Urgent (Duty) Matters - How to Apply

• How to apply
  Urgent matters in existing proceedings
  Urgent Commercial & Corporations NPA matters
  Urgent General matters
  Urgent Admiralty & Maritime NPA matters
  Self-represented litigants
  Urgent after-hours matters
• Commencing an urgent matter
• eLodging an urgent matter

How to apply

The Court will actively assist parties to bring on urgent applications which may require an urgent listing at the earliest appropriate time, whether in a proceeding which has not yet been commenced or in a proceeding which has already been docketed to a judge.

Urgent matters in existing proceedings

If your urgent applications relating to an existing proceeding which has already been docketed to a judge (i.e. at an interlocutory stage) the application should be heard wherever possible by the Docket Judge.

If the Docket Judge is unavailable or should not hear the application because of the nature of the application (e.g. certain legal privilege-related applications or bias applications), then depending which national practice area (NPA) the urgent matter relates to, the appropriate Duty Judge - General Duty Judge or Commercial & Corporations NPA Duty Judge - will hear the matter. 

Urgent Commercial & Corporations NPA matters

For urgent Commercial & Corporations NPA applications practitioners should liaise directly with the chambers of the Commercial & Corporations Duty Judge listed on Daily Court Lists. 

Urgent General matters

For urgent applications not in the Commercial & Corporations NPA or Admiralty & Maritime NPA practitioners should liaise directly with the chambers of the General Duty Judge listed on the Daily Court Lists. 

Urgent Admiralty & Maritime NPA matters

For urgent Admiralty & Maritime NPA applications:

• To a Judge: For urgent judge-related Admiralty & maritime applications, practitioners should approach the Admiralty & Maritime Registry Co-ordinating Judge in the relevant registry (through his or her associate).
• To a Judicial Registrar - Arrest of a vessel: For urgent applications for the arrest of a vessel, practitioners should contact the Duty Registrar (or other nominated Registrar) in the local registry where the arrest will take place. Contact details are under Contact the Court.
  
  Urgent applications for the arrest of a vessel may be made at any time, including outside Court hours. After-hours contact details are listed on the Daily Court Lists and under Contact the Court.
  
  More information on Admiralty & Maritime NPA matters is available on the Admiralty & Maritime webpage.
  

Self-represented litigants

If you are self-represented and have an urgent matter, you should contact the local registry in the first instance. Contact details are published on the Daily Court Lists. 

It may be of assistance to obtain legal advice and help to put together your urgent application. A lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and responsibilities. They can also explain how the law applies to your case. There are several free legal assistance services available. 

The court is unable to provide legal advice because to do so could seriously compromise the court’s ability to impartially determine a case.  

Urgent after-hours matters

If you have an urgent application to be filed outside of Court business hours, the after-hours contact arrangements are set out on the Daily Court Lists and also in the Contact Us information for your local Registry.

Commencing an urgent matter

The key forms and rules for generally commencing urgent applications are:

(a) For a proceeding which has not yet been commenced

(b) For an existing matter which has already been allocated to a judge:

eLodging an urgent matter

Urgent applications can still be eLodged. Details on how to eLodge an urgent application is available under eLodgment FAQs.