Your first employment tribunal claim: the ET1 form explained

The ET1 is the form that starts almost every employment tribunal claim in England, Wales and Scotland. Getting it right matters — a rejected or late ET1 can end a claim before it's heard.

Before you start the form

You almost always need to contact Acas first for "early conciliation". Acas will issue a certificate with a number you'll need to enter on the ET1 — without it, the tribunal will usually reject your claim outright.

The deadline is strict

Most claims — unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages — must be started within three months less one day from the event you're complaining about (usually your last day of employment, or the date of the act you're challenging). Early conciliation can extend this slightly, but the underlying three-month clock is unforgiving. Tribunals can allow late claims in limited circumstances, but you shouldn't rely on that.

What the form actually asks

• Your details and your employer's correct legal name and address
• What type of claim you're making (there's a checklist)
• A clear, chronological account of what happened
• What outcome you're asking the tribunal for

The "what happened" section is where most claims are won or lost before they're even heard. Write it as a timeline, with dates, and keep it factual rather than emotional — the tribunal will test every claim against your evidence.

After you submit

Your employer (the respondent) has 28 days to respond with an ET3. From there, the tribunal will usually list a preliminary hearing to sort out timetabling, or go straight to case management.

This is general information, not legal advice — every case turns on its own facts and deadlines.