The Tribunal Embarrasses
Page 37
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THTransport Tribunal's policy of ILing three, and sometimes four, appeals for hearing on one day is causing a certain amount of embarrassment to counsel and solicitors appearing before it.
In its attempt to reduce the tremendous backlog of appeals the Tribunal has regularly been sitting fortnightly. Unfortunately, it is only on a few occasions that cases set down for a certain day are completed. The usual practice is to carry on with an unfinished appeal the next day, which usually means that appeals for the next day are delayed and sometimes have to be adjourned either to a third day during the week, or some other time that is convenient (and sometimes inconvenient) to advocates representing the parties.
This causes difficulties enough with the many London-based counsel who appear at the Tribunal; but the difficulties are greatly enhanced when a provincial barrister or solicitor, sometimes both, find themselves forced to stay overnight in London, and having to postpone or cancel altogether work arranged for the next day. The expense, needless to say, falls on the client.
Dare I respectfully suggest to the Tribunal a three-day sitting on appeals each fortnight, with only two cases listed for each day?