We are pleased to report that we have successfully negotiated a significant five figure settlement in a disability discrimination and unfair dismissal case brought before the Employment Tribunal. The agreed settlement comes after many months of negotiation and provides meaningful closure for our client after a difficult period.
In this case, our client alleged that their dismissal was both unfair and discriminatory. Central to the claim was the employer’s refusal to recognise our client’s long-term health conditions, including Long Covid, as disabilities under the Equality Act 2010.

Early in the process, our student advisers represented the client at a preliminary hearing at the Employment Tribunal. This was an invaluable early opportunity to test the strength of our legal submissions, ensuring that the focus of the claims remained clear and robust as the case progressed.

Throughout proceedings, the employer’s representatives argued that our client was not disabled and that our client’s dismissal was reasonable. We took the view that the employer had not adequately explored reasonable alternatives and that their approach fell short of what a reasonable employer would have done.

Following a series of written offers and counteroffers, we reached a settlement shortly before the final hearing. The agreed figure was one of the highest financial settlements ever achieved by Strathclyde Law Clinic to date. It reflected the strength of the case, and the effectiveness of the strategy and advocacy carried out by the Law Clinic team throughout the negotiation process.

This case highlights the broader importance of settlement in Employment Tribunal litigation. Most cases do not go to full hearing, and this case is a good example of how preparation, persistence, and a clear grasp of the legal and evidential landscape can result in a fair and timely resolution.

The settlement takes the total amount that law clinic has won this year for clients to over £100,000. We are privileged to be able to achieve such results for clients and humbled that clients place their trust in us to do so. We are also very proud to have played a part in delivering justice for our client and remain committed to the Clinic’s mission of providing free legal support to individuals across Scotland.

Reflecting on the outcome, our client said: “I honestly cannot fault the work of the student advisers. They were superb from start to finish.”

You can read the article on the Scottish Legal News: https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/strathclyde-law-clinic-secures-out-of-court-settlement-in-employment-claim