About one third of respondents agree remote hearings are more efficient (31%) or provide the same opportunity for individuals to present their side of the story (35%), the Ministry of Justice’s Legal Problem and Resolution Survey 2023, published in December, has found.
However, more than half of the 1,000-plus adults who responded would prefer a hearing that is face-to-face rather than remote. The report notes that ‘particular consideration should be given to older age groups (particularly those aged 75+) and those with lower levels of digital capability’.
About 5% of people with legal problems end up applying to court or a tribunal, the survey found. Where court or tribunal claims are made, at least 29% said it resulted in a hearing (a further 26% either did not know or preferred not to say).
