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Discrimination at work is unlawful, degrading, and can seriously damage your career and mental health. Whether you’re facing age discrimination, disability discrimination, racial harassment, or any other protected characteristic issue, you deserve fair treatment and legal support. We provide specialist discrimination legal advice for employees across Wales and the UK, helping you challenge unfair treatment and secure the compensation you’re owed.
To speak to an employment law consultant today, call us on 02920 829 100 or use our Contact us form.
Excellent rating by Review Solicitors | Ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
You shouldn’t have to put up with discrimination, but challenging it feels daunting. Maybe you’re being passed over for promotion because of your age. Perhaps colleagues make racist comments and management does nothing. Or you’ve been treated differently since announcing your pregnancy.
Discrimination takes many forms, from blatant harassment to subtle, indirect treatment that puts you at a disadvantage. The Equality Act 2010 protects you against discrimination based on nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
We work with employees across Wales and the UK who are facing workplace discrimination. Our solicitors get what you’re going through because we’ve helped hundreds of people in similar situations. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights clearly, and help you decide whether to raise a grievance, negotiate a settlement, or pursue a tribunal claim.
Whether you’re still employed and trying to stop the discrimination, or you’ve already left and want compensation, you’ll work directly with experienced solicitors who specialise in discrimination law. And if you’re more comfortable working in Welsh, we can handle your entire case yn Gymraeg.
Discrimination is never acceptable. Let’s talk about what’s happening and what we can do about it.
Contact us today for free legal advice for workplace discrimination.
Being treated unfairly because of your age, whether you’re young or older, is unlawful. Age discrimination legal advice covers situations like being rejected for jobs, passed over for training, made redundant first, or facing age-related harassment. We challenge discriminatory age limits, mandatory retirement policies, and unfair treatment based on assumptions about your capabilities.
The legal definition of discrimination includes treating disabled people unfairly or failing to make reasonable adjustments. Disability discrimination legal service covers physical disabilities, mental health conditions, and long-term illnesses. We pursue claims for failure to adjust working conditions, dismissals related to sickness absence, and discriminatory attitudes. Employers must make reasonable changes, from accessible facilities to flexible working.
Racial harassment, racial slurs, being treated differently because of your race, ethnicity, or nationality. Race discrimination remains far too common in UK workplaces. We challenge overt racism, unconscious bias in promotion decisions, and discriminatory policies that disproportionately affect ethnic minorities. Legal discrimination based on race is never acceptable, and we fight hard for clients facing it.
Being paid less than male colleagues, harassment, pregnancy discrimination, or unfair treatment because of your gender. Sex discrimination includes unequal pay for equal work, being overlooked for promotion because you’re a woman, and hostile treatment in male-dominated workplaces. We pursue equal pay claims and challenge discriminatory practices affecting women at work.
Pregnancy and maternity are protected characteristics. Maternity discrimination legal advice covers being dismissed during pregnancy, denied promotions, treated unfavourably on maternity leave, or facing detrimental treatment when returning to work. Employers cannot treat you badly because you’re pregnant, on maternity leave, or have childcare responsibilities. This protection is strong, and we use it.
Being treated unfairly because of your religion or belief, including philosophical beliefs. This covers harassment about your faith, being refused time off for religious observance, or discriminatory dress code policies. We defend your right to hold and manifest your beliefs at work without facing detriment.
Discrimination because you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual. This includes homophobic comments, being denied partnership rights, or facing a hostile environment. Sexual orientation is a protected characteristic, and harassment or less favourable treatment because of it is unlawful. We challenge discrimination affecting LGBTQ+ employees.
Discrimination arising from disability is when you’re treated unfavourably because of something connected to your disability (like sickness absence), and the employer can’t justify it. This is different from direct discrimination and often catches employers who think they’re acting fairly. We know how to build these claims effectively.
Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates your dignity or creates a hostile environment. Harassment can be a single incident or ongoing behaviour. Victimisation is when you’re treated badly for raising discrimination complaints or supporting someone else’s claim. Both are unlawful, and we pursue claims for both.
