Chief Justice urges all solicitors to register immediately for e-filing
Chief Justice Frank Clarke has urged solicitors to use the new e-filing system for appeals to the Supreme Court.
The system was given a soft launch in February. Since then, 16 solicitors have registered, but no appeals have yet been filed through the new system.
The e-filing project was facilitated by the adoption of new Rules of Court and a new statutory practice direction.
鈥淭hose measures were put in place in the context of a widespread perception that access to justice and the efficient administration of justice would be enhanced by a significantly greater use of IT in the courts system,鈥 the Chief Justice said this morning.
System
鈥淚 would encourage solicitors to pre-register for the use of the system on the Courts Service鈥檚 on-line service, which is called CSOL.
鈥淚nformation on how to do this is provided on and is also available from the Supreme Court Office. By registering, a solicitor who has an application to file, and wishes to do so on-line, is able to complete the application with the minimum of delay,鈥 he said.
Time limits
Waiting until a solicitor has an actual application for leave means that the registration has to take place under the pressure of the time limits for leave applications.
- The practice direction, streamlined court forms, and new Rules of Court provide the following benefits for practitioners:
- Facility to apply for leave online,
- Facility to upload relevant application documents,
- Online payment of fees,
- Facility to upload respondent鈥檚 notice, and
- Facility to upload booklet of additional documents.