Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Pre-action definition

What does Pre-action mean? Pre-action describes the stage before court proceedings are issued, when parties investigate the dispute, exchange information and attempt resolution. It is a descriptive expression rather than a statutory term, but in England and Wales it is structured by the Civil Procedure Rules via the Practice Direction – Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols and specific Pre-Action Protocols (for example, debt, clinical negligence, construction, professional negligence and media claims). Typical steps include a letter before claim/letter before action, an informed response, proportionate disclosure of key documents, obtaining early expert input where needed, considering ADR/mediation, and addressing limitation (often with a standstill agreement). The...

Stage 1 of the EL/PL Low-Value Personal Injury Claims Portal: Scope, CNF, Time Limits, Insurer Responses, Admissions and Limitation (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis PI & Clinical Negligence expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out a summary of the Pre-action Protocol for Low Value Personal injury (Employers’ Liability and Public Liability) Claims (the EL/PL protocol), with a particular emphasis on Stage 1 of the process. For direction on the later phases, refer to Practice Note: EL/PL claims in the portal—a practical guide (Stage 2 onwards).

The Portal

Initially introduced on 30 April 2010 for road traffic accident (RTA) matters, the Portal was broadened on 31 July 2013 to include Employers’ Liability (EL) and Public Liability (PL) claims. See Practice Note: The Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury (Employers' Liability and Public Liability) Claims.

The Portal is managed by Claims Portal Limited (CPL), a Not-for-profit organisation with a board of 17 non-executive directors, chaired by an independent chair. The board is evenly constituted, with eight claimant stakeholders and eight insurer representatives, nominated by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS), the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Law Society (on behalf of claimants) and insurers.

The Portal’s sole function is to offer an electronic channel for parties to navigate the stages of the EL/PL protocol. Those who use the Portal are ‘Claimant Representatives’ (CR) (firms of solicitors authorised by...

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Sue Brown

Susan Brown qualified as a solicitor in 1996, and was a partner and Head of Personal Injury at niche West End litigation firm Reid Minty until 2003, when she moved to the in-house legal team for Royal&SunAlliance. She was with Prolegal from 2007 to June 2016 as Head of Personal Injury and Professional Negligence. She is now a mediator and a director of Claims Portal and Medco.Sue has specialised in personal injury, clinical negligence and professional negligence claims for over 20 years and has a particular interest in asbestos disease claims and in complex psychiatric injury claims. She has handled a wide range of professional negligence claims including against solicitors, surveyors, architects and accountants.Sue talks and makes regular published contributions in the legal and national press on issues of personal injury, professional negligence, costs and funding.Sue was Chair of the Motor...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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