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21 January 2026
Issue: 8146 / Categories: Legal News , Tribunals , Immigration & asylum , Harassment
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Lord Justice Dingemans voices concerns on backlogs & abuse

Tackling the backlogs of cases in the tribunals will be a priority this year, Lord Justice Dingemans, senior president of tribunals, has said

In his annual report, published last week, Dingemans LJ expressed concern about ‘rising caseloads’ in a number of chambers, with the Employment Rights Act 2025 and Renters’ Rights Act 2025 ‘likely to increase the workloads’.

Immigration and asylum judges, for example, have faced a ‘substantial increase in workload following a surge of decision-making by the Home Office’ while being subject to ‘unwarranted media commentary’ and ‘abusive language and explicit discriminatory abuse’ in comments below articles.

Home Office plans for a body of assessors to take decisions on asylum appeals, announced in August and scheduled to be in place for some appeals in 2027, have not materialised. Dingemans LJ said: ‘Legislation will be required to effect any changes but there are, as yet, no drafts of any legislative provisions.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal expands Midlands residential development team

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn adds employee benefits and executive compensation practice in London with partner Richard Surtees

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL appoints new partner and head of intellectual property disputes

NEWS
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
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