As the President of Employment Tribunals in England and Wales and the President of Employment Tribunals in Scotland, we are pleased to provide this joint message of welcome to all those considering applying to become a non-legal member of the Employment Tribunals.

The role of a non-legal member is a judicial office. It is an important role, which has helped to deliver workplace justice for over 50 years. Together, two non-legal members (someone with workplace experience from an employer perspective and someone with workplace experience from an employee perspective) will sit alongside an Employment Judge (an experienced lawyer) to decide various types of dispute. Non-legal members are a valued part of this panel of three people. They contribute to an independent decision-making process, deciding cases about alleged discrimination, harassment, victimisation, unlawful detriments during employment, equal pay and many other issues.

The balance of perspectives that non-legal members provide helps to ensure that the Employment Tribunals' judgments take proper account of workplace realities. That balance enhances the credibility of the Tribunals' decisions in the eyes of employers and employees alike, as well as managers and business owners, trade unions and the public. It furthers the appearance of impartiality.

This is the first recruitment of non-legal members to the Employment Tribunals since 2009. The workplace has not stood still during the last ten years. Although many traditional occupations remain in the public and private sector, we have seen new forms of working based on web platforms (often called the "gig economy"), an increase in agency work, an increase in both migrant and cross-border working, the growing influence of social media in the workplace and the emergence of complex disputes at the interface of religious belief and sexual and gender identity. Difficult cases on issues such as these require serious, careful and impartial thought, so that justice is served, and the rule of law supported.

If you think you could perform this important role, we hope you will consider applying to become a non-legal member. This may be the opportunity "to give something back" that you have been looking for.

If your application is successful, you will add new experiences and new perspectives to the Tribunals' decision-making and, we hope, enhance the diversity of this important part of the judicial family.

Judge Brian Doyle
President, Employment Tribunals
(England and Wales)

Judge Shona Simon
President, Employment Tribunals
(Scotland)