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The paper explores the idea of ‘legal mobilisation’, focusing particularly on the use of individual employment rights by unions to pressurize employers and to galvanise support amongst members for action on key workplace issues. The recent development of statutory individual employment rights in Britain alters the balance between legal regulation and collective bargaining. Union influence in the workplace had declined and workers are more reliant on individualised procedures culminating in claims to employment tribunals. There is potential, though, for unions to play a role in enforcing statutory employment rights, to demonstrate the efficacy of representation to potential members and to augment collective bargaining agenda. Union engagement with the law is explored in this article through detailed case studies conducted in two unions. Findings highlight sustained commitment to strategic legal challenges, but also some substantial obstacles to the broader use of the law to mobilise workers and potential members.