Early and late court sessions go on trial

CIVIL and family courts are to trial a flexitime system with evening and early-morning sittings to make it easier for people to attend outside normal working hours.

The pilot, announced by the Government yesterday following feedback from legal professionals, will take place for six months in Manchester and Brentford. An independent evaluation will then take place before any final decisions are made.

It is hoped that flexible hours will be beneficial to those attending court with work or childcare commitments and those representing themselves.

The Ministry of Justice said that extending the hours better utilised valuable courtroom space.

Lucy Frazer, the justice minister, said: “We want to make our courts and tribunals more accessible to the public. This pilot assesses whether and how we can give people greater flexibility in their busy lives.”

From next spring, the two courts will introduce a half-day session on certain days lasting from 8am until 10.30am, followed by a handover and a change of judge before a normal court day ensues. There will then be an evening session from 4.30pm until 7pm, with a separate judge.

The trial will examine the full impact on the wider legal system, including detailed financial implications, although the MOJ did acknowledge it would not be trialled in the criminal court system.

Andrew Walker QC, Chair of the Bar, said they remained concerned about the implications of early starts and late finishes and said there were “many questions still to be answered”, fearing it could “place even greater burdens” on barristers.