ByLawyers News and Updates

County Court – VIC

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The County Court Commercial Division Omnibus Practice Note PNCO 2-2022 came into operation on 1 August 2022.

The new Commercial List Practice Note is largely a consolidation of all the previous practice notes for the division into a single omnibus practice note.

The main changes are in relation to the introduction of electronic processes for discovery, affidavits, and subpoenas.

The Court has also issued a Notice to practitioners regarding the Commercial Division Standard Orders Booklet 2022, also released on 1 August and to be read in conjunction with the new practice note. This collection of the court’s required content and format for consent orders is to be consulted by parties drafting consent orders to be submitted to the Court.

The By Lawyers VIC Litigation guides County Court – Acting for the plaintiff and County Court – Acting for the defendant have been updated accordingly, with references and links to the new omnibus practice note and standard orders booklet in the commentary. There are no new forms or precedents required.

Additional updates have also been made to the commentaries for new Common Law practice notes that have been released recently.  The Court’s Common Law division has not consolidated its practice notes into a single omnibus practice note at this stage.

County Court Civil – VIC

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The By Lawyers County Court Civil (VIC) publication has been updated.

This update reflects recent amendments to the Court’s practice notes in the Common Law Division issued by Her Honour Judge Tsalamandris, the Head of the Common Law Division. The links to the practice notes within the Acting for the plaintiff and the Acting for the defendant commentaries have now been updated.

Practice notes provide practitioners with information and direction on the court’s practice and procedures. They particularly explain how matters are conducted in the court’s specialist lists. As all By Lawyers litigation guides emphasise, it is important that practitioners have a sound understanding of the practice notes relevant to any proceedings they propose to commence for a client, or which are already on foot.

The Common Law Division Practice Note applies to all proceedings in the Common Law Division.

In addition, there are practice notes giving instruction on the conduct of cases in specific lists, such as the following which are the subject of the recent updates:

Procedures vary between courts, divisions and specialist lists. Compliance with practice notes is important for timely and efficient case management and will prevent unnecessary applications, save time and avoid the risk of adverse costs orders. The ‘Case management and direction’ sections of the commentaries in all By Lawyers litigation guides provides a valuable resource.

This update to the County Court Civil guides is part of By Lawyers continuing commitment to keeping our content current and helping  our subscribers enjoy practice more.

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