World class technology to provide greater access and transparency to cases at the Courts
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 8th June 2010: DIFC Courts, Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) independent, common law judicial system today officially launched a new, state of the art online case management system and e-filing system that will increase the access Court users and the public have to case information.
The new web-based tools will increase user accessibility by allowing lawyers registered with the DIFC Courts, and any other interested parties to access up-to-the-minute updates of case listings and public documents online. Each user will be able to stream automatic feeds to their email accounts once they have signed up for the service. Updates regarding public events and case filings can also be delivered via RSS feed.
In line with DIFC Courts' drive for efficiency, the new e-filing system will allow users to file claim forms and application notices online and incorporates the three most frequently used forms to initiate a case or file an application. More forms are envisaged as the Court progresses towards the vision of a paperless service. The new system performs all initial validation of the data provided and returns verified sealed documents almost immediately. The automation the system provides allows staff to allot their time to specialised tasks associated with progressing cases, as opposed to spending significant amounts of time on administrative tasks.
The new system will provide greater transparency to the public, users, lawyers and litigants about cases being heard at the DIFC Courts.
Mark Beer, Registrar of the DIFC Courts said, "DIFC Courts' success has been built on delivering efficient, accessible, fair and transparent justice. In our short history we have constantly innovated so that we deliver justice to a world class standard. These innovations have included the introduction of the region's first pro-bono scheme offering free legal advice to those who cannot afford a lawyer, the region's first code of professional conduct to ensure the highest ethical conduct of lawyers and the region's only small claims tribunal which resolves 90% of its cases in three weeks or less. The introduction of online services such as e-filing and the online case management system is another example of such innovation and it will ensure a speedier response and turnaround from the Courts, as well as offering an alternative channel of communication with the Courts. This also makes public information easy to obtain, therefore increasing the accessibility and openness of the cases being heard by DIFC Courts."
Amna Al Owais, Deputy Registrar, SCT Registrar and lead developer of the new system, said, "DIFC Courts is proud to be able to provide such an innovative service to lawyers and the public. These new services further illustrate DIFC Courts' commitment to delivering a world-class service in a cost effective manner and I am personally very proud to behind such an initiative."