Former LAPG chair's tribunal loss

An employment tribunal last week ordered the former chairwoman of the Legal Aid Practitioners' Group to pay her former secretary 2,500 after finding her guilty of unfair dismissal and making unlawful deductions.

The London South Employment Tribunal has ordered sole practitioner Roberta Tish to pay Sandra Woods following a unanimous decision.

Ms Tish, also a former chairwoman of the International Bar Association's access to justice committee, represented herself.

She told the Gazette the claim was 'totally irrelevant to my practice'.Freelance solicitor Natalia Siabkin, who had worked for Ms Tish, gave evidence for Ms Woods.Ms Tish had advertised for a 'part-time and experienced legal secretary - salary by arrangement', when she set up her own legal aid firm in 1996.

By 1997, Ms Woods was working more than 45 hours a week, invoicing on an hourly basis.

'It is quite clear to us that she became a vital part of that practice,' said the tribunal.

It found that Ms Tish did not pay Ms Woods regularly, which resulted in a debt of more than 7,500.

The tribunal said that Ms Tish had insisted that Ms Woods be self-employed, but went on: 'Self-employment was no more than a label put on the situation by Ms Tish.

It was a label which was palpable mis-description.' Arrears piled up, said the tribunal, and Ms Tish said the delay was caused by legal aid taxation.

Ms Woods was dismissed in a row over a word processor, and now works at legal aid practice Green & Bull.

She declined to comment.Solicitor Lawrence Davies, of North Lambeth Law Centre, who represented Ms Woods, said: 'I was astonished that she decided to contest the case when it was so obvious that Sandra Woods was her employee.'One does not expect to find a solicitor using a device which has the effect of circumventing an employee's rights.'Ms Tish is liable to pay the sum over eight monthly installments of 312.50, starting on the 12 May.Anne Mizzi