The Free Representation Unit has cautioned against a move to restrict the use of lay panel members in Employment Tribunals. The Senior President of Tribunals, Sir Keith Lindblom, consulted on how to exercise new powers to determine how many members each tribunal should be composed of.
The consultation paper stressed that having more members lengthened proceedings and made them more expensive and harder to list. In the context of severe delays in employment tribunal claims being heard FRU agrees that it is crucial to minimise delay. However, we believe that in many cases the contribution of non-legal panel members remains important, and necessary. The increased legalisation of Employment Tribunals leads the need for a better understanding of the realities of the workplace and in our view this is provided through the judicial insight of the panel members.
The consultations and further information available here.