Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Reference definition

What does Reference mean? In employment practice, a reference is information provided by a current or former employer to a prospective employer about a worker’s employment history, performance and suitability for a role. The term is descriptive rather than statutory, but its legal features are shaped by case law. Across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, an employer owes a duty of care to take reasonable care in preparing a reference so it is true, accurate and fair overall, and not misleading (often cited by reference to Spring v Guardian Assurance). References attract qualified privilege in defamation, defeated by malice, and may give rise...

Archived: Background and summary of discontinued electronic working schemes in the courts, including RCJ EWS, TCC, Chancery, Rolls Building PD 51J and Supreme Court e-bundles (2010–2015)

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Practice notes

ARCHIVED: this Practice Note is for historical Reference

This note outlines the background and progression of electronic working in the courts, and summarises electronic working schemes that have concluded. For details on current electronic working arrangements, see:

Electronic working pilot scheme under CPR PD 51O-Practice Notes: Electronic working and CE-File-when and where is CE-File applicable? and Electronic working and CE-File-how to Use CE-File
Electronic Filing under CPR PD 5B-Practice Note: Electronic communication and filing of documents by email-CPR PD 5B
County Court-certain County Court claims and applications can be issued and filed electronically-see Practice Notes: County Court money claims-how and where to issue and Where to issue County Court claims and Starting civil claims in the County Court
Supreme Court-Practice Note: Supreme Court-general provisions and considerations

Background to the introduction of electronic working (eWorking)

It has long been accepted that robust IT within the courts is vital to ensure cases are handled efficiently and promptly, notably due to the time and cost savings for practitioners and His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. Accordingly, the courts have for some time sought to implement electronic working...

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Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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