A law graduate has accused a legal firm of sex discrimination, claiming she was dismissed while on maternity leave.
A law graduate has accused a legal firm of sex discrimination, claiming she was dismissed while on maternity leave.
Amanda Lockhart has taken Glasgow law firm Hamilton Burns WS to an employment tribunal claiming sex discrimination as a result of her dismissal last July. The firm deny she was dismissed.
The tribunal ruled her sex discrimination claim can proceed to a full hearing but rejected her unfair dismissal claim as it was lodged too late.
Ms Lockhart told a preliminary tribunal hearing how she had worked for the firm at Carlton Place, Glasgow, while still a university student completing a post graduate diploma and was due to begin a legal traineeship with them in September 2007.
However, she advised partner Tasmina Ahmed-Sheik at the end of September that she was pregnant.
The law firm decided it was not appropriate for her to be a trainee at taht stage in her pregnancy.
She was sent a letter from Paul Burns stating: "The demands that pregnancy will make on you in our view are not reasonably compatible with the demands of a traineeship in a busy stressful office like this one."
The letter also stated her traineeship would be postponed and that Ms Lockhart had suggested October 2008 would be an appropriate time for her to return to work after the birth of her child. In the meantime, she could work as a general team member and her salary would be increased to the same figure she would have received had she been a trainee.
She began her maternity leave in February last year. It was agreed she would return in October. However, she claims she was dismissed on July 1, which the firm denies.
The law firm argued both her unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claims were time-barred. However, employment judge Robert Gall ruled it was just and equitable that her sex discrimination claim relating to her alleged dismissal last July should go ahead.
Ms Lockhart, of Viaduct Road, Glasgow, will have this claim heard by a tribunal at a later date.
