A former senior accountant at Slater & Gordon is suing the social justice law firm claiming she was discriminated against after she returned from maternity leave and later unfairly made redundant.

Sarah Wilton made the allegations in a Federal Court filling late last month and is seeking lost income, lost paid maternity leave, and damage.

Law firm Slater & Gordon has been hit with a discrimination claim by one of its former employees.

Ms Wilton's complaint alleges that when she returned to work in April 2016 she was effectively demoted and given ad hoc tasks rather than the senior accounting work she did ahead of taking eight months' maternity leave.

Ms Wilton claims that when she returned to work it appeared the then acting head of finance "was unaware of who the applicant was or what her role had been".