Apply or appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

Overview

You can appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) if you think there was a legal problem with a decision made by the:

First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)

Residential Property Tribunal in Wales

Leasehold Valuation Tribunal in Wales

Valuation Tribunal in England or Wales

You might need to get permission before you appeal.

You can also apply to the tribunal if your case is about:

compensation for the compulsory purchase of land

discharge or modification of land affected by a ‘restrictive covenant’

compensation for the effect on land affected by public works

a tree preservation order

compensation for damage to land damaged by subsidence from mining

the valuation of land or buildings for Capital Gains Tax or Inheritance Tax purposes

a ‘right to light’ dispute

compensation for blighted land

The tribunal is independent and will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.

Help you can get

A mediation service could be quicker and cheaper than going to the tribunal. Mediation is when an independent and impartial person discusses a problem with both parties to try to find a solution.

You can contact Citizens Advice or the Leasehold Advisory Service for free legal advice. You can also find a lawyer.

Call or email the tribunal if you have any questions about the process. The tribunal cannot give you legal advice.

Get permission

You need to get permission before you appeal to the tribunal if you’re appealing a decision made by the:

First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)

Residential Property Tribunal in Wales

Leasehold Valuation Tribunal in Wales

You can appeal to the tribunal without permission if your case is about a decision about rates made by the Valuation Tribunal in England or Wales.

You do not need to get permission to apply to the tribunal.

How to get permission

Ask the tribunal that originally made the decision for permission to appeal. Follow the steps on your decision letter.

The original tribunal must get your request for permission within 28 days of your decision letter. Speak to the original tribunal for details.

If you’re refused permission

You can ask the Lands Chamber for permission directly if you’re refused it from the original tribunal. Follow the steps on your decision letter.

You must do this within 14 days of being refused permission.

It costs £220 except for land registration cases where there’s no fee. You may be able to get help paying the fee if you’re getting certain benefits or on a low income.

You can apply for judicial review if you do not get permission from the Lands Chamber. Speak to a solicitor to get help with the application.

How to apply or appeal

Check whether you need permission. You can appeal or apply without permission in some cases.

Fill in the form

The form you fill in depends on what your case is about. The address is on the form.

You must pay a fee - you can apply for help if you’re getting certain benefits or on a low income.

What your case is about | Form | Fee | Deadline | Guidance

First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) decision | Form T601 or Form T602 | £275 - no fee for land registration cases | 1 month of getting permission | Leaflet T605 and T614

Leasehold Valuation Tribunal and Residential Property Tribunal decisions | Form T601 or Form T602 | £275 | 1 month of getting permission | Leaflet T609

Valuation Tribunal in England or Wales decision | Form T385 | £275 | 28 days of the decision | Leaflet T606 and Form T615

Compulsory acquisition of land (and other land compensation) | Form T371 or Form T370 | £275 | Get legal advice - it depends on your case | Leaflet T604 and T616

Restrictive covenant | Form T379 | £880 | Get legal advice | Leaflet T608 and T617

Public works | Form T371 | £275 | Get legal advice | Leaflet T604 and T616

Compulsory acquisition where owner is absent (greater London) | Form T370 or Form T362 | £1,270 | Get legal advice | Leaflet T604 and T616

Compulsory acquisition where owner is absent (not in greater London) | Form T370 or Form T362 | £1,150 | Get legal advice | Leaflet T604 and T616

‘Right to light’ dispute | Form T383 or Form T384 | £1,320 or £1,650 | Get legal advice | Leaflet T607

Tree preservation order | Form T371 or Form T370 | £275 | Get legal advice | Leaflet T604 and T616

Compensation for blighted land | Form T374 or Form T375 | £275 | Get legal advice | Leaflet T604 and T616

Any other case | See the list of forms |  |  |

What to include

You must include:

a copy of the decision you’re appealing against (if you’re appealing a decision)

what your case is about, for example leasehold enfranchisement, rent increases, variation of a lease

whether you’d like to go to the hearing - and whether you need special arrangements, for example because of mobility issues

whether you’d like to call any expert witnesses

a ‘statement of case’ - where you set out why you’re appealing or applying to the tribunal

any other documents mentioned on the form

What happens next

The tribunal will decide if it can consider your case.

In most cases you will be asked to attend a hearing to present your case. You can also ask for a decision to be made without a hearing. The judge will decide if it’s necessary.

Get a time extension

You may be able to get a time extension for any step of the process. You must tell the tribunal why you need more time. You must also tell the other party in writing that you’re going to ask for an extension.

It costs £110 - make a cheque payable to ‘HMCTS’ and send it to the tribunal with a letter explaining your request. You must also send a copy of this letter to the other party.

If you get a hearing

You’ll usually be asked when you’re available to attend a hearing. In certain cases you may be told when a hearing will take place, but you’ll be told at least 14 days beforehand. Hearings can be held sooner than this under exceptional circumstances. You can call a witness to support your case.

You can check the daily courts lists before your hearing to find out if anything has changed.

Hearings cost between £275 and £16,500 (depending on the size of the claim) and are usually held in public. There’s no hearing fee for land registration cases.

You may be asked questions by:

the judge

the other party, or their representative (if they have one)

You can not claim any expenses for going to a tribunal hearing. The tribunal may order the other party to pay your costs if you win your case.

You’ll get a decision in writing after the hearing, usually within 3 months.

If you lose your case

You may be able to appeal to a higher court if you think there was a legal problem with the judge’s decision at the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). Get legal help or advice if you’re not sure.

You must ask the upper tribunal judge for permission before you appeal - you must do this in writing within 1 month of the decision.

If the judge refuses you permission, you can ask the Court of Appeal in England and Wales for permission.

Legislation and previous decisions

Read the rules the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) must follow and its decisions on previous cases.

Previous decisions

Search the decisions database to see how and why previous decisions have been made.

Legislation

The tribunal must follow the rules and process set out in the:

Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) (Lands Chamber) Rules 2010

Tribunal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2012

Tribunal Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2013

Practice Directions – The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

Practice Statement – Delegation of functions to staff in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) Fees Order 2009

Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) Fees (Amendment) Order 2010

Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) Fees (Amendment) Order 2013

Read the Practice Directions and Practice Statements for more guidance.


Apply to the land registration tribunal

Overview

You need to apply to the Land Registration division of the Property Chamber (First-tier Tribunal) if you want to correct or cancel certain documents relating to registered land.

You may also be referred to the tribunal by HM Land Registry if you’re in a dispute over a change to the land register (known as a ‘reference case’).

If you want to change the title register or title plan, contact HM Land Registry directly.

The tribunal is independent of government. A judge will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.

Help you can get

You may want to get help and advice before you appeal, for example from a lawyer.

Apply to the tribunal

Apply to the tribunal if you want to correct or cancel (sometimes known as ‘set aside’) certain documents relating to registered land. You can also object to someone else’s application. These are known as ‘rectification cases’.

Apply to make a change to a document

Download and fill in the application form and send it to the address on the form.

You must also include a statement saying that you believe that the facts stated in the application are true.

The tribunal will then send, or tell you to send, a copy of the application to all other interested parties.

You’ll be told whether there’ll be a hearing to decide your case.

Object to a change of a document

Download and fill in the objection form and send it to the address given in the form.

You must send the form within 28 days of getting your copy of an application to change the register.

Your response must include your reasons for objecting to the application, giving all relevant facts and evidence

You’ll need to include a list of and copies of all documents that:

are important to your case

the tribunal and all interested parties will need to understand the case

You’ll be told by the tribunal if there’ll be a hearing to decide your case.

Get help

You can get help with the appeal process and forms by contacting the Land Registration division of the Property Chamber. The helpline cannot give you legal advice.

Being referred to the tribunal

Your case may be referred to the Land Registration division of the Property Chamber if somebody disputes your application to HM Land Registry. This is known as a ‘reference case’.

Both parties will be sent a letter by the tribunal after your case has been referred by HM Land Registry.

The letter will explain whether you’re the ‘applicant’ or the ‘respondent’. Generally, you’ll be named as the applicant if the tribunal thinks you’re the party that needs to prove its case.

Making a ‘statement of case’

Applicants

You have 28 days after getting the letter to send your ‘statement of case’ to the tribunal and the respondent. The letter will tell you where to send your statement.

Your statement must include:

your name and address (and an address where documents can be sent to you)

the name and address of your legal representative (if you have one)

You need to include copies of documents that:

are important to your case

are needed to understand the case

You also need to include a list of the documents.

After the other parties have responded to the tribunal, you’ll be told if there’s going to be a hearing.

Respondents

You have 28 days after getting the applicants ‘statement of case’ to send your own  case to the tribunal and the applicant.

Your statement must include your reasons for supporting or objecting to the original application to HM Land Registry, giving all relevant facts and evidence.

You need to include copies of all documents that:

are important to your case

are needed to understand the case

You also need to include a list of these documents.

The tribunal will then contact you to tell you if there’s going to be a hearing.

Starting court proceedings

You or the other party can be ordered by the tribunal to start court proceedings at any time. This will happen if the tribunal cannot handle your case.

You can also contact the tribunal and ask them to make the other party start court proceedings, or voluntarily start proceedings yourself.

