Catalogue description Records of Tribunals

Tribunals handle a wide range of appeals and disputes, affecting many different areas of day-to-day life. Some are administered by central government and others by local government. Compared to court proceedings, tribunals are often relatively informal, although some tribunal proceeding are held in rooms that look like courts. Tribunals often sit as a panel, incorporating a legally qualified tribunal judge, as well as panel members with specific areas of expertise.

From 2001, several tribunals were administered through HM Tribunals Service. In 2011, HM Tribunals Service and HM Courts Service were merged to form HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

HMCTS administers a two-tier system, comprising the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal. Both are split into chambers that handle appeals relating to different areas of the law. Some HMCTS-administered tribunals, including the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, sit outside this structure.