Nov 16, 2021 in News Legal Representation

Legal Representation: Ontario Announces Digital Transformation of Courts System

Earlier this month, the Government of Ontario announced that it will deliver a ‘new digital solution that will transform how people handle their legal matters at the Superior and Ontario Courts of Justice.’ Part of the province’s ‘Courts Digital Transformation’ initiative, the solution will replace ‘outdated paper-based procedures’ with online alternatives. The move is likely to be embraced by personal injury lawyers whose clients have experienced seemingly endless delays, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our government’s new digital solution is a game-changer that will provide Ontarians with on-demand access to their legal matters,” said Attorney General Doug Downey, in a provincial release. “Building on numerous recent breakthroughs, this central piece of Justice Accelerated Strategy will provide the tools needed to better meet expectations for how justice can be done in 2021 and beyond.”

“I’m really excited about this foundational transformation, and it’s probably bigger than people even imagine,” the Attorney General added in an interview with The Canadian Press. “This is potentially the biggest investment in the justice system in Ontario, in the history of Ontario.”

There has been no dollar figure attached to the investment, but the province has announced some of the system’s planned capabilities, including:

• 24 hours a day access to court info from anywhere
• Online submission and viewing of documents
• Filing of more types of court documents in more types of matters
• Faster and easier access to court records
• Online scheduling of matters and appearances
• Online fee payment
• Online delivery of decisions

According to reports, the goal of the initiative is ‘for court users to be able to do everything digitally from start to finish,’ with paper services remaining available for those without online access. Such a system would have been tremendously beneficial during the sweeping public health lockdowns necessitated by the pandemic, when access to the courts was essentially eliminated and most civil matters ground to a halt. Even before the pandemic took hold, many personal injury lawyers in Ontario had been calling for the province to update and modernize its justice system to address the already-massive trial backlogs.

While there is no fixed timeline for the system’s implementation, the AG assured the Canadian Press that the project will move forward: “This isn’t a concept,” he said. “This is actually happening.” 

Contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Our experienced team will be happy to listen to your story, review your case, and assess and explain the viability of your claim.

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