Court Associate
Job profile
October 2025
1
Overview
Why we exist
Employment Appeal Tribunal deal with onward appeals from the Employment Tribunal.
Dealing with cases justly and speedily, and in ways that meet the needs of our court users,
is at the heart of what we do.
We are here to ensure everyone in need of our courts and tribunals receives a service that
suits their needs.
How are we going to fulfil our vision?
Every year, millions of people seek justice in our courts and tribunals.
We are focused on radically improving the customer’s experience by:
• Employing digital technology to enable access to justice by enabling victims and
witnesses to give evidence in a less intimidating way via video link;
• Enabling self-service, where appropriate, to ensure people can get fast and easy
access to simple judicial services;
• Streamlining processes so we can reinvest in improvements that benefit our
customers;
• Progressing cases efficiently and effectively through the court by maximising the use
of new digital processes.
Job Description
The role of court associate is to progress appeals in accordance with the Employment Appeal
Tribunal Practice Direction (2024) and the directions of the Registrar.
To attend court with either a circuit judge, senior circuit Judge or high court judge and to keep a
full and accurate record of proceedings.
Undertake such administrative roles as appropriate to grade as directed by the line manager.
Administration
• To ensure that all relevant documentation is completed fully, accurately and in a timely
manner.
• To ensure that the digital court files are kept up to date and complete.
• To fully result all cases electronically.
Drafting
• To take a note of the evidence given and any legal submissions.
• To make a full and accurate record of all directions and decisions made
Operations
• To be aware of, and act on, any special requirements such as video equipment, tape
recorder, interpreter etc.
• To be in court no later than 20 minutes before the start of the court list.
• Thoroughly check case papers in good time before the court session.
• In the absence of an usher, to call in witnesses and administer oaths and affirmations.
• To use the CMS computer system to progress cases, produce all relevant documents
including, orders and letters, annotate case status at every stage and to close cases when
decided.
2
• To meet with the judge ten minutes before the start of the court and appraise him of the state
of the day’s list and throughout the day as necessary.
• To be able to answer questions on the case (in particular being able to give a history of the
case) in court and to the judge as required.
• Ensure the effective management and planning of the business within the courtroom.
• Produce the draft Order at the end of each hearing for the Judges’ approval, using the
information recorded accurately on the Court Log
• Arrange for a transcript of the judgment to be produced, if it is ordered by the judge or
requested by parties.
• Take part in employee engagement activities to effect good working relationships with staff
and to improve service delivery and staff morale / motivation.
• Comply with HMCTS values, policies and procedures (including diversity, attendance and
discipline).
• To participate in any relevant training as required.
• Apply CI principles, tools and techniques to working practices to improve efficiency of
operations.
Team Leadership
• All EO staff are expected to deal with other ad hoc management roles including line
management of AO and AA staff as required.
• There is no line management responsibility attached to this post.
Processing and Managing Casework
• Personally, responsible for case management of a number of appeals, managed cradle-to-
grave (current caseload is approximately 170 live appeals each)
• Progressing appeals in line with set procedures, the Employment Appeal Tribunal Practice
Direction (2024) and judicial instruction. This includes dealing with paper applications,
managing the receipt of formal court material for hearing and dealing with telephone calls
and queries.
• Court Associate time is split between at-desk case management and in-court duties; with
20 to 30% of time spent in court.
Calculations and Analysis
• Identify and implement solutions to local problems, referring more complex problems to a
local manager.
Communicating with the public, juries, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users
and representatives of other agencies and organisations
• Maintain effective liaison with judiciary, user groups and representative organisations.
• Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational
implications of issues.
• Implement local communication plans which meet the needs of the target audience.
Representation
• Represent the function you have been assigned to at an operational level.
Specialist Roles
• To have a working knowledge of functions undertaken within the Cluster, to support the
development and review of policies and procedures.
3
Accountability
• The court associate will report to a manager within the administration team who will be
their line manager. When acting as an associate in court the post holder will be
accountable to, and subject to the directions of the legal team manager.
Customer service and standards
• Promotes customer focused activity and standards - has strong written and interpersonal
skills utilising principles of Human Voice of Justice
• Contributes to SOC, SAF - leads on maintaining standards of service and identifies
areas for improvement - takes forward solutions using ‘continuous improvement’
techniques.
• Management of complaints and competent in use of OPTIC.
Other duties
The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties
reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and
level of responsibility of this post.
Location
Whilst a Court Associate will have a specific base court, you may be required to travel to a
different location across the business/functional areas, within reasonable distance and travel
time on a non-permanent basis.
This job description is a guide to the principal current duties of the post. It is not an
exhaustive list of the duties and responsibilities and the postholder may be required to
undertake any other duties from time to time that are commensurate with the seniority and
nature of the post.
4