like last-minute representation or lodgement-only assistance.
For the extremely rare cases that proceed further, we also offer arbitration packages which commence after the process in stages 1-4 does not garner a satisfactory result, the process of which is outlined further in stages 5-6 below.
OPTION 1- BEST VALUE- ALL UP FRONT PAYMENT
Pay our substantially reduced fee of just $890 upfront and keep 100% of any settlement achieved. This is complete conciliation representation for less than one week’s minimum wage; maximum value, maximum return.
OPTION 2- NO RISK- NO WIN NO FEE
This option poses no financial commitment to you. If your matter settles for non-financial aspects only, you are not entitled to pay for our services, receiving our assistance free of charge.
If your matter financially settles or we negotiate a reasonable financial offer of settlement, your fees for our services will total the higher amount of 30% or $1,590 of the gross settlement.
If the settlement amount is less than $1,590, our fee will account for the entire amount and you will therefore not be out of pocket for our services.
OPTION 3 AND 4- CALCULATED RISK- SMART HYBRID
This option involves a mix of the previous two options, which reduces the fee if a settlement is achieved.
Simply choose a small upfront payment option of either $190 or $390 and if your matter financially settles or we negotiate a reasonable financial offer of settlement, a reduced no win no fee component will then apply, whereby your additional fees payable will then total the higher amount of 25% or $1,290 (for the $190 upfront payment) or the higher amount of 15% or $990 (for the $390 upfront payment).
If the settlement amount is less than $1,290 or $990 respectively, then our fee will be equivalent to the settlement amount received. There will be no additional charges and our only fee would be that initial amount which you already paid, which also applies if you settle for non-financial aspects only.
OPTION 5- GUARANTEED RETURN- 50/50 NO WIN NO FEE
If a financial offer is negotiated, you are guaranteed money in your pocket with this option with no financial risk. This would be suited for casual workers or apprentices.
If your matter financially settles, our fees will equate to 50% of the gross settlement amount while you keep the other 50%. You will never be out of pocket with this option and no matter the settlement amount, you will receive half.
UNFAIR DISMISSAL CLAIM
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
STAGE 1. LODGEMENT:
When you have lost your job, simply reach out to Workplace Justice within 21 days. We will guide you through a brief eligibility check and consultation sign-up process, as we obtain all necessary administrative and financial details required as well as the essential details about why your dismissal was unfair.
After sharing your story, we organise all critical information, lodging your application with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) and notifying your former employer. This process will be completed within 24 hours of initial contact with us, and you will not need to handle any complex paperwork, as we take care of everything while you focus on moving forward.
STAGE 2. PRE-CONCILIATION:
After lodging your claim, we immediately start private negotiations with your former employer on your behalf.
Within a week, the FWC will acknowledge receipt and process your application (we cover all fees), providing you with a unique case number.
Within a couple weeks, you will then receive a listing notice of your conciliation meeting which is typically scheduled 2-6 weeks ahead. During this time, your former employer should provide their formal response to your claim.
STAGE 3. INFORMAL CONCILATION:
The conciliation meeting provides the best opportunity to reach a settlement with the majority of conciliations held around 5 weeks after lodgement.
In this confidential and informal setting, the conciliator introduces both parties and explains how the process works. Your consultant then presents a curated statement on your behalf summarising your legal position and critical issues in dispute, with the Respondent getting their chance to respond. Then both parties and their representatives are placed in seperate private rooms and negotiations proceed, with an impartial conciliator facilitating this process and exchanging offers for settlement. We handle all communications and negotiations on your behalf while answering any questions you may have.
While your consultant will provide expert guidance on any offers received, the final decision to accept or decline remains entirely yours.
Your matter will more than likely settle at this point.
STAGE 4. DIRECTIONS HEARING:
In the unlikelihood your matter remains unsettled after a conciliation, your case progresses to a more formal phase and is handed to a Member of the Commission, with a directions hearing scheduled 2-4 weeks later, while settlement negotiations continue on your behalf behind the scenes.
If final positions in the conciliation are close together, the parties can also request the matter be ‘held open’ for a few business days to facilitate potential settlement prior to it being handed over to a Commission Member.
While the purpose of a directions hearing is to set dates for evidence submissions and schedule the final hearing, an opportunity for a “Member-Assisted Conciliation” can present itself and be requested prior, as an additional chance to negotiate and settle your matter, with a Commission Member present.
ARBITRATION PROCESS (VERY RARE)
The preceding stages 5 and 6 are not covered in the above pricing packages and incur upfront costs. Please note that it is very rare to reach this stage and therefore is not applicable in almost all cases. However, these pricing packages can be discussed at any time and will be disclosed to clients prior to proceeding further, becoming available once the above stages 1-4 have been exhausted and not garnered an outcome.
Should you wish to proceed to the arbitration stages after discussion with your expert consultant, we will provide fair pricing packages for assistance with formulating submissions of evidence and witness statements and/or attendance at an arbitration hearing.
STAGE 5. FORMAL SUBMISSIONS:
This involves the preparation of formal written submissions detailing your unfair dismissal arguments, accompanied by supporting witness statements. The FWC typically sets submission deadlines for 2 weeks after the directions hearing, providing specific guidelines for this process.
While we can assist with preparing these formal documents, this service is not included in the above conciliation packages and requires additional up-front payment. However, please note that it is extremely uncommon to reach this point.
STAGE 6. FORMAL ARBITRATION HEARING:
The final stage of the process - reached by less than 2% of all cases with the FWC - involves a formal arbitration hearing or conference that can span several hours to days. This hearing typically occurs 1-3 months following the directions hearing, with a Commission Member’s final decision given several weeks later. In some cases, a seperate jurisdictional hearing may be held earlier.
During this stage, the Commission Member evaluates the evidence to determine whether you have been unfairly dismissed, before deliberating on remedies. This represents the culmination of the unfair dismissal process, where a binding decision is made.