Court Appearances – What to Expect
For some of our clients, it may be the first time appearing in Court. Here is what to expect if you appear in Court.
Most Court events are virtual and we have our clients attend our offices for these appearances. However, for appearances that occur in person at Court, we meet with our clients either outside or in the Court house to guide them to the designated Court room. As there are usually other proceedings that occur at the same time, there can be many people waiting at Court for their matter to be called. Generally, there are rooms available to sit with your lawyer and wait for your matter to be called, however given the limited rooms available, sometimes you will need to sit in the corridors with your lawyer whilst waiting.
There can be long delays when waiting for Court as Judicial officers usually have many matters to deal with all at the same time. It is always advisable to bring a bottle of water, small snacks and something to read as even a short hearing may sometimes take all day.
Being at the Courthouse allows your lawyer to speak directly with the other party’s lawyer. Discussions can be fruitful and many issues in dispute can resolve in the corridors of Court. Usually, the discussions that your lawyer has with the other lawyer occur without the parties present so that there can be no risk of causing any conflict between the parties. We find that this method assists greatly in attempting to resolve disputes.
Once your matter is ready to be called, a Court officer will usually announce your matter as the names of the parties amongst the crowd of people and you and your lawyer will be required to enter the Court room. There may be other people in the Courtroom waiting and who will be able to listen to the proceedings. Unless your matter is sensitive and the Court has deemed it appropriate to remove people who are not parties to the proceedings, other people are free to be in the Court room during your matter.
It is recommended to bring a support person with you to Court, however always advise your lawyer who you intend to bring. Things to consider when bringing a support person:
- Will this person help you stay calm during the proceedings?
- Will this person antagonise or cause conflict with you or the other party?
- Will you feel supported if this person attends?
Depending on whether this person is a witness in your proceedings, they may not be able to sit in the Court room with you, but they will be able to sit with you outside the Court room while in the breaks.
During the proceedings, you will be able to sit next to or behind your lawyer in a designated area. Usually, your lawyer is responsible for making submissions to the Judicial Officer and you will not be required to say anything to the Court unless you are being cross-examined.
At Lewis Family Lawyers we hold conferences with our clients prior to the Court appearance so that they know what to expect before coming to Court. If you have Court proceedings and are unsure what to expect, contact Lewis Family Lawyers today and we can walk you through the process.
