PLEASE HELP!!! im desperate for help!!

[teazerchase]

I am in conflict with my previous employer and has an ongoing case against the company. unfortunately, i cannot afford to get legal advice as i am unemployed at the moment. can someone with legal knowledge please tell me if it's legal to use recorded conversations in the court? i cannot get any help from my former colleagues at work because theyre saying that they don't wanna get involved and that they wanna protect their employment with the same company and yet they have made statements that if i can't prove that they are untrue, would make my case weak. my only chance of amking my case stronger is by having the recorded conversations credited by the court. but the thing is, my colleagues dont know that i have the said records and, another thing is that two of the records that i can use were phone conversations, and one is a personal conversation. please please help me, tell me any information as with regards to this matter! or if anyone can offer legal advice at an affordable price, i would really appreciate it... many thanks to you guys!

[NoGood Boyo]

Since you mention the Court I assume that legal proceedings are under way? If so, feel free to ask the Court if you can use your recordings in evidence. Every Court has a Clerk. You will usually be required to give the other side (the people you are fighting) advance copies of any evidence that you propose to rely on. What sort of legal action is it, and in what type of Court?

[QPR]

I believe it is illegal to record a conversation with someone with out there permission and that it can't be used as evidence. I could be wrong though!

[Ian King]

Look in the Yellow Pagees for soliciters that deal with Employment Law, many offer a no win - no fee deal and because you are unemployed you will be eligible for Legal Aid. I recently used Legal Aid and won the case and never had to pay a penny!

[paulz]

I don't think you can use the tapes unless at the start of the conversation you told the other party that you were taping the call. Can you get Legal aid? or try CAB [citizens advice]

[worder]

unluckily, you don't tell us what country you're in. here in the states, it is definitely against the law to record a conversation without knowledge and consent of all parties. it is a federal offense( a crime in every state of the union), and not just that, i think it is also a felony (more than a year in prison). how do you like the picture so far? you need a lawyer asap. if you have to consult with 10 lawyers before you decide on one. consultation either over the phone or in person is free of charge. if you already have a lawyer, then you must let him know of the recordings, before you get under oath and surprise everybody, including your lawyer, he must know every thing about your case. good luck.

[Scottie]

To be honest, we need more info dude. How long have you worked there, what were the circumstances of your dismissal, will any one support your accusations?

[NoGood Boyo]

Scottie's right. We will help if we can, but more info needed please.

[teazerchase]

hiya all! thanks for everyone who responded to my post, i really appreciate all ur help. well, first off, im here in the uk and i think i hava a valid case as my case has been with the tribunal for weeks now. like i said, the onyl ones who can testify for me dont want to do me the favor coz they still work for my former employee. the only thing which i hope, will make me win the case is the fact that i am telling the tribunal the truth.. which is just so hard to do...

[NoGood Boyo]

The rules of evidence in an Industrial Tribunal are not as formal as they are in Court, so ask the Chairman if you can use your tape. On the other hand, they don't have the time or resources to check that your tape is genuine like the police would in a criminal case. Ask your friends to give written evidence, signed and witnessed or sworn as affidavits, and ask the Chairman of the Tribunal if he will accept them on a confidential basis and not disclose the witnesses' names to your former employer.