After your application or Notice of Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, a number of steps are taken to determine the scope and format of the forthcoming hearing. Preliminary or directions hearings may be conducted in person or via telephone conference in order to agree and set out the steps which need to be taken prior to your hearing.
This will include determining, for example, which documents the First–tier Tribunal will require to see, and which witnesses the Tribunal will need to hear evidence from. This often results in a number of orders being made to ensure your hearing takes place within the agreed timetable as efficiently as possible. The First–tier Tribunal (Information Rights) Practice notes may be relevant at this stage.
In order to assist you with this case management process, the First–tier Tribunal will send out Initial and Possible Directions for you to follow and agree. We provide explanatory notes to assist you in the use of these template directions.
The Judge may decide to hold a Pre–Hearing Review to check the directions have been complied with to ensure everything necessary to make a decision at the full hearing has been provided.
At this, or any stage before the full hearing, if both parties agree the Tribunal may decide to determine the appeal on the papers without holding a full hearing.
A notice of a hearing will be sent to you in advance by post or whatever method of communications you have agreed to e.g. email. It will have further information about the date, start time and venue.
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