A legal claim is started when a formal document is filed with a court having jurisdiction to hear employment claims. For claims under $25,000, this is normally a local Provincial Court (Small Claims Court), but larger cases are usually filed in the British Columbia Supreme Court. It is possible for employees to commence a legal claim without legal advice or assistance, especially in Small Claims Court, but claims are typically commenced in the British Columbia Supreme Court by lawyers on behalf of clients.
Terminated employees would be well served to obtain legal advice before starting a legal action, or agreeing to a proposed settlement.