Apply for an HMCTS third-party courts and tribunals data licence
Apply for a licence to re-use and perform computational analysis of information published by the Court and Tribunal Hearings Service (CaTH).
Overview
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) publishes court and tribunal lists to:
- fulfil certain legal obligations
- uphold the principle of open justice
- aid in the administration of justice
The third-party courts and tribunals data licensing scheme will uphold the principle of open justice by:
- granting greater and easier access to court and tribunal data
- enabling HMCTS to facilitate the re-use of data transparently and responsibly at scale
The scheme also aims to deliver outcomes that benefit the public interest, such as:
- promoting innovation in sectors including legal technology and research
- reducing unmet legal demand
- boosting economic growth
You must apply for a licence to perform computational analysis on the information HMCTS publishes on the Court and Tribunal Hearings Service (CaTH) to:
- conduct research and development
- help with providing products or services
Computational analysis is the processing of data in bulk and at a scale that requires a machine. This includes:
- analysis of non-machine-readable information
- programmatic scanning and searching of published information
- using of algorithms to conduct analysis
It does not include manual processing by a person, even if this covers large numbers of record.
Make sure you read the full guidance for the application process.
Before you apply
When you apply, you will need to upload a completed data protection impact assessment.
You may also need to include or upload:
- a completed appropriate policy document
- a completed algorithmic transparency recording standard template
- details of any relevant certification scheme
- any other documentation relevant to your application
You will also need to check that your systems have compatibility with CaTH’s application programming interface (API) requirements.
How to apply
You can apply using our online form.
Contact us if you are unable to apply online or need help applying.
What happens next
The third-party courts and tribunals data licensing governance panel meet regularly to review applications. It may not have time to review your application the first time it meets after receiving your submission.
Once the panel has reviewed your application, it may ask you for more details or to submit a revised application form if there are errors or missing information.
We will contact you to let you know if the panel has accepted or refused your application.
If your application is accepted, we will share more information about how to access the data.
If your application is refused and you believe you have the right to appeal, find out how to appeal in the full guidance.
Get help with your application
If you have read all the guidance and still need help with your application, contact thirdpartydatalicence@justice.gov.uk.
If you believe a court or tribunal list we should be publishing is missing from the service, or you have another query, contact publicationsinformation@justice.gov.uk.