The new Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 came into force on 6 January 2025. These largely replicate the previous 2013 procedural rules, but with altered numbering and some minor changes to update the drafting and remove ambiguities. The most significant change is a new power authorising the Senior President of Tribunals to allow legal officers to carry out specified judicial functions in Employment Tribunals. A Practice Statement was issued by the Senior President of Tribunals, also on 6 January 2025, setting out the relevant functions that may now be carried out by legal officers under the supervision of an employment judge and in accordance with any applicable Presidential Guidance. These include shortening or extending time limits, giving directions on service of claim forms, certain hearing postponements, case management orders, and orders for preliminary hearings. Within 14 days from the date on which the Tribunal sends notice of a decision made by a legal officer to a party in the proceedings, that party may apply for the decision to be considered afresh by a judge.