Bradford County Court: One of three homes to OPR pilot
The first pilots under the Online Procedure Rules (OPR) went live yesterday, covering digital possession claims in three county courts.
A practice direction was also published setting out the procedural requirements for claims at Bradford, Huddersfield and Wandsworth county courts.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Wales would follow, when a fourth pilot begins at Caernarfon County Court on 15 October.
“The launch marks an important milestone in the development of Online Procedure Rules,” it said.
The MoJ said the service was being introduced “in phases”; the initial phase applies only to registered social landlords in England or community landlords in Wales bringing possession claims in postcode areas served by the county courts.
The Possession Claims service guides them through a series of around 30 screens which enable users to enter the information and upload documents as required by the OPR and the practice direction. One of the screens asks about attempts at mediation and settlement.
Unrepresented people can use paper forms as an alternative, which the court will upload onto the digital service.
Solicitors or other legal representatives must continue to submit claims using Possession Claim Online or by using a claim form.
The Civil Procedure Rules apply where aspects of procedure are not yet provided for by the OPR.
The Law Society agreed that launch of the pilots marked “a major step in the digitalisation of England and Wales’ justice system” and the OPR were “designed to make online proceedings simpler, fairer and more accessible for everyone”.
President Mark Evans said the launch was “only the beginning of the gradual rollout of digital justice” that should make resolving disputes simpler and more accessible.
“Technology alone, however, is not a substitute for investment in the justice system. Especially legal aid, a vital public service that is drastically underfunded, needs more investment as many people continue to face an uphill struggle despite any recent reforms.
“The success of digital justice will ultimately be judged not by the technology itself, but, at the end of the day, if it helps people resolve cases fairly, efficiently and without unnecessary delay.”
Law Society vice-president Brett Dixon, who takes over from Mr Evans next month, is a member of the Online Procedure Rule Committee, which is currently chaired by the outgoing Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos.
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