Court and tribunal hearings by video or phone call

Summary

More and more court hearings have been taking place by video or phone call. These types of hearings are often called ‘remote’ hearings. Understand more about these types of hearings and what you need to do if the court tells you that your hearing will take place by video or phone. This guide also has useful information on how to prepare and manage your case if you don’t have a lawyer to help you. The information in this guide applies to England and Wales. 1 Getting started 2 How to know if your hearing will be held by phone or video call 3 What you need to take part in a hearing by phone or video call 4 Preparing for a hearing by video or phone call 5 On the day of your hearing 6 During your phone or video hearing 7 After the hearing 8 Skills that will help you through your hearing 9 Hearings by phone or video at the social security tribunal (benefits) 10 Hearings by phone or video at the employment tribunal 11 Hearings by phone or video in the family court 12 Hearings by video or phone call at the special educational needs and disability tribunal (SEND) 13 Getting legal advice from a lawyer 14 About this guide Some court and tribunal hearings now take place by video or phone.

Key information

• •Make sure you read all the information from the court carefully so you know what you need to do on the day, or if you are stuck, get help in good time.
• •Make sure you are all set up and ready to go on the day of the hearing well in advance of the time that the hearing is due to start.
• •If you have problems during the hearing make sure you say so, but do this politely. If it is by phone you could interrupt by saying something like ‘I am sorry to interrupt but I can’t hear ….’ If it is by video you could put up your hand to get the attention of the judge.
• •Remember that if you are in a video hearing everyone can see your facial expressions and body language even when your microphone is off!
• •If you do get a lawyer to represent you make sure you have time to speak with them before the hearing and that you work out a way to communicate with them during the hearing, for example by text or WhatsApp. Or, it might be better for you to go to their office so you are in one place, to join the hearing together. Or you could put a message in the chat box, but remember that this can be read by everyone who is in the hearing.
• •Going to an employment tribunal
• •Going to a benefits tribunal
• •the details on how the hearing will take place may be in the court paperwork you get from the court by post. This document is called a Notice of hearing,
• •the court may email you separately to tell you, or,
• •an email address to get the instructions on how to join,
• •a phone - if it is a phone hearing,
• •a smart phone, tablet or a computer with good internet access (these are often called 'devices') - if it is a video hearing,

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Court and tribunal hearings by video or phone call](https://www.advicenow.org.uk/get-help/going-court/representing-myself-court/court-and-tribunal-hearings-video-or-phone-call)

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