By Kate Allman -
Online shopping and the use of “click ‘n’ collect” processes exploded during pandemic lockdowns in 2021. From January 2022, the NSW court system will join the trend.
In the same way you might order and pay for a set of bathroom tiles or a new office chair via online shopping, lawyers will soon be able to “add to cart” court transcripts via a new service being launched by the NSW government. One happy difference being that there will be no need to travel anywhere to physically collect the transcript, and no waiting for a postal delivery that seems to never arrive.
From January, transcripts of court proceedings in almost all NSW courts and tribunals will be available to order through the NSW Online Registry website – via a page called the Online Transcript Portal.
NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman said legal practitioners, self-represented parties and the judiciary would be able to order, track and receive court transcripts through the portal.
“Accurate transcripts of court proceedings are central to safeguarding the legal system. We’re rolling out a simple, secure, digital platform that handles ordering, payments, tracking and delivery of transcripts in one location,” Speakman said.
“The new streamlined Online Transcript Portal replaces myriad old processes where transcript applications were made by email, in person by pen and ink at court registries and even during proceedings.”
Any party or legal representative in a case can use the new online service to order a transcript, view progress of a transcript request, access completed transcripts, make payments online and receive notifications.
The Attorney General said online ordering had been used by court registry and support services staff since July 2020, with more than 17,000 transcription orders processed so far. Feedback from those users was used to inform improvements to the portal prior to its public launch.
Speakman praised the “innovative project” for improving access to justice – but forecast transcripts would still be able to be processed via email or over court registry counters for those who needed them.
Once operational, customers can order their transcripts from the NSW Online Registry website. Visit the NSW Courts and Tribunals website for more information.
