Who Is the Employment Tribunal Judge?

Understanding who the employment tribunal judge is and what they do can help you feel at ease. Here's a clear guide.

Meet the Employment Judge: Your Hearing Leader

Legally trained and experienced An employment tribunal judge is a qualified lawyer—a barrister or solicitor. They are appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission to ensure fairness. They decide cases solo or lead panels with lay members. Some are full-time (called Salaried Employment Judges), others sit part-time (called "Fee-Paid Employment Judges").

Role during the hearing The judge manages the process: they introduce everyone, explain the rules, take evidence, ask questions, and ensure both sides have a fair chance. Their job is to keep the hearing on track and understandable, especially for litigants in person.

Judicial Decisions: Law and Facts

Guiding the panel on legal matters When a tribunal sits with lay members, it's the judge who explains the law and ensures lay members understand how to apply legal standards. However, lay members may influence fact-finding based on their workplace experience.

Deciding alone when sitting solo In judge-only hearings, the judge is responsible for both the facts and the law. They must weigh evidence, decide if legal thresholds are met, and set out their reasoning clearly in a judgment.

Support and Flexibility for Litigants in Person

Explaining and adjusting the process Knowing you're unrepresented, the judge may provide extra clarity—such as explaining legal terms or pausing to check you understand—as guided by the Equal Treatment Bench Book. However, they cannot, and will not, run your case for you: if you overlook something they may not assist you.

Balancing fairness They take care not to influence your argument unduly. Their role is to guide, not to advocate. This ensures fairness while allowing you to present your case with some support.