NSW courts can become fairer, more flexible and more efficient if the Government learns from the use of measures introduced to keep the justice system working during the COVID pandemic.
President of the Law Society of NSW Joanne van der Plaat has presented to Attorney General Mark Speakman a briefing on the results of a survey of nearly 1,500 practitioner members who supported overwhelmingly retaining access to a number of COVID related measures to improve access to justice.
“The results of this survey, entitled A fair post-COVID justice system, enabled the Law Society to demonstrate to the Attorney General the desirability of retaining several measures that benefit the entire justice system, from judicial officers to the most important people in the justice system, the client and indeed the taxpayer,” Ms van der Plaat said.
The survey was completed by 1,483 members of the Law Society between 13 July and 4 August 2021, a period when lockdown was declared in much of Sydney. During the pandemic, each jurisdiction implemented its own measures.
More than 90 per cent of respondent solicitors want to retain the flexibility to participate in online case management and directions hearings, lodge documents and make court applications via internet portal or email, view or