You’ll work directly with solicitors who specialise in discrimination law. No paralegals handling your case, no endless gatekeepers. When you call, you speak to someone who knows discrimination law inside out and can give immediate guidance. That’s what the best discrimination legal advice looks like.
We’re Wales’ leading commercial law firm with full Welsh language employment law services. Your discrimination case can be handled entirely in Welsh if you prefer, from initial advice through to tribunal representation. For Welsh speakers facing discrimination, this matters.
We won’t take your money if you don’t have a case. During your free consultation, we’ll give you straight answers about whether you’ve experienced legal discrimination and what compensation you might achieve. If your case is weak, we’ll tell you. If it’s strong, we’ll fight hard.
Discrimination isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity, respect, and stopping unfair treatment. We get that. Our approach combines legal expertise with genuine empathy for what you’re going through. Discrimination legal advice should be supportive, not just technical.
Over 20 years representing employees | Ranked in Legal 500 for Employment Law | Full Welsh language services
Call us or fill in our online form explaining what’s happened. We’ll arrange a free initial consultation to understand the discrimination you’re facing and give you honest advice about your options. No charge, no obligation. Just clear answers about where you stand and what legal discrimination actually means in your situation.
If you’ve experienced unlawful discrimination and want to go ahead, we’ll explain your options clearly. That might mean raising a formal grievance, negotiating a settlement, or preparing for tribunal. We’ll outline likely timescales, potential compensation, and how much our services cost. You’ll have everything you need to make informed decisions.
Once you’ve decided to instruct us, we act quickly. We’ll gather evidence, handle correspondence with your employer, manage ACAS early conciliation, and prepare your case thoroughly. You’ll have direct access to your solicitor throughout, no wondering what’s happening or chasing for updates.
Most discrimination cases settle before tribunal, often through negotiations or ACAS conciliation. We’re experienced negotiators who know how to secure fair settlements. If settlement isn’t possible, we’re experienced tribunal advocates who’ll fight your case vigorously. Either way, we aim to get you the best possible result.
Typical timescales: Initial consultation (within 48 hours) | ACAS early conciliation (6 weeks) | Tribunal from claim to hearing (6-12 months) | Settlement negotiations (2-12 weeks depending on complexity)
We know money is a real worry when you’re dealing with discrimination, especially if you’ve lost your job. We offer several funding options:
For specific services like discrimination legal advice on settlement agreements or initial case assessments, we offer fixed fees so you know exactly what you’ll pay.
For complex cases or ongoing advice, we charge hourly rates but give you clear cost estimates upfront. We update you regularly if costs might change. You’ll never get nasty surprises.
Check your home insurance policy. Many include legal expenses cover that could pay your discrimination claim costs. We can liaise with insurers directly and handle the paperwork for you.
What matters? Getting the legal help you need without piling on financial stress. We’ll discuss all options openly and find something that works for your situation.
The team combines expertise, integrity, and dedication to their clients. They offered us innovative solutions and a personalised attention.
Legal 500
Darwin Gray are a very resourceful and ambitious practice. They have a wide breath of areas in which they advise and recruit extremely well, with a number of very talented junior lawyers. They are approachable and responsive.
Legal 500
I used Darwin Gray recently and found their service to be outstanding, and great value. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm. 5 stars well deserved.
Chris Rees
The Equality Act 2010 defines legal discrimination as treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic (direct discrimination), applying policies that disadvantage people with protected characteristics (indirect discrimination), harassment related to protected characteristics, or victimisation for raising discrimination complaints. Disability discrimination also includes discrimination arising from disability and failure to make reasonable adjustments.
Is positive discrimination legal? Largely no. Positive discrimination (treating someone more favourably purely because of a protected characteristic) is generally unlawful in the UK. However, “positive action” is legal in limited circumstances, like encouraging applications from underrepresented groups or choosing between two equally qualified candidates. The legal discrimination framework is quite strict about this.
