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.
