Latest annual report celebrates our 2023 achievements

We are pleased to publish our latest annual report and accounts. The report covers the 12 months to December 2023.

Highlights of the report include:

• Our work on complex cases in the Employment Appeals Tribunal and Upper Tribunal helps to clarify the law for all workers, benefit claimants and applicants for criminal injuries compensation. For example, we took a case that clarified the extent of a tribunal’s duty to consider claims brought by a litigant-in-person which had not been identified by the tribunal at a case management hearing. This explicitly recognised the difficulties which unrepresented claimants may have in navigating the litigation process when unrepresented. We took another case that clarified the definition of ‘spiking’ offences as crimes of violence for criminal injuries compensation claims. These cases will have a lasting effect for thousands of people.
• Our work secured hundreds of thousands of pounds for our clients through tribunal awards or negotiated settlements. Our employment team's awards alone raised more than the entire running costs of FRU. This income is crucial for our clients to prevent poverty.
• We trained around 700 aspiring or junior lawyers in core legal skills and in the specific areas of law that we cover.
• We hosted a visit by judges and officials from the Turkish Ministry of Justice. The delegation had heard of our work and wanted to understand how we support access to justice, the rule of law and legal education.
• We held a fantastic celebration for our 50th anniversary. Speakers included Supreme Court Justice Lady Simler, Vice President of the Court of Appeal Lord Justice Underhill and our patron the Secret Barrister.

The report can be viewed and downloaded at our Annual Reports page.