Representation and Outcomes
How does the choice of representative affect tribunal outcomes? Analysis of 4,897 contested hearings showing claimant success rates and award ranges by representation status and type. All success rates refer to the claimant succeeding or partly succeeding.
Represented vs unrepresented — headline figures
Claimant representation
Claimant success rate when the claimant is represented vs unrepresented
Respondent representation
Claimant success rate when the respondent is represented vs unrepresented
Combined representation effect
How does the combination of both parties' representation status affect outcomes? All figures show the rate at which the claimant succeeds or partly succeeds.
| Representation combination | Cases | Claimant success rate | Median award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claimant unrepresented / Respondent represented | 2539 | 29% | £3,848 |
| Claimant represented / Respondent represented | 1281 | 36% | £6,955 |
| Claimant unrepresented / Respondent unrepresented | 759 | 76% | £4,095 |
| Claimant represented / Respondent unrepresented | 145 | 88% | £9,000 |
By representative type
Breakdown by the type of representative. “Lay representative” includes litigation consultants, trade union representatives, HR consultants, and McKenzie friends — anyone who is not a qualified solicitor or barrister. All success rates refer to the claimant succeeding or partly succeeding.
Claimant representative type
| Type | Cases | Claimant success | Median award |
|---|---|---|---|
| unrepresented | 3309 | 40% | £4,015 |
| barrister | 641 | 43% | £14,733 |
| lay rep | 527 | 41% | £3,722 |
| solicitor | 200 | 40% | £16,118 |
| union | 56 | 34% | £5,000 |
Respondent representative type
| Type | Cases | Claimant success | Median award |
|---|---|---|---|
| barrister | 2220 | 26% | £7,222 |
| unrepresented | 924 | 78% | £4,529 |
| solicitor | 723 | 28% | £8,300 |
| lay rep | 595 | 48% | £3,464 |
| in house | 253 | 53% | £2,211 |
| represented unknown | 10 | 20% | £12,679 |
About these figures
Figures are based on contested hearings where representation status is recorded in the published decision. Not all decisions record representation details. “Success rate” throughout this page means the rate at which the claimant succeeds or partly succeeds. Representation type categories are as recorded in the judgment — a “lay representative” may include a litigation consultant, trade union officer, HR adviser, family member, or McKenzie friend. These figures show correlation between representation and outcome, not causation — many factors beyond representation influence outcomes.