Short answer
For an equal pay enquiry, gather the contract, pay records, job descriptions, comparator information, grievance or questions, ACAS details and any tribunal documents or deadline dates.
Quick checklist
Start with these
Best order
How to organise the first pack
- Put the pay term being challenged first.
- List the comparator evidence separately.
- Add contracts, payslips and benefit records.
- Group grievance and ACAS papers by date.
- Flag any tribunal deadline or listed hearing.
Identify The Pay Difference And Comparator
Start with the contractual terms and pay records for the person raising the issue. Then identify the comparator role and what is known about pay, duties, grade and employer structure.
If exact comparator pay is not known, explain what documents are available and what information has been requested from the employer.
- Contract, offer letter and written statement of employment particulars.
- Payslips, bonus records, pension terms, allowances and benefits.
- Job description, rota, grading and evaluation documents.
- Comparator name or role, duties, workplace and employer details.
- Questions asked of the employer and any response.
Separate Equal Pay From Other Workplace Claims
Equal pay may overlap with discrimination, part-time work, holiday pay, bonus, redundancy or contractual claims. The enquiry should make clear which pay terms are disputed and whether a tribunal claim has already started.
Record ACAS Early Conciliation dates, claim numbers, orders and any employer defence if proceedings exist.
- Grievance, appeal and employer outcome.
- ACAS Early Conciliation certificate.
- ET1, ET3, tribunal orders or listed hearings.
- Any job evaluation or pay audit material.
- Settlement offers or without prejudice correspondence, marked separately.
Frame The Advice Request
A barrister may be asked to advise on merits, evidence gaps, pleadings, disclosure, schedule of loss, settlement or a preliminary issue. State the immediate task and deadline.
This guide is general information only and does not say whether an equal pay claim exists or will succeed.
Avoid delays
What not to send first
- Treating gender pay gap statistics as the whole claim.
- Omitting contractual benefits or pension terms.
- Leaving comparator duties unexplained.
- Mixing privileged settlement correspondence into the general bundle.
Source note: source-checked against Acas equal pay guidance and Equality Act 2010 equal-pay provisions on 26 September 2026. Comparator, equal-work, material-factor, time-limit and remedy issues need specialist employment barrister review before publication.
Claim and official-source ledger
- Acas explains that equal pay law concerns equal pay for equal work and covers pay and contractual terms such as salary, pension, holiday pay, overtime and contractual bonuses.
- Equal pay and the law — Acas; checked .
- The Equality Act 2010 contains the equality of terms provisions used for equal pay claims.
- Equality Act 2010, Chapter 3: Equality of terms — legislation.gov.uk; checked .
Editorial status: Review required. Sources support the identified claims only. General information; not legal advice.
Equal Pay Claim Barrister Evidence Guide FAQs
Is equal pay the same as gender pay gap reporting?
No. Acas explains that equal pay concerns pay and contractual terms for equal work, while gender pay gap reporting is about average earnings differences across an organisation.
What comparator evidence helps?
Job descriptions, grading records, pay bands, duties, location, employer structure and any available documents about the comparator's role can help frame the issue.
Should a grievance be included?
Yes, if there is one. Send the grievance, questions, employer response and any ACAS or tribunal papers so the procedural stage is clear.
Ask For A Barrister Quote
Barristers4U helps clients request a quote from a suitable Direct Access barrister. The information on this page is general information only, not legal advice about your individual circumstances.
If your matter is urgent, include hearing dates, court deadlines, orders and any documents you already have when you submit your enquiry.
