Welcome

Welcome to the Market Town Firm with City expertise. Dawsons Law are based in Watton and Hethersett and are proud to bring you the solution locally. We provide a full range of quality legal services to individuals in Wills, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Divorce, Matrimonial Finances, Family Matters, Employment Law, Business Services, Debt Recovery. Our experience shows us that a barrier for clients in seeking much needed legal advice is fear about the costs of legal services required. Salena Dawson Solicitors provide affordable payment methods including interest free monthly payments.  So you are not entitled to Legal Aid (Public Funding) but still on a low income? don’t panic we have affordable solutions to suit your individual circumstances. Also for many services we offer fixed fee legal advice and assistance so you can relax knowing the exact cost of the service we provide to you from the onset. We also provide quality legal advice in Employment Law, Debt Recovery and HR Services to businesses throughout Breckland and South Norfolk. Business services are often purchased on a retained basis giving peace of mind that legal advice is at hand when required. We know running your own business is not a 9 to 5 job and this is why Salena Dawson Solicitors are not just office hour legal advisers. Looking for a solicitor in Wayland or Hethersett? Look no further. Both our offices are easily accessible, with free parking available. Don't fight the hustle and bustle of city traffic and city parking. Instead find the solution conveniently and locally. Are you in the Norfolk Police Federation, Military Services or employed by HMPS? If so, you automatically qualify for 10% off all legal fees excluding disbursements and VAT. Home visits for elderly clients by our dedicated elderly client advisor are also available on request.

IN THE NEWS

Employment law changes taking effect in 2013

The following changes to employment law come into effect this month:

• No more legal Aid for Employment Law cases in England and Wales from 1 April 2013, except in relation to discrimination complaints.  This means that the Legal Help Scheme, which provided public funding for advice and assistance for the preparation of tribunal claims up to, but not including, representation at employment tribunal hearings where claimants met a merits and means test for assistance, will no longer be available.  However, discrimination cases will remain within the scope of legal aid but with a service provided remotely through telephone or online advice, with claimants only receiving face-to-face advice if the provider considers they cannot be advised over the phone or by e-mail.

  Dawsons Law Offers Employment Law on a No Win No Fee Basis, contact us for further information. Terms and conditions may apply. 

• Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), ordinary and additional statutory paternity pay (OSPP and ASPP) and statutory adoption pay (SAP) from £135.45 to £136.78 per week 
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from £85.85 to £86.70 per week from 6 April 2013.
• The lower earnings limit applying to National Insurance contributions, below which employees are not entitled to SSP, SMP, OSPP, ASPP and SAP, will increase from £107 to £109 per week from 6 April 2013.

New National Minimum Wage Rates to apply from 1 October 2013

The following rates will come into force from 1 October 2013:

• The adult rate will increase by 12p from £6.19 to £6.31 per hour.
• The rate for 18-20 year olds will increase by 5p from £4.98 to £5.03 per hour.
• The rate for 16-17 year olds will increase by 4p from £3.68 to £3.72 per hour.
• The apprentice rate will increase by 3p from £2.65 to £2.68 per hour.
• The accommodation offset will increase from £4.82 to £4.91 per day.

Free Employment Law Help For Employers

ACAS has launched six new step-by-step guides to help small businesses make sure they comply with the law when hiring staff, managing people and dealing with complaints at work. The six guides cover recruiting an employee, settling in a new employee, the new employee's contract, managing a complaint at work, managing staff absence and how to get the best out of staff. The guides can be accessed at: www.acas.org.uk/stepbystep

Online Toolkit To Help Employers When Taking On Their First Employee

An online toolkit that provides employers with help when taking on their first employee has been launched by the Government.  An update from the version that was launched a year ago, the “Employing staff for the first time” toolkit helps potential employers through the process of hiring their first member of staff and sets out the relevant legal requirements. 

 https://www.gov.uk/employing-staff