Preliminary Applications and Hearings
Stage 4 of 9 · 4 topics in this stage
If the other side is trying to knock your claim out before trial, or a threshold issue has to be decided first, this is the stage that deals with it. Sometimes a case needs a decision before the final hearing: whether a claim should be struck out, whether a deposit should be ordered, or a preliminary issue such as time limits or employment status. This stage is about those applications, and the separate public hearing that decides them.
Topics in this stage
Each opens a full topic hub with guides, official links and the products for that topic.
Strike-Out
When a claim or response can be removed before the final hearing.
Open topic →Deposit Orders
When a party is asked to pay a deposit to pursue a weak point.
Open topic →Preliminary Issues
Deciding a knock-out point first, such as time limits or status.
Open topic →Unless Orders
Orders that take effect automatically if a step is missed.
Open topic →Further reading
Curated links to official sources. These open on external sites; they are not a substitute for advice.
- Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024legislation.gov.uk
The current rules (SI 2024/1155), Schedule 1.
- Preliminary hearingsjudiciary.uk
How preliminary hearings are used and listed.
Where this sits in a claim