Employment Tribunals are going digital: What you need to know

The Employment Tribunal are undergoing a project which involves designing a digital system to help make the process simple, fair and accessible for all users.

The user researchers have worked with external stakeholders such as the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), the Department for Business and Trade, legal professionals and litigants in person to provide feedback on the latest design work.

Since April, the new update on the project has meant there is no longer any need for paper files.

HMCTS, judges, representatives, litigants in person and Acas will have access to digitally stored tribunal documents. This should help to make the process quicker and simpler.

ET1s and ET3s are already being lodged online however, the system has now been updated to a more sophisticated system which contains greater guidance to help those completing the forms.

Applications will now be made online and will automatically be sent via email to the other side which will definitely speed up the process.

Currently functionality allows the Claimants to withdraw their cases online, this is due to be extended to all potential applications.

In cases where no hearings are required, the judges will now be able to review the applications and make their decisions online.

The new updates are currently being tested in Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol and Nottingham, with a roll-out of the portal system to professional representatives expected in the next month and the service being phased into all regions in England and Wales from Autumn 2023.