The Remote Hearing Challenge: I Am Not a Cat!

🐱Remember the lawyer who accidentally turned on a cat filter during a virtual court hearing and had to reassure the judge, "I'm not a cat"? 🐱

The transition to remote court hearings during the pandemic wasn’t always smooth. While moments like these brought some much-needed humour to our screens, they also highlighted the challenges of adapting to a new way of practising law.

Even though in-person hearings are back, many courts and legal professionals continue to embrace virtual proceedings because they’re convenient and efficient.

According to the Bar Council, almost half of barristers (49%) are in favour of seeing more remote hearings and only 1% believe they should be avoided entirely.

The same survey shows that barristers have become better at managing the technology—technical issues dropped from 77% in 2021 to just 35% in 2023.

However, challenges remain, like ensuring the integrity of the process and overcoming technical issues that can impact live evidence.

How do you see the future of remote court hearings?

And if you had to use a filter for a court proceeding, which one would you opt for?

🔽 Share your thoughts in the comments below! 🔽