Hi,

One of my clients' appeal hearings has just been adjourned so they can "seek further advice and information about the appeal". On speaking with my client, apparently the clerk and also the Judge said they needed a representative to attend the hearing in person (only in not so many words, obviously).

As the LSC continue to refuse to fund representation at Tribunals, I've instead made all the necessary submissions in writing and fully prepped my client to attend the hearing themselves. Therefore, I'm baffled as to why the clerk and indeed the Tribunal Judge would deem it necessary for a representative to attend in person.

Has anyone else had a similar experience where a Tribunal has been seemingly reluctant to hear an appeal without a representative present?!

you can go as a mckenzie friend in exceptional case. frankly, if LSC don't agree that it's an exceptional case if the tribunal want the rep there, one has to wonder what is. get onto your local LSC office contract person and check that out, and ifyou look in the docs, you will find reference to that. once you're there....

Locally judges will do that in 2 circumstances. The first is it's actually complex, the second is if they've no chance and would rather not break the news themselves...

A bit more detail would be handy.

It was a reasonably straight forward Attendance Allowance entitlement appeal and a supportive medical report had been submitted which seemed sufficient for the low rate. Doesn't seem related to the 2 circumstances you describe...

Or maybe they were running over and wanted to get to lunch/home?