to you. If you cannot agree between you how to set things right, then you need to decide if you want to get help from someone else (alternative dispute resolution) or make a claim in court. Alternative dispute resolution The first part of this section assumed you would make the complaint yourself, or with the help of someone you already know. If you want to get help in sorting out a complaint about discrimination, you could try to get the person or organisation you are complaining about to agree to what is usually called dispute or ADR. ADR involves finding a way of sorting ‘alternative resolution’ out the complaint without a formal court hearing. ADR techniques include mediation and conciliation. You can find out more about ADR, whether any of the options might be suitable in your situation, what you have to do, and how much it might cost from the: (see 'Further sources of information and advice' section). Scottish Government publication Resolving Disputes Without Going To Court (if you are in Scotland). For some sorts of cases mediation services are available through the courts service, and these can be used instead of waiting for a case to be heard by a judge. Mediation has the advantage of generally reducing cost and may successfully settle a claim without the inconvenience of a trial. You can find information about mediation services, including how to find mediators registered with the Civil Mediation Council for England and Wales here: and for Scotland here: The questions procedure If you believe you may have experienced unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation under equality law it is good practice to seek relevant information from the person or organisation you think is responsible. This can help you decide if you have a valid claim or not. How you can do this will depend on whether or not the claim is about something that happened before 6 April 2014. Claims about events which happened before 6 April 2014 If the claim is about something that happened before 6 April 2014, there is a set procedure which you can use to obtain information from the person or organisation you think is responsible. It includes a set form called 'the questionnaire' or 'questions procedure' available at:
to you. If you cannot agree between you how to set things right, then you need to decide if you want to get help from someone else (alternative dispute resolution) or make a claim in court. Alternative dispute resolution The first part of this section assumed you would make the complaint yourself, or with the help of someone you already know. If you want to get help in sorting out a complaint about discrimination, you could try to get the person or organisation you are complaining about to agree to what is usually called ‘alternative dispute resolution’ or ADR. ADR involves finding a way of sorting out the complaint without a formal court hearing. ADR techniques include mediation and conciliation. You can find out more about ADR, whether any of the options might be suitable in your situation, what you have to do, and how much it might cost from the: (see 'Further sources of information and advice' section). Scottish Government publication Resolving Disputes Without Going To Court (if you are in Scotland). For some sorts of cases mediation services are available through the courts service, and these can be used instead of waiting for a case to be heard by a judge. Mediation has the advantage of generally reducing cost and may successfully settle a claim without the inconvenience of a trial. You can find information about mediation services, including how to find mediators registered with the Civil Mediation Council for England and Wales here: and for Scotland here: The questions procedure If you believe you may have experienced unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation under equality law it is good practice to seek relevant information from the person or organisation you think is responsible. This can help you decide if you have a valid claim or not. How you can do this will depend on whether or not the claim is about something that happened before 6 April 2014. Claims about events which happened before 6 April 2014 If the claim is about something that happened before 6 April 2014, there is a set procedure which you can use to obtain information from the person or organisation you think is responsible. It includes a set form called 'the questionnaire' or 'questions procedure' available at:
equalityguidance-parliament-politicians-2015_0.docx