Welcome to the website of the Free Representation Unit. The Free Representation Unit (FRU) was founded in 1972 and is a registered charity. We provide legal advice, case preparation and advocacy in tribunal cases for those who could not otherwise obtain legal support, for want of personal means or public funding. To provide this service we train volunteer law students and legal professionals in the early stages of their career in the skills required to give confident and competent support for the rights of others.  All FRU's representatives are volunteers who are trained by FRU and work under the supervision of our case workers. FRU provides representation for: Cases in the Employment Tribunals (and appeals from decisions of the Employment Tribunals) Social security appeals in the Social Security and Child Support Appeals Tribunals (and appeals from such decisions) Some immigration and criminal injury compensation cases - please contact us for details. We can only assist you if: You have already commenced your case or appeal; Unless you are appealing from another tribunal decision, you have been given a hearing date; and Your case is referred to us by one or our referral agencies.  We cannot take referrals directly from a member of the public. "It should not be forgotten that, for many people, tribunals will be their only experience of justice in action, and that the issues dealt with by these tribunals are of the greatest importance to those who bring cases before them. The FRU's work is of great benefit to both claimants and volunteer representatives." -- Rt Hon Tony Blair MP Employment Tribunal Claims: Tactics and Precedents Written by Naomi Cunningham Our former employment caseworker, Naomi Cunningham, has written Employment Tribunal Claims: Tactics and Precendents, published by Legal Action Group.  Naomi, now at Farrar's Building, built the book around the file of precedents she wrote for volunteers - now expanded to include detailed commentary and a wealth of practical experience. The Hon Mrs Justice Cox DBE, in her foreword to this book, describes it as offering '...sensible and realistic guidance on every conceivable aspect of employment litigation.' The author has made a gift of her right to royalties to the Free Representation Unit (FRU) and we are delighted to receive 10% of the proceeds of each book. The book is being updated by Naomi and Michael Reed, FRU's current employment caseworker at etclaims.co.uk. It is available for purchase from the Legal Action Group web-site.