Family Law

Reforms to modernise the tribunals system in England and Wales were set out in a consultation by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday.

The reform of the system began in April 2006 with the creation of the Tribunals Service, which brought together the administration of central government tribunals in a single system.

Transforming Tribunals: Implementing Part 1 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 explains how the tribunals system is to be organised and supported in future, and seeks views on the way ahead.

The proposals include:

• Plans for the organisation of first-tier and upper tribunals created by the 2007 Act, and into which most existing tribunals will be transferred;
• How the chambers within the new tribunals should be structured;
• The assignment of judges within and across the chambers; and
• The role of non-legal members in the new structure.

Transforming Tribunals: Implementing Part 1 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 is available on the Ministry of Justice website: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp3007.htm.