Dismissal lawyers in the Netherlands: how can they help you?

You do not need legal help for every dismissal, but in many cases it is wise. Here are the main situations in which dismissal lawyers recommended are:

This is the most common reason for contacting a dismissal lawyer. A settlement agreement is a proposal by your employer to terminate your employment. 

Do you sense that redundancy is in the air? Perhaps reorganisation plans have been announced or you notice that your employer is building a file against you.

At a disrupted working relationship a dismissal lawyer can mediate or advise on the best strategy. Consider situations such as:

• Conflicts with your supervisor

• Burnout or illness where your employer puts pressure on you

• Allegations of dysfunction

Legal help can also be valuable after your dismissal, for example if:

• Your employer's transition allowance unpaid

• You are still in the legal reflection period after signing a settlement agreement

• There are problems with your unemployment benefit

• You doubt whether the dismissal was lawful

A dismissal lawyer specialises in employment law and focuses specifically on dismissal cases. This distinguishes them from general lawyers or jurists. Their work includes:

• Assessing your situation: Is dismissal justified? What are you entitled to?

• Control of documents: Especially settlement agreements are closely monitored

• Calculation of fees: What is a reasonable severance payment in your situation?

Most dismissal lawyers will take over the complete negotiation with your employer. This means:

• All communication goes through the lawyer

• You no longer have to have difficult conversations yourself

• The emotional charge is taken out of the situation

Should it come to litigation, then:

• Does the dismissal lawyer handle all legal formalities

With so many offices in the Netherlands, it is hard to choose. When making your choice, pay attention to these points:

Always choose an office that fully specialises in dismissal law. General law firms often have less specific knowledge. 

Independent reviews are worth a lot. Check out, for example:

• Average score: A score of 9+ based on hundreds of reviews is a good sign

• Number of reviews: More reviews means more experience

• Recent reviews: Are the positive experiences recent?

When it comes to redundancy, speed is often crucial. Good offices offer:

• Response within 1 working day. Note that if offices indicate that they will be out within 1 hour, they may have done very little work for you.

• A lawyer on the phone immediately

• Also available in the evening and at weekends

Reliable offices are clear about:

• Costs and fees.

• Chances of success

• The follow-up process

The platform dismissaljuristen.nl is 1 of the few firms where legal assistance is really completely free for an employee. Many other firms often charge fees in the small print anyway. 

If you do not use the free services of dismissal-lawyers.co.uk, a dismissal lawyer will soon cost you money.

If you have to pay yourself, rates vary:

• Redundancy lawyers: €150-250 per hour

• Lawyers: €200-400 per hour

• Fixed prices: Some offices work with fixed prices for standard services

What can you expect when you contact a dismissal lawyer? The process usually looks like this:

• Upload your documents (settlement agreement, employment contract, etc.)

• The lawyer analyses your situation

• You get honest advice about your chances

Together you decide:

• What are your goals? (higher compensation, longer tenure, etc.)
• What room for negotiation is there?
• What is Plan B if negotiation fails?

The lawyer will contact your employer and start negotiations. You will be regularly updated on progress.

If there is agreement:

• Are the agreements recorded

• Lawyer checks final documents

• Does he/she guide you in signing