In this factsheet, Thompsons Solicitors’ team of specialist personal injury lawyers offer advice on how union representatives, activists and members can help to raise awareness of their union’s free legal services to members.

Why should union members make a personal injury claim?

Making a personal injury claim helps to make society, and in particular workplaces, safer for everyone. Making a personal injury claims turns the spotlight on hazards or dangerous practices and makes sure that the responsible party is held to account. At an individual level, making a claim means that a member and their family are freed from the stressful burden of worrying about lost earnings if they’re unable to work due to injury, prescription costs, rehabilitation charges or other payments for the treatment needed to get them back on their feet.

Why should union members use their legal service to make a personal injury claim?

Trade union legal services, such as those offered by Thompsons Solicitors, offer significantly better terms than those offered by a law firm on the high street or advertised on TV. For a start, trade unions use specialist lawyers rather than “jacks of all trades” and unions also quality-monitor the law firms they use. Trade union members and their families are guaranteed 100% compensation with no deductions from damages in personal injury cases – something no high street law firm can promise or better. Specialist trade union lawyers like Thompsons have a wealth of experience and expertise, having run thousands of cases and secured hundreds of millions of pounds in personal injury compensation for union members based across the UK. 

What types of legal services are available to members of trade unions and their families?

Thompsons Solicitors delivers bespoke packages* of specialist legal services for trade union members and their families.

*Time limits and terms and conditions apply.

How can I help to promote my union’s free legal service to members?

  • Include a link to your union hub in any electronic communications such as on email signatures or in newsletter bulletins.
  • Request a legal surgery or legal talk from a Thompsons expert. Click to contact your nearest Thompsons Solicitors office.
  • Download free copies of legal guides, resources and posters and display them in your workplace. You can also order hard copies by emailing enquiries@thompsons.law.co.uk with the quantities you need, and the address to send them to.
  • Download a free social media graphic to promote your union’s legal service by using it in your social media posts. Remember to ‘tag’ @ThompsonsLaw in your posts so we can share them too.
  • Request copies of member case studies, video content, journal contributions or newsletter articles to feature in your union’s publications, bulletins, email campaigns or newsletters by emailing pressoffice@thompsons.law.co.uk with details of your deadline.

About Thompsons Solicitors

Thompsons was founded in 1921 with a vision to become the leading legal advisers to the trade union movement. We were determined to stand up for the injured and mistreated when others wouldn’t. Thompsons refused then, and continues to refuse now, to act for insurance companies or employers that are not trade unions. This gives us a unique perspective and commitment to claimants – we know whose side we’re on and fight harder and longer to secure the best results for injured and mistreated workers.

We’re proud to have taken a central role in fighting alongside trade unions to protect and improve workplace safety standards and employment rights, and hope that union representatives, shop stewards and union activists find this factsheet helpful.