Discrimination claims have no cap on compensation, unlike unfair dismissal. Awards include injury to feelings (typically £1,000-£50,000 depending on severity), financial losses (lost earnings, pension, benefits), and sometimes aggravated damages. Average discrimination awards range from £8,000 to £40,000, but serious cases with significant financial loss can exceed £100,000. We’ll give you realistic expectations during your consultation.
Weight discrimination is not specifically protected under UK law unless the weight issue amounts to a disability. If obesity substantially affects your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities over the long term, it could be a disability giving you protection. We’d need to assess your specific situation, but generally weight alone isn’t a protected characteristic in the legal discrimination framework.
Usually three months minus one day from the last act of discrimination. For ongoing discrimination (continuing acts), time runs from the last incident. Time limits are strict, but tribunals can extend them if it’s just and equitable. Contact us immediately if you think you’ve experienced discrimination, don’t wait and risk being out of time.
Absolutely. You don’t need to be dismissed to bring discrimination legal advice claims. If you’re facing ongoing discrimination, harassment, or your employer refuses to make reasonable adjustments, you can claim while still working. We advise on protecting your position and raising grievances effectively before considering tribunal claims.
Emails, messages, witness statements, policies, meeting notes, and anything showing the discriminatory treatment or comments. For disability discrimination legal service cases, medical evidence and occupational health reports. For equal pay, payslips and job descriptions. We’ll guide you on gathering evidence specific to your discrimination type. Keep detailed notes of incidents as they happen.
Costs awards against employees are rare. Tribunals usually only order costs if your claim was vexatious, had no reasonable prospects, or you behaved unreasonably. If you’re genuinely pursuing workplace discrimination legal advice claims you believe in and following legal advice, costs risks are very low. We assess costs risks during your consultation.
Direct discrimination is treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic (e.g., not promoting someone because they’re pregnant). Indirect discrimination is applying a policy that disadvantages people with a protected characteristic (e.g., requiring full-time working that disadvantages women with caring responsibilities), unless the employer can justify it. Both are unlawful under the legal definition of discrimination.
Yes. If unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic violates your dignity or creates a hostile, degrading, or offensive environment, it’s harassment regardless of whether someone calls it “banter”. What matters is the impact on you, not the perpetrator’s intent. A single serious incident can be harassment, as can repeated minor incidents.
Not legally required, but tribunals expect you to try resolving issues through your employer’s grievance procedure first where reasonable. Raising a grievance creates a paper trail and gives your employer chance to fix the problem. We advise on whether and how to raise grievances based on your specific situation. Sometimes going straight to tribunal is appropriate.
Victimisation is when you’re treated badly for raising discrimination complaints, supporting someone else’s discrimination claim, or giving evidence in discrimination proceedings. For example, being disciplined after complaining about racial harassment, or being passed over for promotion after supporting a colleague’s sex discrimination claim. The discrimination legal definition specifically protects whistleblowers.
We’re based in Cardiff and Bangor, but we represent employees facing discrimination throughout Wales and across the UK. Most work happens by phone, email, and video call, so you don’t need to visit our offices unless you want to.
Our Cardiff office serves employees across South Wales including Swansea, Newport, Bridgend, and the Valleys. Our Bangor office supports employees throughout North Wales including Wrexham, Anglesey, Conwy, and Gwynedd.
As Wales’ leading Welsh language commercial law firm, we’re particularly experienced supporting Welsh speakers with discrimination legal advice. Whether you work for a Welsh organisation, a UK company, or an international employer, we provide the same high-quality representation in English or Welsh.
Discrimination at work won’t stop by itself. But you don’t have to deal with this alone.
Whether you’re facing ongoing harassment, you’ve been dismissed, or you’re being treated unfairly because of who you are, we can help. We’ll listen to your story, explain your rights clearly, and fight for the outcome you deserve.
Call 02920 829 100, or fill in our Contact us for a free initial consultation with our specialist discrimination solicitors.
Direct access. Welsh language services. Expert legal advice when you need it most.
To speak to one of our experts today, please contact us on 02920 829 100 or by using our Contact Us form for a free initial chat to see how we can help.
02920 829 100 