Get help

What happens at the hearing

You may have to attend a hearing where you (or your legal representative) and the other parties will present your cases to a judge.

The judge will decide:

which party wins the case

if any costs are payable by one party to another

You’ll usually be told the outcome of the case within 42 days of the hearing.

Preparing for the hearing

You’ll be told the time and date of the hearing and where its being held. You’ll usually be told at least 14 days beforehand if there’s going to be a hearing. Hearings can be held sooner than this under exceptional circumstances or if all parties agree to a shorter notice period.

You’ll be sent instructions on how to prepare and exchange evidence after all the parties have given their statements of case.

Decisions without hearings

The tribunal may make a decision without a hearing if all the people involved agree or if no one objects once given notice.

The people involved can also ask the tribunal to make a decision without a hearing.

Getting a time extension

You can ask for a time extension at any point in the proceedings.

You should ask all other parties involved to agree to an extension before applying to the tribunal.

If you lose your case

You can appeal to the Upper tribunal (Land Chamber) if you’re not happy with the verdict. You must ask the First-tier Tribunal for permission first.

You can also ask the First-tier Tribunal to set aside their decision if you think there was a problem with the tribunal’s procedure, for example you did not receive a notice of a hearing.

Read guidance on how to challenge a decision for details.

You can complain about the tribunal staff or the service you received. You cannot complain about the decision.

Legislation and previous decisions

You can read the rules the tribunal must follow and its decisions on previous cases if you’re representing yourself or someone else.

The tribunal will make a decision based on the Land Registration Act 2002.

The tribunal must follow the rules and process in:

Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013

Practice Directions issued by the Senior President of Tribunals (30 July 2013) (PDF, 49KB)

Practice Statement issued by the Senior President of Tribunals (8 August 2017) (PDF, 0.1MB)

You can also search the decisions database to see how and why previous decisions have been made.


Being charged with a crime

Overview

If you are charged with a crime you will be given a ‘charge sheet’. This sets out the details of the crime you are being charged with.

The police will decide if you:

can go home until the court hearing - but may have to follow certain rules, known as ‘bail’

are kept in police custody until you are taken to court for your hearing

Your first court hearing after you are charged with a crime will be at a magistrates’ court - even if your trial will be at a Crown Court later on.

If you’re charged with a minor offence your case could be decided without going to court (‘single justice procedure’). If you get a single justice procedure notice you must respond within 21 days.

The rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Young people

If you’re under 18, your first hearing will usually be at a youth court.

If you’re under 17, the police must arrange for you to be held in local authority accommodation, if possible, before you go to court.

If you’re aged 12 to 16, the police can decide to keep you at the police station if they think it will protect the public.

Bail

You can be released on bail at the police station after you’ve been charged. This means you will be able to go home until your court hearing.

If you are given bail, you might have to agree to conditions like:

living at a particular address

not contacting certain people

giving your passport to the police so you cannot leave the UK

reporting to a police station at agreed times, for example once a week

If you do not stick to these conditions you can be arrested again and be taken to prison to wait for your court hearing.

When you attend your hearing at a magistrates’ court you might be given bail again until your trial begins.

Reasons you may not be given bail

You’re unlikely to be given bail if:

you are charged with a serious offence, for example armed robbery

you’ve been convicted of a serious crime in the past

you’ve been given bail in the past and not stuck to the terms

the police think you may not turn up for your hearing

the police think you might commit a crime while you’re on bail

Remand

If the court decides to put you on remand it means you will go to prison until your hearing at a magistrates’ court.

If you are under 18 you will be taken to a secure centre for young people, not an adult prison.

You will probably be put on remand if:

you have been charged with a serious crime, for example armed robbery

you have been convicted of a serious crime in the past

the police think you may not go to your court hearing

the police think you may commit another crime while on bail

you have been given bail before and not stuck to the terms

When you attend your hearing at a magistrates’ court, you might be put on remand again until your trial begins, even if you were previously given bail.


Being taken to an employment tribunal

Overview

You can be taken to an employment tribunal by an employee or someone else (for example a job applicant or trade union) over various issues, including:

pay

dismissal

discrimination

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

The tribunal is independent of government and will listen to you (the ‘respondent’) and the other party (the ‘claimant’) before making a decision.

You may have to pay compensation or reinstate the claimant if you lose the case.

Solve the dispute without a hearing

You’ll be contacted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) if someone wants to make a claim against you. They’ll offer to work with you and the claimant to try to solve the problem without it going to a tribunal - this is called ‘conciliation’.

Call Acas for help and advice.

Respond to a claim

The tribunal will send you a letter (known as a ‘response pack’) if a claim has been made against you and conciliation has not worked. You can respond either:

online

by filling out and returning the response pack you’re sent

by downloading and filling in the response form and sending it to the tribunal office dealing with the case

Read the response guidance before you fill in the form.

You must respond to the claim within 28 days.

You may be able to get more time to respond - ask the tribunal. If you’re late or do not respond, the tribunal may make a decision against you without a hearing.

Offer the claimant compensation

You can try to settle the case at any time by offering to pay compensation to the claimant (known as a ‘settlement agreement’).

Get help or legal advice

You may want to get legal advice if a claim is made against you.

Call the employment tribunal enquiry line for general guidance on how the process works. They cannot give you legal advice.

If you’re in Northern Ireland

Your case will be dealt with by the Office of Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal.

Before the hearing

You’ll be given at least 14 days’ notice before the hearing - you’ll get a letter confirming this. You must prepare documents and arrange for witnesses to attend in advance.

‘Preliminary hearing’

You may be asked to go to an initial hearing (called a preliminary hearing) with the judge to decide on things like:

the date and time of a hearing

how long the hearing should take

The tribunal will let you know if you’ll have to give evidence or provide any extra information.

Arrange documents

You can ask the claimant for documents that will help you with the case, and they can request documents from you.

Examples of documents include:

a contract of employment

pay slips

details of a pension scheme

notes from relevant meetings

Usually the tribunal will issue an order setting out a timetable for when you should exchange documents.

You’ll be sent a letter telling you how many copies of each document to bring to the hearing.

Organise witnesses

You can bring witnesses to the hearing if they can give evidence directly relevant to the case.

If you ask a witness to attend and they do not want to, you can ask the tribunal to order them to come. You must apply in writing to the tribunal office dealing with the case, giving:

the name and address of the witness

details of what the witness may be able to say and how it will help the case

the reason the witness has refused to attend (if they gave you one)

You’ll most likely be responsible for paying the witness’s expenses.

At the hearing

Cases are normally held at the employment tribunal office closest to where you worked.

You must take the documents you’re using to support the case.

You cannot claim for expenses for going to the hearing.

What happens at the hearing

You’ll present the case to the tribunal - someone else can do this for you, such as a lawyer, friend or family member. The claimant will present their case against you.

You may be asked questions by:

the judge

the claimant

2 other tribunal members (only in certain tribunals)

Get a decision

You’ll be sent the decision in the post a few days or weeks after the hearing. The decision will be published on GOV.UK. In certain cases you may also be given the decision at the hearing.

If you win the case

In most cases, you will not be awarded any compensation if you win. However, if the claimant acted unreasonably or if their case had no hope of success, you can ask to be awarded costs by the tribunal.

If you lose the case

If you lose, the tribunal can order you to do certain things depending on the type of case. Examples include:

giving the claimant their job back

paying compensation if you cannot give the claimant their job back

paying witness expenses

paying damages or loss of earnings

Pay compensation

Paying compensation is the most common outcome of a tribunal. There can be limits to the amount of money a tribunal can award. There’s no limit in cases of discrimination.

The tribunal usually works out the amount based on the financial loss the person has suffered as a result of your actions.

Interest is calculated from the day the judgment is received, but you will not have to pay interest if you pay the full compensation award within 14 days.

You can be taken to court and forced to pay. You can also be fined and named online by the government if you do not pay.

Pay back state benefits

You might have to pay back any Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) that the claimant claimed while taking their case to the tribunal.

This is to prevent them from getting paid twice.

The tribunal and the Compensation Recovery Unit will tell you what you need to do and how much to pay.

If you disagree with a tribunal decision

You can ask the tribunal to reconsider the decision if you lose the case.

You must write to the tribunal office within 14 days of getting the decision, saying why you want it to be reconsidered.

You need to give good reasons, such as:

the tribunal made a mistake in the way it reached its decision

you were not told about the hearing

new evidence has turned up since the hearing

Send your letter to the tribunal office that dealt with the case.

Appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal

You can also appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal if you think the employment tribunal made a legal mistake.

Legislation

The Employment Tribunal follows certain rules and processes that you also have to follow.

You can also read other relevant tribunal rules and regulations.

The tribunal has issued guidance and practice directions which provides more information about specific areas, such as postponing hearings and serving documents.

You can also read guidance about specific cases.


Challenge your solicitor's bill

Overview

You can challenge your solicitor’s bill if you think you’ve been charged too much.

Ask the Senior Courts Costs Office to make a ‘detailed assessment’ of your bill. They can reduce your bill if they agree it’s too expensive.

There’s a different process if you want to complain about your solicitor’s behaviour.

Before you apply

Try to solve the problem with your solicitor before contacting the court.

