By Claire Mansell - 10 Feb 2011
New District Courts Rules have been in force since November
2009. They aimed to make the Court more accessible to the public
with simplified language, processes and forms. It was expected that
lawyers' input would decrease as a result, with associated savings
for litigants. Looking back one year on, it seems the Rules have
delivered on two key fronts.
First, unmeritorious claims are being weeded out earlier due to
a new vetting process where litigants fully review each others'
cases before a Judge is involved. Strict vetting timetables have
created some difficulties, but these are able to be resolved at
minimal expense.
Secondly, litigants are less likely to fall through procedural
cracks because key documents clearly explain their effect and what
action may be taken in response. Legal cracks are another thing
altogether though, and the majority still engage lawyers to manage
this aspect.