Employment Appeal Tribunal: Your Questions Answered
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) hears appeals against decisions of the employment tribunal. It is not a second chance to argue your case. It can only consider whether the tribunal made an error of law, and that distinction shapes almost everything about how an appeal works, what it costs and how likely it is to succeed.
This section answers the questions people most often ask before, during and after an EAT appeal. Each answer is written to stand alone, so you can go straight to the question that matters to you.
Who this section is for
Claimants and respondents deciding whether an appeal is worth pursuing, or how to resist one
HR professionals and business owners dealing with an unfavourable tribunal judgment
Representatives and advisers who want a quick reference on EAT practice
Before you start
Three points come up in almost every enquiry:
The time limit is short and strictly applied. Missing it can end your appeal before it begins, so check your deadline first.
Disagreeing with the outcome is not enough. You need to identify a legal error in how the tribunal reached its decision. If you're unsure whether you have one, start with What Counts as an "Error of Law"?.
Many appeals do not get past the first filter. Every appeal is reviewed at the sift stage, and weak ones are stopped there. It's worth understanding this stage before you draft anything.
Where to begin
New to this? Read A Clear Guide to Appealing Your Employment Tribunal Decision for the full picture, then return here for detail on specific points.
Wondering whether you can appeal at all? Start with Can I Appeal an Employment Tribunal Decision to the EAT?
Already have grounds in mind? Go to the grounds of appeal section below.
Weighing up risk and cost? See the process and strategy sections.
The questions below are grouped by where you are in the appeal journey.
