More than any other year, 2020 brought about significant changes to the practice of law, including the shift of virtual hearings from being the exception to being the rule. Here are a three examples showing why keeping virtual hearings, even post-pandemic, is a good thing.
First, virtual hearings have made the work of appearing at a hearing easier. Graeme recently appeared virtually over Teams at the Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal for a multi-day oral hearing on an appeal of a $153,000 administrative penalty. Graeme led the case from his office in Vancouver, presented an expert witness who was in Nanaimo, led another witness from his home in Kelowna, and others from their offices in Chilliwack. And all of this was done for a tribunal sitting in Richmond. Pre-Covid, the witnesses and counsel would all have to travel to Richmond. Even with counsels’ best efforts to estimate the day and time of each witnesses, overnight expenses would be incurred, and witnesses would be inconvenienced.
Second, virtual hearings reduce wasted paper. Graeme recently argued an appeal before the British Columbia Court of Appeal entirely electronically. Electronic transcripts were filed (of a 36-day trial no less), as was the 300-page appeal record, the 600-page appeal book, the factums, and the over 1,000-page book of authorities. Under our old way of doing things not only would all those have to be filed in paper, but six copies of each would be required! Four for the court, two for the parties. Conservatively, that one electronic hearing saved 12,000 pages of paper.
Third, virtual hearings save lawyers time, and therefore save clients money. Pre-pandemic, lawyers routinely headed off to the Vancouver Supreme Court for 9:45 am, in the hope that at some point, before 4:00 pm, their chambers matter would be called. Sometimes it was, sometimes it wasn’t. And while lawyers attempt to make the best use of that waiting time, it was far from efficient. Now, lawyers do the same chambers hearing from their office. Graeme has argued matters over the phone, with the ability to quickly search through cases and adjust submissions in real time.
These are just a few of the many reasons why virtual hearings have improved the practice of law for clients, witnesses, lawyers, and even the environment.
