I have just been on a demonstration of the new CVP (Cloud Video Platform). It's basically Zoom, but for courts and tribunals, and it's being adopted by #ukemplaw tribunals. They can't use Zoom etc because of security concerns.
It was tricky to join. I tried with Firefox for Mac. I initially refused permission for it to access my camera, largely because I thought I might get bored during the presentation (I wasn't though!) and didn't want to be seen sloping off.
Once I'd clicked 'no' to the camera, the CVP system didn't like me very much, and then Firefox wouldn't let me change my preferences. So I had to join using Safari instead. That worked fine.
The screen layout is nice. There are two big boxes, where you can see large images of the last two people speaking. This will normally be the lawyer and the witness, or the lawyer and the judge.
It's a much nicer layout than Zoom, where you have a binary choice between one person full-screen, or (up to) 16 identically sized participant images.
Incidentally, it was nice to see @PamanSingh on the demo, who I've never seen in the flesh before.
We had the usual things like someone's phone going off (but you get that in real tribunals) and speaker/mic feedback. But they're little problems, easily managed.
There is a Chat Box. But it's public; there is no private chat function. That has two consequences. First, you need to arrange a separate way of communicating with your client/opponent.
Second, a disgruntled litigant can ZoomBomb (CVPBomb?) the system, putting all sorts of unpleasant comments in the Chat Box for everyone to see. There is nothing anyone can do to stop that (although I assume they can be thrown off the system, like being sent down to the cells)
There is no facility for document sharing. Everyone will need their own separate electronic or paper bundle.
You will need to communicate with your witnesses so they know when to come into the room. That's less of a problem in E&W, where witnesses can be present the whole time. In Scotland, they're not allowed to be in the room when they're not giving evidence, so timing is important.
The daily cause list will give contact details for who the public/press can contact to ask for access, to watch a tribunal case.
The CVP platform will eventually routinely record all hearings (I don't know why), although that function isn't working yet. Parties are *not* allowed to record or screenshot the proceedings.
Because virtual meetings are quite tiring, there will probably be more breaks or shorter tribunal days than in a 'real' tribunal hearing. With short breaks, you'll just mute your camera and mic. With longer breaks, you'll be asked to disconnect from the room and reconnect later.
Overall, it's a big thumbs up from me. And thank you to the ET (Scotland) for organising the demo, and especially to Employment Judge Susan Walker for running it and for explaining everything so clearly.
