Directions Hearings

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What are Directions Hearings?

A Directions Hearing is a hearing before a Tribunal Member who decides what Directions should be made to prepare a complaint for the Final Hearing. Directions are orders of the Tribunal and must be obeyed.

A Directions Hearing is not a Final Hearing. The Tribunal Member does not make any decision about whether the complaint has been proven.

It is very important that you attend the Directions Hearing (either in person or by taking the telephone call linking you in by phone). If you do not attend, the Directions Hearing will go ahead without you and the Tribunal Member may make orders in your absence.

The Tribunal Member hears from all the parties and then makes Directions which order the parties to do certain things. See the heading What sort of Directions can be made? for examples of the standard types of orders that may be made. If you want an unusual order, you need to ask the Tribunal Member if this order can be made and explain why you want it made.

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How will I know if I have to attend and do I have to go in person?

If the parties have to attend a Directions Hearing, the Tribunal Registry will write and tell each party the date and time where the Directions Hearing will be held.

The Directions Hearing is usually held in a court room. Depending on where the parties are, they will need to come to the court room or take a telephone call linking them to the hearing. The Tribunal Registry will tell the parties whether they need to attend the hearing in person or by telephone link.

If you are required to attend in person,the Tribunal Registry will tell you this and where you have to go.

If you are going to be linked to the Directions Hearing by telephone, the Tribunal Registry will tell you what telephone number you will be contacted on. If you want to be contacted on a different number, you should tell the Registry immediately.

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Confirmation of orders made at Directions Hearing

The Tribunal Registry will write to all the parties after the Directions Hearing to confirm the Directions which have been ordered. This is an important letter. You should read it carefully so you know what you have to do and when it has to be done by.

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