You can complain to your solicitor directly by following their complaints procedure.

You can also get free legal help and advice from:

your local Citizens Advice Bureau

your local Law Centre

the Royal Courts of Justice Advice Bureau

When to apply

You must apply to the court before asking for a detailed assessment. You must do this within one month of getting your solicitor’s bill.

If you do not, you can still apply within a year of getting the bill, but the court might ask you to pay part or all of what you owe upfront. You’ll get back what you’ve overpaid if the judge agrees you’ve been charged too much.

You might also be able to apply if you’ve already paid your solicitor’s bill or it’s been over a year since you got it. You can only do this in special circumstances - you must explain what these are when you apply.

How to apply

Download and fill in 3 copies of Part 8 claim form (N208). You must pay £45.

Send a cheque made payable to ‘HMCTS’ with all 3 copies of your completed form and a copy of your solicitor’s bill to:

You can apply to your local District Registry (a court that deals with certain High Court cases) instead if you live outside of London.

Apply to your nearest county court if the original case was dealt with by a county court and your solicitor’s bill is for £5,000 or less.

What happens next

The court will keep one copy of your claim form. The other copies will be sent to you and your solicitor and stamped with an issue date.

You’ll then get an ‘acknowledgement of service’ from your solicitor confirming they’ve seen your application.

You’ll be asked to attend a hearing if your solicitor does not think you should have a detailed assessment. You’ll get a ‘notice of hearing’ from the court saying when and where the hearing will take place.

You’ll get a letter from your solicitor if they agree to a detailed assessment. Send a copy of this letter to the court.

If your solicitor does not challenge your application, you can ask them to give their consent. If they agree then the court might decide neither of you will need to go to the hearing.

If you have a hearing

Both you and the other side will present your case to a Costs Judge (or a District Judge if the hearing is held outside London).

You must bring with you copies of any documents you’ve sent to the court as part of your application.

The court will decide whether to order a detailed assessment. You’ll get the decision then or by post within a few days of the hearing.

If you disagree with the decision

You can make an appeal if you disagree with the court’s decision.

You must get permission before you appeal - you can ask the Costs Judge at the hearing.

You can ask the appeal court for permission if you’re refused or do not ask for it at the hearing. Read leaflet EX340 for more information.

Get a detailed assessment

You’ll be given a court order after the hearing that says whether you can have a detailed assessment.

The detailed assessment will take place at another hearing.

Download and fill in request form (N258C). You must also pay a court fee. How much you pay will depend on the size of your solicitor’s bill.

Amount on your solicitor’s bill | Fee

£15,000 or less | £335

£15,000.01 to £50,000 | £675

£50,000.01 to £100,000 | £1,005

£100,000.01 to £150,000 | £1,345

£150,000.01 to £200,000 | £1,680

£200,000.01 to £300,000 | £2,520

£300,000.01 to £500,000 | £4,200

£500,000.01 or more | £5,600

Other fees

You must pay your own costs and the other party’s reasonable costs of the detailed assessment, unless:

the judge reduces your solicitor’s bill by 20% or more

there are special circumstances, for example you originally offered to settle the bill for an amount more than the final amount fixed by the court

How much you pay will depend on how much time your solicitor has spent in court - this is usually worked out from their hourly rate.


Community sentences

Overview

You may get a community sentence if you’re convicted of a crime by a court but are not sent to prison.

You may have to do unpaid work in your local community, like removing graffiti. This is called Community Payback.

Community sentences can be given for crimes such as:

damaging property

benefit fraud

assault

You may get a community sentence if:

the court thinks you’re more likely to stop committing crime than if you go to prison

it’s the first time you have committed a crime

you have a mental health condition that affects your behaviour

The rules are different in Scotland.

Community Payback

Community Payback is unpaid work like:

removing graffiti

clearing wasteland

decorating public places and buildings - for example, a community centre

You will usually work in your local area, and be managed by a Community Payback supervisor. You must wear a high visibility orange vest while you work.

You can expect to complete anything from 40 to 300 hours of Community Payback, depending on how serious your crime was.

You have to work 3 or 4 days each week if you’re unemployed.

The Community Payback work will be arranged outside your working hours if you have a job, for example evenings or weekends.

Treatment and programmes

The treatment or programmes you get are intended to help with problems that led you to commit crime in the first place. They’re also to stop you committing more crime.

Programmes and treatment could be to help with:

any addictions you have, for example drugs

a mental health condition

getting new skills and qualifications

Depending on the treatment or programme, it could involve:

counselling sessions - where you get support from a medical professional

drug testing

‘accredited programmes’, such as anger management courses, to help with your behaviour

mental health treatment with a doctor or psychologist

improving your reading and writing

getting help with a job application

learning interview skills

meeting people who were affected by your offence, as part of a restorative justice programme

If you don’t complete a treatment or programme, or fail a drugs test, you could be sent back to court and your punishment could increase.

What you can and can’t do while on a community sentence is decided by:

a court when you are sentenced

the person dealing with your sentence once it’s started - called the ‘offender manager’

This can include:

being at a particular place at certain times - known as a ‘curfew’

wearing an electronic tag to check that you stay there

appointments with an offender manager

being stopped from going to certain places or areas, for example your victim’s home

being stopped from taking part in certain activities, for example going to a pub or a bar

being told where you have to live, for example a family member’s home

If you don’t stick to the rules while you’re on a community sentence, you could get a warning or be sent back to court, and your punishment could increase.

Community sentences if you are under 18

Community sentences for young people are different from those given to adults.

There are 3 main community sentences a court can give you:

referral orders – when, with a panel of people from your local community and your youth justice workers, you are asked to agree a programme of work to address your behaviour

reparation orders – when you make up for the harm caused by your crime, like repairing any damage to the victim’s property

Youth Rehabilitation Order – when a court decides on different things that you have to do or must not do, which can last for up to 3 years

You can also be given a discharge, when the court decides that the experience of being arrested and going to court is enough of a punishment.

As part of your community sentence you may also have to speak to the victim and:

listen to their side of the story

apologise to them, either in writing or, if the victim wants, face-to-face

If you break the rules of your community sentence you could end up back in court, and if you have recently been released from custody you could be sent back.


Criminal courts

Magistrates' courts

All criminal cases start in a magistrates’ court.

Cases are heard by either:

2 or 3 magistrates

a district judge

There is not a jury in a magistrates’ court.

Cases a magistrates’ court deals with

A magistrates’ court normally handles cases known as ‘summary offences’, for example:

most motoring offences

minor criminal damage

common assault (not causing significant injury)

It can also deal with some of the more serious offences, such as:

burglary

drugs offences

These are called ‘either way’ offences and can be heard either in a magistrates’ court or a Crown Court.

Find your local magistrates’ court.

Cases that magistrates pass to the Crown Court

Magistrates’ courts always pass the most serious crimes to the Crown Court, for example:

murder

rape

robbery

These are known as ‘indictable offences’.

Being kept in custody or granted bail

In some cases the magistrates’ court will decide if you should be kept in custody until your next court hearing, or released on bail.

This may happen if:

another court hearing is needed

the court needs more information before passing sentence

your case is passed to the Crown Court for trial or sentencing

If you’re released on bail, you might have to follow strict conditions such as keeping away from certain people or places, staying indoors or wearing a tag.

If you do not attend court after being granted bail, you can be put in prison.

Sentences a magistrates’ court can give

The court can give punishments including:

up to 6 months in prison (or up to 12 months in total for more than one offence)

a fine

a community sentence, like doing unpaid work in the community

a ban, for example from driving or keeping an animal

Courts can also give a combination of punishments - for example a fine and unpaid work in the community.

If the court decides your sentence should be for longer than 6 months, it can pass your case to the Crown Court for sentencing.

Appealing a sentence or conviction

If you disagree with verdict of the magistrates’ court, you may be able to appeal.

Crown Court

Types of cases the Crown Court deals with

A Crown Court deals with serious criminal cases, for example:

murder

rape

robbery

It also deals with:

appeals against a magistrates’ court conviction or sentence

cases passed from a magistrates’ court for trial or sentencing

Find a Crown Court.

You can see what cases a court is hearing each day and check their progress on the court lists.

Who does what in the court

A Crown Court:

normally has a jury - which decides if you’re guilty or not

has a judge - who decides what sentence you get

Your solicitor (if you have one) can explain what happens in court - the judge and court staff will also give instructions about the trial.

Sentences a Crown Court can give

A Crown Court can give a range of sentences including:

community sentences

prison sentences - including life sentences

Appealing a sentence or conviction

If you disagree with the Crown Court’s verdict, you may be able to appeal.

Youth courts

A youth court is a special type of magistrates’ court for people aged between 10 and 17.

A youth court has either:

3 magistrates

a district judge

There is not a jury in a youth court.

Your parent or guardian must come with you:

if you’re under 16

if you’re 16 to 17 and they’re given a court order

How youth courts are different from adult courts

Youth courts are less formal than adult courts, for example:

members of the public are not allowed in to the court (unless they get permission)

you are called by your first name

Types of cases a youth court deals with

A youth court deals with cases like:

theft and burglary

anti-social behaviour

drugs offences

For serious crimes, like murder or rape, the case starts in the youth court but will be passed to a Crown Court.

