Costs and TIme

legal costs

the nature of the legal system relies on both parties having good legal representation. There are also court costs and disbursements assoicated with:

• engaging expert witnesses and mediation

• filiinf and hearing fees

• using a jury

• paying other parties costs

measures to address costs

• the earlier the dispute is settled, the more money is saved

• the costs saved by resolving a matter before trial or hearing means the CJS experiences savings

• use of DRM and DRB eg VCAT

Time

• backlogs

• pretrial procedures

• evidence gathering and preparation

• court trials/hearings often create the longest delays and inconvenience

measures to address delays

pleadings: a pretrial procedure where documents are filed and exchanged

court can:

• order mediation

• limit the scope of discovery

• restrict time for final hearings

• online court hearings