Key Moments
What This Video Covers
Before a hearing, the judge sits down with one thing: the bundle. Anything not in it is unlikely to be referred to at your hearing. This flagship explainer covers the judge's perspective, what you need to provide, how rules vary by area of law — from SEND Tribunal to Employment, Immigration and Family Court — and what to do if documents go missing. Built for litigants in person, Mackenzie friends, solicitors, and barristers across England and Wales.
Full Transcript
Before a hearing, the judge sits down with one thing: the bundle. It is the complete, organised set of documents they will read. And here is the sentence that matters. Anything that is not in the bundle is unlikely to be referred to at your hearing.
That is why contributing to the bundle is not optional. It is how you get heard. You might be the applicant, the person who brought the matter to court. You might be the respondent, the person who has been asked to answer it. Either way, the bundle is the place where your case lives.
If you do not put your position in front of the judge through the bundle, the judge is left with only the other side's version. That is not the balance the court is looking for. The hearing works best when both sides' arguments and evidence sit next to each other, so the judge can weigh them fairly.
For most hearings there are three things you may need to provide. First, a position statement — a short document, usually one or two pages, that explains what you are asking the court to decide and why. Second, any witness statement the court has directed you to file, signed with a statement of truth. And third, any exhibits or documents that support your case.
Every court and tribunal sets its own deadlines for getting these documents in, and the deadlines can vary quite a bit. Your most recent court or tribunal order will tell you exactly when each document is due. Always follow that order.
As a general rule, across most civil and family matters, the applicant prepares the bundle. But the rule varies quite a bit depending on your area of law. In SEND Tribunal, the Local Authority prepares it. In care proceedings, the Local Authority prepares the bundle as the applicant. In Employment Tribunal, one party prepares the bundle, often the respondent. In immigration and asylum appeals, there are usually two bundles. In criminal cases, the Crown Prosecution Service and defence each prepare their own.
Occasionally, the party preparing the bundle may leave documents out. Start with the bundle index. Before the bundle is finalised, the party preparing it should share the list of contents with you. If something of yours is missing, raise it as soon as you see it, and always in writing. If the other side refuses to add it, you apply to the court or tribunal.
BundleCreator is built around the rules that courts and tribunals across England and Wales expect. It structures your bundle into the standard sections, numbers the pages in the style your court requires, and keeps the index in sync automatically. And it gives you pre-loaded templates for the documents the judge is expecting.
A bundle is more than a stack of paper. It is the channel through which your case reaches the judge. When your evidence is in it, your case is in the room. When it is not, your case may not be heard. Contribute. File on time. Use the proper routes if something is missing.