Sentences a youth court can give

The court can give a range of sentences including:

community sentences

Detention and Training Orders carried out in secure centres for young people

Appealing a sentence

If you disagree with the court’s verdict, you may be able to appeal. Court staff can give you information on how to appeal.


Drink-drive rehabilitation courses

When you can take a course

You can be offered a rehabilitation course to reduce your driving ban if:

you’re found guilty of a drink-drive offence

your ban is for 12 months or more

You have to pay to take the course. It can cost up to £250.

Reducing the length of your ban

Your ban will be reduced if you complete the course within a certain time. The ban is usually reduced by a quarter.

Deciding to take a course

You have to decide in court if you want to take a course or not. You cannot change your mind later.

There’s a different process for taking a drink-drive course in Northern Ireland.

Choose a course

Before you go to court, find a drink-drive course that you want to take if you’re found guilty and offered a course.

The court will send your details to the course provider. They’ll then send you details of:

the available course dates

when you must complete your course by

You’re responsible for completing the course by the deadline.

Changing courses

You can change to another course with a different provider at any point before you book. It’s free to change your course.

Ask the provider of the course you’d originally chosen to arrange this.

How the course works

The course aims to stop you from drink-driving again. They:

are face-to-face

take place over 16 hours (usually run on 3 days spread over 3 weeks)

will have other drink-drive offenders at them

The course syllabus tells you more about what’s covered during the course.

After the course

You’ll get a ‘certificate of course completion’ from the course provider when you complete the course. They’ll also send a copy to the court that sentenced you.

The court will tell DVLA so that your driving ban is reduced.

Your driving ban will not be reduced if you do not complete the course or do not pay for your course.

If you’re a ‘high risk offender’

You need to reapply for a driving licence and take a medical if you’re classified as a ‘high risk offender’. Check with your course provider if you’re not sure if you are.

Complain about a course

Complain to the course provider if you’re not happy with the course.

Contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency if you cannot sort out the problem with the course provider.


Going to court to give evidence as a victim or witness

Before the trial

If you’re a victim of crime or a witness for the prosecution, a ‘witness care officer’ will tell you which court to go to, and when to go there.

If you’re a witness for the defence, the defence lawyer will tell you when you have to go to court.

You’ll usually be given a fixed date to go to court.

Sometimes you’ll be given a 2 to 4 week period that you’ll need to keep free - this is known as a ‘warned period’ or ‘floating trial’. If this happens, you’ll be given 1 working day’s notice before you are due to go to court.

You must tell your witness care officer or the defence lawyer straight away if you cannot make the date of the trial.

Help getting to the court

There’s different support if you’re going to court as a witness in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

You’re a victim or prosecution witness

Ask the witness care officer for help if you cannot easily travel to court. They might be able to provide transport.

You might be able to give evidence through a video link if you live far away from the court, or find it very difficult to get there. Ask your witness care officer if this is available.

You’re a defence witness

Speak to the defence lawyer if you need help with getting to court.

You might be able to give evidence through a video link if you live far away from the court, or find it very difficult to get there. Ask the defence lawyer if this is possible.

Help in the courtroom if you have a disability

Check which facilities are available in the court you’re going to.

Contact the court to talk about your needs, or if you need any other help.

Sign language

You can usually get a British Sign Language (BSL) translator for the trial if you find it difficult to understand spoken English.

Ask the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) if you’re a victim or prosecution witness.

Ask the defence lawyer if you’re a defence witness.

Translators

If you do not understand English, you can usually get someone to translate or interpret the trial for free.
Ask the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to arrange a translator if you’re a victim or prosecution witness.

If you’re a defence witness, ask the defence lawyer if you can get a translator.

Preparing to give evidence

Contact the Citizens Advice Witness Service to help prepare for the day.

Before the trial, they can:

show you around the court so you know what to expect on the day (sometimes called a pre-trial visit)

explain the court process and who’s who in the courtroom

come to your home or anywhere you feel safe to answer your questions

Your statement

If you’re a victim or prosecution witness, you can ask the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to see your statement again before you go to court to refresh your memory.

You can add things to your statement if you remember them later on, but you cannot withdraw it.

You’re a victim of crime

As well as the statement you gave the police when you reported the crime, you can also make a ‘victim personal statement’ (sometimes known as an ‘impact statement’). This can be read out in court.

You can include information about how the crime has affected you:

physically

mentally

emotionally

financially

You can also mention any worries you have about the defendant being released on bail.

When you give your victim personal statement to the police, tell them if you’d prefer to read it out in court yourself, or have someone else to do it for you.

The court will decide if your statement will be read out in part or in full.

Making a victim statement is different if you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Extra support in the courtroom

The court may be able to take extra steps to protect you if you:

are under 18

have a mental or physical disability

are afraid to give evidence

are a victim of a sexual offence

are a victim of other serious crimes, such as domestic violence or attempted murder

These steps include:

screens, so the defendant cannot see you

giving evidence by video link from somewhere else (the defendant will be able to see you)

asking the public to leave the courtroom when you give evidence, if the case is about a sexual offence

recording your evidence in front of a camera before the trial

having someone explain the questions and help you reply to the court (an ‘intermediary’)

How to get extra support

If you’re the victim or a prosecution witness, speak to your witness care officer or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

If you’re a defence witness, speak to the defence lawyer.

The trial judge will then decide what support will be made available to you.

The day of the trial

When you arrive at the court, you’ll need to go through security. Tell the security staff who you are and that you’re a witness or victim. Someone from the Citizens Advice Witness Service will take you to a waiting area if they are available.

Waiting to give evidence

If you’re a victim or prosecution witness, there will usually be a separate room where you can wait so you do not meet the defendant or their family and friends.

If there is not a separate area, speak to court staff - they can make sure you’re safe.

If anyone tries to intimidate you, tell the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), your solicitor or the court staff - they’ll report it to the police.

You might have to wait a long time before you’re asked to go into the courtroom to give evidence. You might not even have to go in at all, for example if the defendant changes their plea to guilty.

Childcare

If you bring a child with you, make sure you also bring someone who can take care of them when you’re in the courtroom.

Help and support on the day

Someone from the Citizens Advice Witness Service will be at the court, and can:

go with you when you give evidence

support you on the day the verdict and sentence are decided if you’re in court

listen to your concerns in private (but they cannot discuss details of the case)

You’ll also have someone who will translate or interpret the trial if you arranged it beforehand.

Young witnesses (under 18)

Talk to the police or child witness care officer if you have concerns about your child. For example, if they’ll need to take breaks or need any help giving evidence.

Read the full guidance on how to prepare your child for court and special measures that are available.

Young witnesses can get support and find out what to expect at court from:

guidance for 5 to 11 year olds

guidance for 12 to 17 year olds

the Citizens Advice Witness Service

Childline

NSPCC

After you give evidence

Citizens Advice have more information about what happens after you’ve given evidence.

Expenses for going to court

You can ask for expenses when you go to court as a:

prosecution witness - from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

defence witness - from the defence lawyer

Your employer does not have to pay you for your time off work.

Ask the Citizens Advice Witness Service for help with claiming expenses.

There’s a different process for claiming expenses in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Prosecution witnesses

You can claim for expenses from the CPS. They’ll pay for things like:

travelling expenses - the standard or 2nd class fare, or 25p per mile if you drive

meals and refreshments - £2.25 for up to 5 hours, or £4.50 for 5 to 10 hours

loss of earnings - £33.50 for up to 4 hours, or £67 for longer (£42.95 or £85.90 if you’re self-employed)

childcare - up to £67 per day

If you’re not sent an expenses form before the trial, ask for one from a court usher or someone from the Citizens Advice Witness Service.

Defence witnesses

If the court usher does not give you an expenses form, ask the court or the defence lawyer if you’re able to claim expenses for your time in court.


Immigration detention bail

Before you apply

You can apply for immigration bail if the Home Office is holding you on immigration matters. This means you might be released from detention but you’ll have to obey at least one condition.

Who can apply

You can apply whether you’re held in an immigration removal centre, a detention centre or a prison. You must be held on immigration matters.

When you’re more likely to get bail

You’re more likely to get bail if you have a place to stay.

Your application is also more likely to succeed if you have at least one ‘Financial Condition Supporter’. This is a person who:

will pay money if you don’t follow the conditions of your bail

can attend your bail hearing

Give information about where you’ll stay and your Financial Condition Supporters in the application form.

When you might not get released on bail

You may find it harder to get bail if you:

have broken bail conditions in the past

have a criminal record, and there’s a risk you might reoffend

If you were refused bail in the last 28 days, you won’t get another hearing unless your situation has changed significantly. Explain what you think has changed in your application.

If you are refused bail, you’ll get a written statement telling you why.

If you’re due to be removed from the country

You might not be released even if you’re granted bail. If your removal date is in the 14 days after you get bail, the Home Office will have to agree to your release.

Apply for bail

You can apply for bail in 2 main ways. It depends on your situation. Apply to:

the Home Secretary (‘Secretary of State bail’) any time after you arrive in the UK

the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) - only if you arrived more than 8 days ago

You might be automatically referred for a bail hearing if you’ve been in detention for 4 months or more.

