Preliminary hearing
Plain-English definitions for England and Wales. General information, not legal advice. Laws and figures change - always check the current position on GOV.UK.
Preliminary hearing A hearing held before the final hearing to deal with case-management matters (such as setting a timetable, clarifying the issues, or ordering disclosure) or to decide a specific preliminary point (such as whether a claim was brought in time). It can be in private or in public depending on what it covers.
Related terms
- Case management order
- A direction from the tribunal setting out the steps each side must take before the final hearing and by when - for example exchanging documents, witness statements, or preparing the bundle. Failing to comply can lead to sanctions.
- Employment tribunal
- An independent judicial body in England and Wales that decides disputes between employees or workers and employers - such as unfair dismissal, discrimination and unpaid wages. Hearings are less formal than the civil courts and each side usually pays its own costs.
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