Govt launches legal changes

20/05/2008

The government has launched changes to the current tribunals system.

Individual tribunal jurisdictions with similar work will be joined in a new 'two-tier' system due to start November 3rd.

"Bringing individual tribunals into a single integrated system is at the heart of the most radical change to the tribunal system in 50 years," said justice minister, Bridget Prentice.

She described the new system as "truly modern and unified" and claimed it would help people "get solutions to their issues more quickly and efficiently".

The new system will consist of a First Tier and Upper Tribunal and be headed by Lord Justice Carnwarth as its senior president.

Ms Prentice noted that tribunals were the often the public's only experience of the legal system. She reassured workers in legal jobs and users the "reforms will not come at the expense of continuity, specialisation or service".

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