If you are appealing to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission you can apply to them for bail.

A solicitor or legal adviser can help you with a bail application.

Read the guide on representing yourself if you’re not going to have a legal representative.

Apply for Secretary of State bail

You can apply to the Home Secretary for bail from the first day you arrive in the UK. This is called ’Secretary of State Bail’.

Download and fill in form BAIL401 explaining why you’re asking for bail.

You can also get the form from:

the welfare officer, if you’re in an Immigration Removal Centre

your detention paperwork pack, if you’re in a prison

Your application will be decided by Home Office staff and there will not be a hearing.

Apply for bail from the First-tier Tribunal

You can apply to the independent ‘First-tier Tribunal’ for bail if you arrived in the UK more than 8 days ago. Your application for bail will be decided by an independent judge at a hearing.

Download and fill in form B1.

If you can’t download the form yourself, you can:

ask the staff at the place where you’re being held

contact the tribunal - by phone on 0300 123 1711 or by email on customer.service@justice.gov.uk

If you have a tribunal appeal hearing scheduled, send the form to the tribunal or hearing centre where it’s happening. You can find the address of the venue using the A to Z list.

If you don’t have an appeal hearing, ask staff at the place you’re held – they can fax your application to the right venue.

Automatic referral for bail

The Home Office will automatically refer you to the First-tier Tribunal for a bail hearing if all of the following are true:

you aren’t being detained in the interests of national security

there’s no action being taken to deport you from the UK

you haven’t applied for bail to the First-tier Tribunal in the last 4 months

They will make an application on your behalf using all the information they have.

You can refuse the referral, or choose to make your own bail application. The Home Office will apply on your behalf every 4 months unless you apply for bail yourself.

What happens at the First-tier Tribunal hearing

There will usually be a hearing to decide if you should be granted bail. This will happen a few days after your application is received – you’ll receive a ‘notice of hearing’ to tell you when it is.

You probably won’t be in the room for the hearing. It’s more likely to happen over a video-link instead.

The Home Office will send the tribunal a document listing the reasons they think you should not get bail (a ‘Bail Summary’). They will also send you a copy.

Read information about the Tribunal’s rules and procedures.

Conditions of your bail

If you’re granted bail, there will be at least one condition you have to obey.

You might have to:

report regularly to an immigration official

attend an appointment or hearing

be restricted on where you can live

have an electronic monitoring tag

have restrictions on the work or studies you can do

obey any other condition decided by the person granting your bail

You or your financial condition supporter might have to promise to pay money if you break one of the other conditions of your bail. This is called a ‘financial condition’.

These conditions can be changed after you’re granted bail.

If you do not follow the terms of your bail you might:

have your bail conditions changed so that there are tighter restrictions

be charged with a crime

have to pay the money agreed at the hearing - or your Financial Condition Supporter might have to pay

be returned to detention

Change the conditions of your bail

You can ask to change (‘vary’) the conditions of your bail, for example, if you need to move to a new address.

If the First-tier Tribunal granted you bail, fill in form B2 and send it to your nearest First-tier Tribunal hearing centre. The Home Office might oppose your request.

If the management of your bail has been transferred to the Home Office contact them instead.

If you’re on Secretary of State bail, speak to an immigration officer.

You must continue to obey the conditions of your bail until a decision has been made to change them.


Jury service

How jury service works

If you get a jury summons in the post, you must respond within 7 days and confirm if you can attend.

Your name was chosen randomly from the electoral register.

You’ll be part of a jury of 12 people to decide the outcome of a criminal trial.

You can watch a video about jury service. There’s also a Welsh language version of the video.

Jury service and coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you’ve received a jury summons, you will need to attend. Jury staff will contact you to confirm the days and times you need to attend.

Do not go to court if you have COVID-19 symptoms or if you’re self-isolating or in quarantine. Tell the court if you cannot attend.

You can read more about how coronavirus is affecting jury service including the social distancing measures that are in place.

How long jury service lasts

Jury service usually lasts up to 10 working days.

If the trial is likely to last longer than 10 days, jury staff will let you know. If the trial is shorter than 10 days, you may be asked to be a juror on other trials.

You’ll usually need to be at court from 10am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday, but times can vary.

You’ll need to arrive at court earlier on your first day. Check your summons letter for the exact time.

What you can claim

You will not be paid for doing jury service, but you can claim some money back if you lose earnings. You can also claim some expenses, for example travel.

Find out what you can claim:

if you’re an employee

if you’re self-employed

if you’re not working

What you can claim if you’re an employee

You will not be paid for doing jury service, but you can claim some money back if your earnings are affected. For each day you’re at court, you can usually claim:

up to £64.95 towards your loss of earnings, and any care or childcare costs outside of your usual arrangements

£5.71 for food and drink

the cost of travel to and from court

You’ll be told how to claim expenses after your jury service has ended.

Taking time off work

Give a copy of your jury summons to your employer.

Your employer must let you have time off work, but can ask you to delay your jury service if your absence will have a serious effect on their business.

Problems with your employer

If you’re not allowed to take time off work for jury service, you can complain to an employment tribunal.

If you’re sacked because you do jury service you may be able to claim unfair dismissal.

Getting paid during jury service

Your employer can choose whether or not to pay you during your service.

If they do not pay you, you can claim for loss of earnings from the court.

If you get benefits or financial support

Show your jury summons to your benefit office or work coach as soon as you get it.

You’ll continue to get financial support and benefits (such as Universal Credit) for the first 8 weeks. After that, the court will give you a loss of earnings form to give to your benefit office or work coach.

What you can claim

There’s a limit to how much you can claim for each day you’re at court.

Loss of earnings, childcare and other care costs

How much you can claim to cover loss of earnings and care costs depends on the length of your jury service and how many hours you spend at court each day.

For the first 10 days of jury service, you can claim up to:

£64.95 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court

£32.47 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court

If your jury service lasts longer than 10 working days, the amount you can claim increases. You’ll be able to claim up to:

£129.91 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court

£64.95 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court

Travel and parking costs

How much you can claim depends on how you travel to court.

How you travel to court | The court will pay

Bus or underground | Cost of the ticket

Train | Cost of the ticket (standard class return fare)

Bicycle | 9.6p per mile

Motorcycle | 31.4p per mile

Car | 31.4p per mile - check if the court will pay for parking

Car - for one other juror as a passenger | 4.2p per mile

Car - for each additional passenger | 3.2p per mile

Taxi | The fare - ask the court for permission before using a taxi

Food and drink

How much you can claim depends on how many hours you spend in court each day.

Time spent each day | The court will pay up to

Up to and including 10 hours a day | £5.71 per day

Over 10 hours a day | £12.17 per day

Estimate your expenses

You can use a calculator to check what you can claim.

What you can claim if you’re self-employed

£5.71 for food and drink

the cost of travel to and from court

You’ll be told how to claim expenses after your jury service has ended.

You can ask to delay your jury service if you cannot do jury service on the dates in your summons letter.

If you get benefits or financial support

Show your jury summons to your benefit office or work coach as soon as you get it.

What you can claim

There’s a limit to how much you can claim for each day you’re at court.

Loss of earnings, childcare and other care costs

For the first 10 days of jury service, you can claim up to:

£64.95 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court

£32.47 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court

£129.91 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court

£64.95 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court

Travel and parking costs

How much you can claim depends on how you travel to court.

How you travel to court | The court will pay

Bus or underground | Cost of the ticket

Train | Cost of the ticket (standard class return fare)

Bicycle | 9.6p per mile

Motorcycle | 31.4p per mile

Car | 31.4p per mile - check if the court will pay for parking

Car - for one other juror as a passenger | 4.2p per mile

Car - for each additional passenger | 3.2p per mile

Taxi | The fare - ask the court for permission before using a taxi

Food and drink

How much you can claim depends on how many hours you spend in court each day.

Time spent each day | The court will pay up to

Up to and including 10 hours a day | £5.71 per day

Over 10 hours a day | £12.17 per day

Estimate your expenses

You can use a calculator to check what you can claim.

What you can claim if you're not working

£5.71 for food and drink

the cost of travel to and from court

You’ll be told how to claim expenses after your jury service has ended.

If you get benefits or financial support

Show your jury summons to your benefit office or work coach as soon as you get it.

What you can claim

There’s a limit to how much you can claim for each day you’re at court.

Childcare and other care costs if you are not working

How much you can claim to cover care costs depends on the length of your jury service and how many hours you spend at court each day.

For the first 10 days of jury service, you can claim up to:

£64.95 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court

£32.47 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court

£129.91 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court

£64.95 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court

Travel and parking costs

How much you can claim depends on how you travel to court.

How you travel to court | The court will pay

Bus or underground | Cost of the ticket

Train | Cost of the ticket (standard class return fare)

Bicycle | 9.6p per mile

Motorcycle | 31.4p per mile

Car | 31.4p per mile - check if the court will pay for parking

Car - for one other juror as a passenger | 4.2p per mile

Car - for each additional passenger | 3.2p per mile

Taxi | The fare - ask the court for permission before using a taxi

Food and drink

How much you can claim depends on how many hours you spend in court each day.

