03-06-2026, 01:11 PM
The issue with transcript length is straightforward and commonly dealt with in small-claims bundles.
Many courts will only accept email attachments where the total bundle is 50 A4 pages or fewer. That limit is not a rule of law but a practical restriction used by many courts to manage email systems. Because of this, it is neither necessary nor expected that parties include entire transcripts of authorities where only a few passages are relied upon
When a witness statement refers to case law, the exhibit does not need to contain the full transcript. It is entirely acceptable to include only the specific pages containing the paragraphs relied upon. Judges in small-claims hearings do not expect to read dozens of pages of authority; they only need to see the passages that are actually being cited
For example, if the witness statement refers to particular paragraphs from a judgment such as Scott Brennan v Premier Parking Solutions (2023) [H6DP632H], Vehicle Control Services v Ian Mark Edward (2023) [H0KF6C9C], or Liberty Homes (Kent) Limited v Rajakanthan & Others [2022] EWHC 2201 (TCC), then the exhibit should simply include the page or pages containing those paragraphs, not the entire transcript.
This keeps the bundle concise and ensures it remains within the court’s email limits while still providing the judge with the exact passages relied upon.
The exhibits should be listed in a simple index and referred to consistently within the witness statement. For example:
Exhibit Index
XX-01 Photographs of site signage
XX-02 Photographs showing missing or obscured signage at the material time
XX-03 Extract from Scott Brennan v Premier Parking Solutions (2023) [H6DP632H] – relevant pages relied upon
XX-04 Extract from Vehicle Control Services v Ian Mark Edward (2023) [H0KF6C9C] – relevant pages relied upon
XX-05 Extract from Liberty Homes (Kent) Limited v Rajakanthan & Others [2022] EWHC 2201 (TCC) – relevant paragraphs relied upon
XX-06 Tenancy agreement – relevant pages relied upon
XX-07 Claimant’s contract or authority document relied upon
The bundle itself should then be ordered as follows:
1. Witness Statement
2. Exhibit Index
3. Exhibit XX-01
4. Exhibit XX-02
5. Exhibit XX-03
6. Exhibit XX-04
7. Exhibit XX-05
8. Exhibit XX-06
9. Exhibit XX-07
Only the relevant pages of any transcript need to be included. The case name and paragraph numbers should remain visible so the judge can see the authority being relied upon.
Finally, remember to replace the “XX” prefix with your own initials, so the exhibits correspond properly with the identifier used in your witness statement.
Edited to add:
Another option, if necessary, is to print the full bundle and hand-deliver it to the court office. Courts will usually accept a physical bundle even where email limits are restrictive.
The claimant’s solicitors do not face the same constraints. The bundle can simply be emailed to them in full, irrespective of page count.
Many courts will only accept email attachments where the total bundle is 50 A4 pages or fewer. That limit is not a rule of law but a practical restriction used by many courts to manage email systems. Because of this, it is neither necessary nor expected that parties include entire transcripts of authorities where only a few passages are relied upon
When a witness statement refers to case law, the exhibit does not need to contain the full transcript. It is entirely acceptable to include only the specific pages containing the paragraphs relied upon. Judges in small-claims hearings do not expect to read dozens of pages of authority; they only need to see the passages that are actually being cited
For example, if the witness statement refers to particular paragraphs from a judgment such as Scott Brennan v Premier Parking Solutions (2023) [H6DP632H], Vehicle Control Services v Ian Mark Edward (2023) [H0KF6C9C], or Liberty Homes (Kent) Limited v Rajakanthan & Others [2022] EWHC 2201 (TCC), then the exhibit should simply include the page or pages containing those paragraphs, not the entire transcript.
This keeps the bundle concise and ensures it remains within the court’s email limits while still providing the judge with the exact passages relied upon.
The exhibits should be listed in a simple index and referred to consistently within the witness statement. For example:
Exhibit Index
XX-01 Photographs of site signage
XX-02 Photographs showing missing or obscured signage at the material time
XX-03 Extract from Scott Brennan v Premier Parking Solutions (2023) [H6DP632H] – relevant pages relied upon
XX-04 Extract from Vehicle Control Services v Ian Mark Edward (2023) [H0KF6C9C] – relevant pages relied upon
XX-05 Extract from Liberty Homes (Kent) Limited v Rajakanthan & Others [2022] EWHC 2201 (TCC) – relevant paragraphs relied upon
XX-06 Tenancy agreement – relevant pages relied upon
XX-07 Claimant’s contract or authority document relied upon
The bundle itself should then be ordered as follows:
1. Witness Statement
2. Exhibit Index
3. Exhibit XX-01
4. Exhibit XX-02
5. Exhibit XX-03
6. Exhibit XX-04
7. Exhibit XX-05
8. Exhibit XX-06
9. Exhibit XX-07
Only the relevant pages of any transcript need to be included. The case name and paragraph numbers should remain visible so the judge can see the authority being relied upon.
Finally, remember to replace the “XX” prefix with your own initials, so the exhibits correspond properly with the identifier used in your witness statement.
Edited to add:
Another option, if necessary, is to print the full bundle and hand-deliver it to the court office. Courts will usually accept a physical bundle even where email limits are restrictive.
The claimant’s solicitors do not face the same constraints. The bundle can simply be emailed to them in full, irrespective of page count.
Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. - Mark Twain
