Mike Thomson

Employment lawyer at Foot Anstey

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@Mclark1502 @michaelpforan It is guidance so not technically binding in and of itself, but it refers to existing legislation that is binding, so choosing to ignore it should be approached with caution and ideally specific advice sought before doing so

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@John_Cooper_QC I don’t have a degree, I did an apprenticeship at a firm and did CILEX qualifications. I’ve been advising clients on employment law for years. I even supervise trainee solicitors despite not being one. Im not a solicitor or a barrister but I am a lawyer.

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@John_Cooper_QC I see lawyer as the catch all in the same way as saying you work in ‘healthcare’. A lawyer doesn’t mean solicitor or barrister, but you can advise clients without being either. You can work in healthcare and advise patients without being a doctor. 1/2

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@LawTrades The submission deadline is today

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@MilsomChr PH in April 23, 9 day listing in December 23 (Newcastle), PH last week, 5 days in April 24 (London Central), new claim this week with PH in October but 3 days listed for May 2025 (Midlands East). It appears to be entirely random for me at the moment 😂

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@itsdavegreen I’ve just had new claim in with 3 day listing in May 2025. Weirdly there’s a PH in Oct 23 so I’ll be asking for closer dates! This isn’t the norm for me though, most are being heard within a year (eg PH in May 2023 got 9 day listing in Dec 2023, PH today got 5 days April 24).

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@HouseChambers Feminism isn’t automatically protected. It will only be protected if the belief satisfies a number of criteria which was set out in the case of Grainger v Nicholson. The Grainger criteria are also scrutinised in Forstater v GCD and Costa v LACS which are both helpful

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@LizMcG_emplaw Completely agree, hate having to dig heels in unnecessarily

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@samjproffitt Thanks Sam, I've just tried messaging you and it says I can't? Admittedly I'm not au fait with Twitter so this could be entirely user ignorance my end!

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

Legal Twitter - does anyone have any advice and/or could point me in the right direction for applying for exemptions to transfer to the Bar? Have emailed the BSB but any other sources of information or to chat to someone that has successfully done so would be amazing. Thanks!

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@PicturesFoIder LinkedIn

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@annajohns92 Those 3-4 days of enjoyable xx clearly paid off!

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@moira_robin Glad you said this, I thought I was missing something! I’ve seen some additional opinion on his comments and whilst in theory I get and respect his point, in practice I can’t see an ET ever not reaching a finding of discrim because of such a nuanced point

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@ishkolhatkar Phwoar

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@ZoeJardiniere Still can’t believe this is rumbling on. I remember a client asking me to look into it early 2021, I called both companies named by govt to be running ‘pilot’ scheme and neither knew anything about it; considering official message was it had already started 🤷‍♂️

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@sarlalian @JonteBlomberg @QuintondaDon1 @Palle_Hoffstein In the UK most, if not all, affected employees will settle instead of sue. There are fixed amounts you can get for being unfairly fired so all it takes is for Musk/Twitter to offer a bit more than that and it would be a waste of time to sue and end up with less money.

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@ZoeJardiniere Pennywell farm. You can literally cuddle the piglets, it’s amazing

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@residentadviser @nicfreeman1209 @MilsomChr @v_j_freeman A political belief *can* be a philosophical belief, but it’s not automatic. Any alleged philosophical belief needs to be considered using a test set out in the case Grainger v Nicholson

[Mike Thomson @MikeThomsonFA]

@DSSmith_lawyer @itsdavegreen That was the thing, there weren’t any that we could find. Same guy at ACAS has been dealing for 20+ years, he said there were written rules once but no idea where they are. He’s never had to refer anything to pres of ET but mentioned this to one once and they had no idea either.