Time spent each day | The court will pay up to

Up to and including 10 hours a day | £5.71 per day

Over 10 hours a day | £12.17 per day

Estimate your expenses

You can use a calculator to check what you can claim.

Ask to change the date or be excused

If you cannot do jury service on the dates in your summons letter, you can ask to change the date or be excused.

Ask to change the date of your jury service

You might be able to change the date of your jury service to another date within the next 12 months. You’ll need a good reason, for example:

you’re having an operation

you’re sitting an exam

your employer will not give you time off work

you have a holiday booked

you’re a new parent

You can only ask to change the date once.

To change the date, reply to your jury summons explaining your reasons in detail. When you reply you can suggest 3 possible dates in the next 12 months that work for you.

Ask to be excused from jury service

If it’s not possible for you to do jury service in the next 12 months, you can ask to be excused. You’ll only be allowed to do this in exceptional circumstances, for example:

you have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from doing jury service

you’re a full time carer of someone with an illness or disability

you’re a new parent and will not be able to serve at any other time in the next 12 months

If you cannot do jury service because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you should ask to change the date.

You can also ask to be excused from jury service if you’ve done it in the last 2 years.

If you do not do jury service this time, you could still receive a summons in the future.

To ask to be excused, reply to your jury summons explaining your reasons in detail. You might need to give proof, for example, if you’re ill you might be asked for a letter from your doctor.

If your request is turned down, you can still ask to change the date of your jury service.

If you disagree with the decision

You can appeal if your request to change the date of your jury service or be excused is refused. Write to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau, including:

why you disagree with the decision

your juror number (this is on your summons letter)

your name and address

your date of birth

the name and address of the court you’ve been summoned to

the dates of your jury service

Get help

Contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau if you have questions about jury service.

Respond to the summons

You must respond to your jury summons within 7 days of getting it.

You can either:

reply to the jury summons online

complete and return the form by post

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not return the form or turn up for your jury service.

After you respond

The Jury Central Summoning Bureau will send you a letter to confirm details of your jury service, including when and where it will take place.

If you asked to change the date or to be excused, the letter will explain if your request was accepted.

You’ll need to bring your summons or confirmation letter to court with you on your first day of jury service.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), you may be asked to go to a different location than the one you were summoned to. If the court needs to change the venue, they will contact you at least one week before your jury service is due to start. Check which courts offer additional locations.

Get help

Contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau if you have questions about jury service or about a decision.

The Jury Central Summoning Bureau may be able to change the location of your jury service if you’ve been summoned to a court far from where you live. For example, if you’ve recently moved house or if you’re at university and you’ve been summoned to a court near your family home.

Contact the court if you:

need directions

have a question about your expenses claim

Going to court as a juror

On your first day, you should bring:

your jury summons form or your jury service confirmation letter

some identification, such as your passport, photo driving licence or Home Office documents showing your UK immigration status

If you do not have identification, you can bring any 2 documents from the following:

your birth certificate

your credit card with 3 statements and proof of signature

your cheque book and bank card with 3 statements and proof of signature

3 utility bills showing your name and address

Laptops, tablets and mobile phones

You can bring your mobile phone, tablet or laptop into the court building and use it in the jury assembly area.

You cannot take your phone, laptop or tablet into the deliberation room. All courts have lockers or somewhere you can safely store your personal items.

There is free wifi in most courts.

What to wear

There is no strict dress code and you can wear clothes you’re comfortable in, such as jeans and a t-shirt.

Very casual clothing such as shorts or clothing with inappropriate logos or slogans are not allowed.

What will happen when you arrive at court

Allow extra time to go through security at court.

Court staff will show you where the jury assembly area is and the jury manager will:

tell you about jury service

explain your responsibilities

tell you what expenses you can claim and how to claim them

There are extra security and hygiene measures in place because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you have a disability

Check what facilities are available in the court you’re going to.

Contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau if you have questions about the facilities or to arrange a visit to the court.

Discussing the trial

Do not discuss the trial with anyone until it’s finished, except with other jury members in the deliberation room.

After the trial you must not talk about what happened in the deliberation room, even with family members. You can talk about what happened in the courtroom.

Do not post comments about the trial on social media websites like Facebook or Twitter - even after the trial’s finished. This is contempt of court and you can be fined or sent to prison.

If anyone approaches you about the trial

Tell a court officer if you’re approached about the trial. If you’re approached outside court, tell a police officer.

If you find the trial distressing

You may be upset by the trial and want to speak to someone privately. Speak to court staff - they’ll give you advice.

For emotional support speak to your GP to find out what support is available. You can also contact the Samaritans - although they cannot give advice.

How to claim expenses

Make your claim for expenses at the end of your jury service - and no more than 12 months after your jury service started.

You’ll usually be paid 7 to 10 working days after submitting your claim form.

The court may be able to pay your expenses during the trial if it’s likely to last a long time or if you’re facing financial hardship. Ask jury staff for more information.

Food, drink and travel expenses

Fill in the claim form you received at the start of jury service. Return it to the court with the relevant receipts.

Loss of earnings

What you need to do depends on whether you are employed or self-employed.

If you’re an employee

Your employer needs to fill in a loss of earnings form if they’ve told you they are not going to pay you during jury service. Bring it to court on your first day of jury service.

If you’re self-employed

Fill in a self-employed loss of earnings form. You’ll need to include evidence of lost earnings, such as your most recent tax return.

Care and childcare expenses

You and the carer need to fill in the care expenses form to claim for costs outside of your usual care arrangements.

If you’re using a registered childminder, they need to write their Ofsted number on the form. If a family member or friend is looking after your children, they must write a letter saying how many hours they’ve cared for your child.

Bring your child’s birth certificate or passport to court during your service or attach a copy to the claim form.

Return the form to the court with evidence of the cost of care, for example invoices or receipts.

Questions about expenses

Contact the court where you did jury service if you have questions about expenses.


Legal aid

Overview

Legal aid can help meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal.

You’ll usually need to show that:

your case is eligible for legal aid

the problem is serious

you cannot afford to pay for legal costs

You could for example get legal aid if:

you or your family are at risk of abuse or serious harm, for example domestic violence or forced marriage

you’re at risk of homelessness or losing your home

you’ve been accused of a crime, face prison or detention

you’re being discriminated against

you need family mediation

you’re adding legal arguments or bringing a case under the Human Rights Act

You’ll usually need to show that you cannot afford to pay for this help. You may have to pay some money towards the legal costs of your case or pay costs back later.

Check if you can get legal aid to get help with civil cases. Your legal adviser will usually apply for legal aid on your behalf.

Legal aid rules are different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What you can get

You could get help with the costs of legal advice or getting someone to speak or negotiate for you.

You may have to pay some money towards the legal costs of your case.

If your problem is covered by legal aid and you qualify you could get:

advice on your rights and options

help with negotiations and paperwork

help if you’re accused of a crime, for example advice at a police station

a solicitor or barrister to get your case ready and speak on your behalf in court and some tribunals

What you can get legal aid for

You might be able to get legal aid for problems like:

homelessness or losing your home, or if it’s in serious disrepair

protecting yourself or your child from abuse or harassment, for example domestic violence or forced marriage

poor quality care you or a family member are getting due to age, disability or special educational needs

needing advice on finances, children or divorce if you’ve been in an abusive relationship

a child in your family being at risk of being taken into care

family mediation, for example if you’re separating or getting a divorce

discrimination

challenging the way the government has made a decision about you

seeking asylum or if you’ve been the victim of human trafficking

being arrested, charged or questioned by the police

needing representation at a mental health tribunal or inquest

appealing a decision made by the social security tribunal about your benefits to the Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal or Supreme Court

Exceptional case funding

You may be able to get legal aid in other exceptional cases, if you can show that being refused legal aid would infringe:

your rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

your EU rights to legal representation

Get advice from a legal adviser about whether you’re eligible and how to apply.

You can also apply directly to the Exceptional Case Funding team at the Legal Aid Agency.

Eligibility

Whether you qualify for legal aid will depend on:

the type of case

your financial circumstances

Civil (non-criminal) cases

Civil cases include things like debt, family or housing problems. To get legal aid, you usually need to show you cannot afford to pay for legal costs and your problem is serious.

You’ll usually have to give details and evidence of your income, benefits, savings and property, and those of your partner. If you’re under 18, you may need to give information about your parents’ or guardians’ income.

Your financial situation is not taken into account for cases about:

mental health tribunals

children in care

child abduction

You may also have to provide evidence about your problem, for example in a divorce case by providing a court order or GP letter showing that you or your child have been a victim of abuse.

Check if you qualify for legal aid to get help with civil cases.

Paying the costs of your case

Legal aid might not cover all the costs of your case. You may have to:

pay some of the costs upfront

pay back some of the cost if you win money or property from your case

Read about paying for legal aid.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) will make a charge or claim – known as the ‘statutory charge’ – on any money or property you win. If this is your home, payment can be deferred and the debt placed as a charge on your home (similar to a mortgage).

Your legal adviser will explain how this works.

Contact the LAA’s Secured Debt Team to discuss how to pay.

If legal aid is withdrawn, you may have to repay the full legal costs.

