Court reform

HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) is investing £1 billion in a seven-year reform programme to modernise the courts and tribunals system. We agree that a modernised court service would benefit all users, but this must not come at the expense of justice. We’re engaging with HMCTS to ensure members’ and clients’ needs are considered, and we’re helping members to understand and adapt to the changes
Signs pointing to Magistrates' Court, Crown and County Courts in front of Croydon Law Courts buildings on sunny winter day (Croydon, England - March 25, 2012)

Court reform: what's changing

March 2025 marked the end of the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) reform programme, which digitised multiple services.

Find out how we advocated for our members and made sure your needs and concerns were addressed.

Find out more
Signs pointing to Magistrates' Court, Crown and County Courts in front of Croydon Law Courts buildings on sunny winter day (Croydon, England - March 25, 2012)

Resources

News and articles

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A court user waits for an online hearing to start; a white man wearing a headset looks at a computer monitor on his desk, the screen shows a video call holding screen with the HM Courts and Tribunals Service logo in white on a black background

Preparing for the new video hearings service

Remote hearings will change in 2024. Claire Jukes from HM Courts and Tribunals Services explains what steps you can take now to…

16 Sep 2024

Progress on court reform programme but challenges remain

As the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) Reform Programme, established to help modernise the courts and tribunal system, comes to an end, the Law Society of England and Wales has played an influential role to bring positive change.

31 Mar 2025

Tackle criminal court backlogs to ensure swift access to justice for all

Investment into the criminal justice system could help free thousands of victims, witnesses and defendants from limbo as new figures show a record Crown Court backlog of more than 74,000 cases.

27 Mar 2025

Westminster update: Assisted Dying Bill committee stage

Your weekly update from the Law Society’s public affairs team on all the latest developments and debates in Parliament and across Whitehall. This week: our president's opinion piece on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, our concern raised over the Assisted Dying Bill and Border Security Bill and the Employment Rights Bill passed through the commons.

18 Mar 2025

Independent review of the criminal courts call for evidence – Law Society response

We’ve responded to Sir Brian Leveson's call for evidence for the independent review of the criminal courts.

11 Feb 2025

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