Joe Mezgebe, a Finchley IT worker, faces long delays in his unfair dismissal case while battling cancer and financial strain
Joe didn’t know about judicial postponements when he started. Now, he’s lost £15,300 in legal fees. He’s also dealing with mental distress from the situation. His hearing was first set for September 2023 but has been pushed to October 2025.
Joe is worried he might not live to see his case heard. He said, “I went to court to get justice, and now I can’t afford to fight anybody.” Legal aid was removed from employment claims in England in 2013, leaving many like Joe without support.
He decided to self-fund his legal representation. However, each delay means he has to pay full legal fees again. His case has been postponed twice, both times announced just a day before the hearing.
Joe has been waiting for his hearing longer than he worked at the school. He worked there for just under two years but has now spent almost four years waiting. The average wait time for cases has increased significantly, now averaging over 50 weeks.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered extra sitting days to help with the backlog, but this only applies to Crown Court cases. Experts say the legal system is struggling due to funding cuts and a lack of judges.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged the distress caused by delays. They aim to recruit more judges and tribunal members by 2025. Joe’s hearing was recently moved forward, giving him some hope, but he remains anxious about future delays.
He hopes sharing his story will help others facing similar issues and push for changes in the justice system. Christ’s College Finchley declined to comment on Joe’s situation.