Criminal cases

You have the right to free legal advice if you’re questioned at a police station.

You’ll automatically get legal aid for legal representation in court if you’re under 16 (or under 18 and in full-time education) or on certain benefits.

Alternatives to legal aid

If you cannot get legal aid, you may be able to get free advice from:

the Law Centres Network

Citizens Advice

AdviceNow

You can also pay for advice from a local legal adviser or solicitor.

How to claim

Check if you can get legal aid in England or Wales.

Search for a legal aid solicitor if you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Your legal adviser or family mediator will apply for legal aid on your behalf. If you qualify, the government will pay their costs directly.

Getting legal aid in an emergency

You can get emergency help if you need urgent representation in court, for example to keep you and your children safe from domestic abuse.

Your legal adviser will apply for Emergency Legal Representation to cover any immediate action. You still need to apply for legal aid in the normal way for any ongoing work.

Criminal cases

A police custody officer will help you get legal aid if you’ve been arrested and held at a police station. You’ll be offered free advice:

by telephone (if the offence is less serious)

from the police station’s duty solicitor

from your own legal adviser

If you’re charged or go to court

A solicitor will check if you qualify for legal aid if you’re charged with a crime or have to go to court. You can then:

get advice from the same organisation that helped you at the police station

ask to speak to the court duty solicitor

find your own criminal legal aid solicitor

What you need to bring to your legal adviser

You’ll need to give information about the following for both yourself and your partner:

benefits - including benefits statements

income, savings and spending - including pay slips and bank statements

National Insurance numbers

You’ll also need copies of evidence relating to your case, eg:

court documents

marriage and birth certificates (for family cases)

relevant letters

Tell your legal adviser if any of your financial circumstances change.

Domestic abuse or violence

You might be able to get legal aid if you have evidence that you or your children have been victims of domestic abuse or violence and you cannot afford to pay legal costs.

You do not have to get evidence before talking to a legal aid solicitor or Civil Legal Advice (CLA), but they’ll need to see it before deciding whether you can get legal aid.

What counts as domestic abuse for legal aid

You or your children must have been victims of either:

domestic abuse or violence

financial control, for example being stopped from accessing a joint bank account

What counts as evidence

You’ll usually need to show that you or your children were at risk of harm from an ex-partner.

You can ask for evidence from:

the courts

the police

a multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC)

social services

a health professional, for example a doctor, nurse, midwife, psychologist or health visitor

a refuge manager

a domestic violence support service

your bank, for example credit card accounts, loan documents and statements

your employer, or education or training provider

the provider of any benefits you’ve received

How to get evidence

You can download and print a sample letter to send to the police, courts, or medical and social services.

This helps you get the proof you need, depending on whether:

you’ve been a victim

your children have been victims

Give the letter to the person you’re asking to provide evidence. They’ll be able to fill in the details for you.

You might have to pay a fee for this.

When you have the evidence

Show the evidence to your legal aid solicitor or CLA adviser.

Legal problems abroad

You can apply for legal aid in:

Albania

Austria

Azerbaijan

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Georgia

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Serbia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

Ukraine

You can get help with your application from a publicly funded solicitor, including getting documents translated.

Contact the embassy or consulate of that country or the Legal Aid Agency to find out how to apply.


Litigation friends

Overview

You can be appointed as litigation friend to make decisions about a court case for either:

an adult who lacks the mental capacity to manage their own court case either with or without a solicitor

a child

The court case can be any of the following:

a civil case, except a tribunal

a family case

a Court of Protection case

You’ll have to go to court if there’s a hearing, but you cannot act as the other person’s lawyer.

An adult with a litigation friend is called the ‘protected party’ in court.

How you’re appointed

You can either:

apply to be someone’s litigation friend

be appointed by the court if someone involved in a case asks them to appoint a litigation friend for one of the other people involved

The court will check if you’re suitable. It can appoint you as soon as the case has started or at any time during the case.

When there’s no one suitable, willing and able to be a litigation friend, the court may ask the Official Solicitor to step in.

When your appointment ends

If you’re the litigation friend for a child who turns 18 or an adult who recovers capacity during the case, you may need to apply to stop being a litigation friend.

You may be replaced by the court if you do not carry out your duties properly.

Duties

You must ‘direct the proceedings’ on behalf of the other person if you’re their litigation friend. This means you’ll:

make decisions in their best interests

do everything you can to tell them what’s happening in the case and find out their wishes and feelings

talk to their solicitor about what’s happening, get advice from them and give instructions to them in the other person’s best interests

pay any costs ordered by the court

Civil cases: settlement hearings

If the person’s going to be paid money to settle the case, there’ll be a hearing to approve the settlement.

You’ll need to fill in and bring:

form CFO 320 if they’re a child - also bring the child’s original birth certificate or a certified copy

form CFO 320 PB if they’re an adult and the money is going in to a Court Funds Office (CFO) account

Read guidance on CFO accounts and investments for help with the forms.

After the court case

Your role usually ends after the court case, unless you’re the litigation friend of someone awarded money that’s going into a CFO account.

You’ll need to remain the contact for a child’s CFO account until they turn 18 or the court directs that the money is paid out. If you cannot carry out this role, you’ll need to be replaced as a litigation friend.

If you’re the deputy of an adult awarded more than £50,000 into a CFO account, you’ll need to manage the account for them. The Court of Protection may agree that a deputy is not needed.

Civil cases: expenses

You can apply to the court to be paid back any expenses you’ve had while acting as litigation friend. This can include the premium for a court costs insurance policy or the interest on a loan taken out to pay for a costs insurance policy.

Write to the judge in charge of your case giving details of what you spent and when. Include your receipts. The court will check whether your expenses are reasonable.

Who can be a litigation friend

The court can appoint anyone to be a litigation friend, for example:

a parent or guardian

a family member or friend

a solicitor

a professional advocate, such as an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)

a Court of Protection deputy

someone who has a lasting or enduring power of attorney

Suitability

The court will check you’re suitable by making sure:

your interests do not conflict with theirs

you can make decisions about the case in a fair and competent way

You must fill in a certificate of suitability if you’re applying be someone’s litigation friend.

If there’s no one suitable to be litigation friend

The Official Solicitor will act as a litigation friend if:

nobody else is suitable and willing to be litigation friend

there’s money available to pay the Official Solicitor’s costs, for example legal aid

the person’s doctor or another medical professional, for example their psychiatrist, confirms they lack capacity to manage the case (unless they’re a child)

The court will appoint the Official Solicitor - if he agrees - at the relevant time.

Contact the relevant section of the Official Solicitor’s office if you have a query about his involvement in a case.

Apply to be a litigation friend

You can apply to be someone’s litigation friend by either:

providing a copy of the court order that appointed you as the person’s deputy if it gives you permission to act as their litigation friend

filling in a certificate of suitability if you’re not the person’s deputy

You must send (‘file’) your court order or certificate of suitability with the court before you can act on the person’s behalf.

The person’s solicitor usually does this, but you can do it yourself if there’s no solicitor yet. Contact the court to find out where to deliver your documents. You’ll then have to find a solicitor to act for the other person.

Deputies: civil cases

If you’re the deputy of the claimant (the person bringing the case to court) and your deputy’s court order gives you permission to be litigation friend, you must file your court order together with the claim form that starts the court case.

Certificate of suitability

Download and fill in the relevant form to apply in the:

civil courts

family courts

Court of Protection

Deliver in person (‘serve’) a completed copy of the relevant form to the:

parent, guardian or carer, if you’re applying to be a child’s litigation friend

deputy, attorney with a lasting power of attorney or enduring power of attorney, or carer of the adult you want to be litigation friend for

the adult, known as the ‘protected party’, you want to be litigation friend for

If you’re applying to act for an adult, explain on the certificate of suitability form why you think they need someone to make decisions about the case on their behalf.

Certificate of service

When you’ve served the certificate of suitability, download and fill in the relevant certificate of service for a:

civil case

family case

Court of Protection case depending on whether you’re serving the other person or someone else

What to do with the forms

Deliver or send the certificate of suitability and certificate of service to the court at the same time.

If you’re applying to be litigation friend for the person making the claim in a civil case, your forms must be delivered with the claim form.

Ask the court to appoint a litigation friend

You or anyone involved can apply to the court to get a litigation friend appointed at any time during the case.

How to apply

civil courts

family courts

Court of Protection

You’ll need to provide evidence that the person you want the court to appoint:

agrees to be the litigation friend

is suitable and willing

is able to carry out the duties

parent, guardian or carer if you’re applying to get a litigation friend appointed for a child

deputy, attorney with a lasting power of attorney or enduring power of attorney, or carer if you’re applying to get a litigation friend appointed for an adult

the adult you’re applying to get a litigation friend appointed for

Certificate of service

civil case

family case

Stop being a litigation friend

You’ll usually stop being a litigation friend when:

the case ends, unless you’re litigation friend for a child and they’ve been given a settlement

the child turns 18

the adult who did not have mental capacity recovers or gets mental capacity

you or someone else applies to the court for a replacement litigation friend

If you’re litigation friend for a child

If the case has already been settled and you’re managing a Court Funds Office account on the child’s behalf, the Court Funds Office will write to them and explain how they can get their money.

