Transparency data

Strategic Engagement Group Meeting Chair’s Summary - June 2025

Published 30 June 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

1.  Introduction

A summary of the Strategic Engagement Group (StratEG) meeting held online on 3 June 2025.

Members of the Bar Council, Law Society and Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) met representatives of HMCTS and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for the latest quarterly meeting.

The meeting included verbal updates covering:

• Operational and strategic overviews
• An update on remote hearings
• The Private Law Service and early adopter expansion plans
• Rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) free sentencing remarks pilot

A presentation covered:

• The language services expansion and plans for engagement

Papers circulated in advance covered:

• Jurisdictional updates

2. Operational and strategic overview

The group was updated on the Online Procedure Rules Committee gaining statutory powers in April 2025, focusing on property and possession, inclusion, pre-action model, and the future of civil, family, and tribunals. A joint event with the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee is scheduled for July at the Law Society.

The Spending Review process concludes on 11 June. HMCTS has participated as part of the MoJ, completing returns within Treasury guidance.  

HMCTS’s five-year strategic plan and business plan for this year have been published internally. The business plan focusses on four priorities: productivity improvements, user services, risk reduction, and leadership development.

Recommendations from Stage 1 of the Leveson Review are expected in July, with Stage 2 addressing broader Criminal Court efficiency due later this year. HMCTS has been engaging with the review team to understand implications and begin planning.

Performance issues following the National Media Centre’s closure and migration to Northampton have been addressed, with claim processing times reduced from 50 days to under 5 days.

The recent Legal Aid Agency (LAA) cyber-attack has not compromised HMCTS court systems, though the benefits checker service remains suspended while contingency payment arrangements offering average weekly payments are operating. The LAA is unable to process civil representation claims and payments but has announced a contingency payment scheme.

3. An update on remote hearings

An update on the status of the remote hearings service approach was provided to group members.

4. Private Law Service and Early Adopter expansion plans

The Private Law Service has expanded from its initial launch in Swansea and Cardiff in March 2024 to include Hull and Humberside by November 2024. January 2025 saw the introduction of end-to-end digital applications with user dashboards, with approximately 600 applications processed to date.

The service will next expand to Chelmsford in mid-July and Wolverhampton in early August as early adopter sites before potential national implementation. Covering both C100 and non-molestation applications, the system routes users via postcode to either the full digital service or the email-based alternative.

Feedback from legal professionals has been positive, particularly in Hull.

5. An update on the RASSO free sentencing remarks pilot

The RASSO free sentencing remarks pilot team provided an update on the pilot following its conclusion after running since May 2024, focusing on cases where judges delivered guilty verdicts or defendants entered guilty pleas.

Following a ministerial review of interim findings at the start of 2025, the Ministry of Justice has decided to continue the provisions as standard practice.

The process will undergo a 12-month review period to ensure it functions effectively for all parties without negatively impacting judicial operations. The complete assessment report is currently being finalised as all data is collected and analysed, with publication expected in the coming months.

6. Language services expansion and engagement

The contracted services team provided an update on the House of Lords Public Services Committee inquiry into court interpreter services after it published its report in March 2025, and the response from HMCTS on the report’s recommendations.

The team’s focus is now on delivering consistent service and ensuring users know how to provide feedback. HMCTS is enhancing engagement with justice system stakeholders to identify areas of concern, with particular emphasis on raising awareness of complaints processes among legal professionals.

7. Next meeting

The next meeting will be on 2 September 2025.