When a child turns 18 during the court case, they must write a statement telling the court and everyone involved in the case:

they’ve turned 18

you’ve stopped being their litigation friend

they are or are not going to carry on with the legal case

their address so documents can be sent to them

They must file the statement with the court and give a copy to everyone involved in the case.

When the adult recovers or gets mental capacity

You, as the litigation friend of someone who recovers mental capacity, or the person themselves can apply to the court for an order to stop you acting as litigation friend.

You or they must include:

medical evidence that they’ve recovered capacity

any Court of Protection orders or declarations

Then they must write a statement telling the court and anyone involved in the case:

They must file the statement with the court and give a copy to everyone involved in the case (‘serve’ it).

In a civil case, the person must serve the statement within 28 days from when you stopped being their litigation friend. If they do not, anyone involved in the case can make an application to have their case dismissed.


Make a claim to an employment tribunal

When you can claim

You can make a claim to an employment tribunal if you think someone has treated you unlawfully, such as your employer, a potential employer or a trade union.

Unlawful treatment can include:

unfair dismissal

discrimination

unfair deductions from your pay

This guide and the online service are also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You usually have to make a claim to the tribunal within 3 months of your employment ending or the problem happening.

The tribunal is independent of government and will listen to you (the ‘claimant’) and the person you’re making a claim against (the ‘respondent’) before making a decision.

See if there’s another way to solve the problem before you make a claim to a tribunal, such as using a grievance procedure.

Before you make a claim

You must tell the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) that you intend to make a claim to the tribunal.

You’ll be offered the chance to try and settle the dispute without going to court by using Acas’s free ‘Early Conciliation’ service.

If early conciliation does not work, Acas will send you an early conciliation certificate - use this when you make a claim to the tribunal.

Once you receive your certificate, you’ll have at least one month left to make your claim.

Help you can get

Call the Employment Tribunal customer contact centre if you have any questions about your claim. They cannot give you legal advice.

Call Acas if you have any questions about early conciliation. They cannot answer questions about your claim.

Legal help

You may want to get legal help or advice if you’re in England and Wales or Scotland before you make your claim.

Your trade union may be able to pay for a solicitor.

You can also get free legal advice from Citizens Advice or Citizens Advice Scotland.

The Equality Advisory and Support Service can help if your claim is about discrimination. You may also be able to get legal aid.

Make a claim

You can make a claim to the employment tribunal online.

You should read the guidance for whistleblowing if it relates to your claim.

This online service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

There’s a different way to claim if you live in Northern Ireland.

Claim online

Make a claim by post

You can also download and fill in a claim form.

Read the guidance for making a claim before you fill in the form. You should also read the guidance for whistleblowing if it relates to your claim.

You do not have to pay a fee to make a claim to the Employment Tribunal, even if it says so on the form.

Send your completed form to one of the following addresses, depending on where you were working.

Talk-through service

Use the employment tribunal talk-through service only if you’re unable to use a computer without help.

Before calling make sure you have:

your Acas early conciliation certificate number or a valid reason why you do not have one

details of your claim including the background, dates and people involved

This service will not give you advice on the details of your claim. Contact the number for general enquiries instead.

After you make a claim

The respondent usually has to reply to your claim in writing within 28 days of getting your claim form. They will give their side of the case.

Once they’ve replied, the tribunal will decide whether there will be a full hearing to decide on your case.

If they do not reply, the tribunal may decide on your case without you having to go to a hearing.

Hearings and coronavirus (COVID-19)

Because of coronavirus, your hearing may take place by phone, by video or in person.

If you’re a legal professional, read guidance on how cases are affected by COVID-19.

‘Preliminary hearing’

You may be asked to go to an initial hearing (called a preliminary hearing) with the judge to decide on things like:

whether part or all of your claim can go ahead

the date and time of a hearing

how long the hearing should take

Arrange documents

You can ask the respondent for documents that will help you with your case, and they can request documents from you.

Examples of documents include:

a contract of employment

pay slips

details of your pension scheme

notes from relevant meetings you attended at work

Usually the tribunal will issue an order setting out a timetable for when you should exchange documents.

You’ll be sent a letter telling you how many copies of each document to bring to the hearing.

Organise witnesses

You can bring witnesses to the hearing if they can give evidence directly relevant to your case.

If you ask a witness to attend and they do not want to, you can ask the tribunal to order them to come. You must apply in writing to the tribunal office dealing with your case, giving:

the name and address of the witness

details of what the witness may be able to say and how it will help your case

the reason the witness has refused to attend (if they gave you one)

You’ll most likely be responsible for paying the witness’s expenses.

Going to a tribunal hearing

Cases are normally held at the employment tribunal office closest to where you worked.

You must take the documents you’re using to support your case. You can take a colleague or someone else with you if you want.

You cannot claim for expenses for going to the hearing.

Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), your hearing may take place by phone, by video or in person. If you need to attend in person, find out what to expect when coming to your hearing. The tribunal will contact you and tell you how the hearing will take place.

What happens at the hearing

You’ll present your case to the tribunal - someone else can do this for you, for example a lawyer, friend or family member. The respondent will present their case against you.

You’ll normally give evidence first, unless your case is about unfair dismissal. You can also call witnesses to give evidence.

You will usually be asked questions by:

the judge

the respondent

two other tribunal members (only in certain cases)

Get a decision

You’ll be sent the decision in the post a few days or weeks after the hearing. The decision will be published on GOV.UK. In certain cases you may also be given the decision at the hearing.

If you win your case

If you win your case, the tribunal can order the losing party to do certain things depending on the type of case. Examples include:

paying you compensation

paying you any witness expenses you’ve paid

improving your working conditions

giving you your job back, if appropriate

If you get compensation, the amount can depend on:

the type of case - there are limits on certain cases

how much money you’ve lost because of the respondent’s actions

your age, length of service and salary

If the respondent does not pay

If you do not get your payment, contact them to find out why.

If they still do not pay you can ask to have them fined and named online by the government. You can also ask a court to force them to pay.

You cannot do these things if the respondent has appealed, or is about to. They have 42 days to appeal.

Get the respondent fined and named online by the government

Use the penalty enforcement form. Post it to the address on the form or email it to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The respondent will initially get a warning notice telling them they may be fined, and named online by the government.

If they do not pay the compensation within 28 days of this notice they’ll have to pay a fine and may be named online by the government.

You can still get a court to force them to pay.

Forcing them to pay if you’re in England or Wales

You can use the Fast Track scheme to send a High Court Enforcement Officer - similar to a bailiff - to demand payment from the respondent.

It costs £66, which you get back from the respondent when they pay.

Fill in the Fast Track Enforcement form (or the Acas settlement form if your case was settled before a hearing) and send it to the address on the form.

You can also ask the local county court to send an enforcement officer to get the money from the respondent. This costs £44.

Fill in an application to enforce an award form and send it with a copy of the tribunal’s decision to your local county court.

Forcing them to pay if you’re in Scotland

Write to the office that heard your case and ask for an ‘extract of the judgment’. A sheriff officer can use this to force the respondent to pay.

If the respondent is ‘insolvent’ (for example, they’re in administration, liquidation or receivership) you can make a claim for money they owe you, including redundancy payments.

If you lose your case

You can ask the tribunal to reconsider the decision (or ‘judgment’) if you lose your case.

You must write to the tribunal office within 14 days of getting the decision, saying why you want it to be reconsidered.

You also need to give good reasons, for example:

the tribunal made a mistake in the way it reached its decision

you were not told about the hearing, or were not at the hearing

there’s new evidence

Send your letter to the tribunal office that dealt with your case.

Appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal

You can also appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal if you think the employment tribunal made a legal mistake.

Get a refund for tribunal fees

You can get a refund if you paid fees at an Employment Tribunal or Employment Appeals Tribunal between 29 July 2013 and 26 July 2017.

How to apply

You can apply online if:

you have not changed your name since you made the claim to the tribunal

your claim was against one employer

you have a UK bank account

Otherwise, you can apply by post or email.

You’ll need to include how much you paid in tribunal fees.

Apply online

Use the service to apply for a refund online.

Apply by email or post

The form you use depends on why you paid the fees.

Use form 1/2-CR if:

you made the claim on your own and paid the fees

a claim was brought against you and you were ordered to pay someone’s fees, or if you paid any other fees to the tribunal

you were the ‘lead claimant’ in a joint (‘multiple’) claim for less than 11 people

Use form 3-S if:

you paid the fees for someone else to make the claim

you were the ‘lead claimant’ in a joint (‘multiple’) claim for over 10 people

Send your completed form by post or email to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

Get help applying

Contact HMCTS if you need help applying or have questions about refunds.

Find out about call charges.

What happens next

If you’re entitled to a refund it’ll be transferred to your bank account (plus 0.5% interest). You’ll get a letter confirming the amount.

Legislation

The Employment Tribunal follows rules and processes that you also have to follow.

You can also read other relevant tribunal rules and regulations.

The tribunal has issued guidance and practice directions for England and Wales and Scotland which provide more information about specific areas, such as postponing hearings and serving documents.

You can also read guidance about specific cases.