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    Federal Magistrates Court of Australia

    Practice Directions and Notices

    Information on the first court date for general federal law (non–migration) cases in Sydney

    Notices to practitioners issued by the Registrar of the Court in Sydney

    PDF version

    Introduction

    The purpose of this Notice to practitioners is to set out and explain the expectations and requirements of practitioners and parties in respect of the first court date in general law (non-migration) cases listed in the Federal Magistrates Court at Sydney.

    First Court Date

    The first court date is the date listed on the Application filed with the Federal Magistrates Court. On the first court date the Court is likely to make orders on the following:

    1. Full directions for the progress of the case to final hearing;
    2. A date for the final hearing, usually given within six months of the first court date;
    3. Any orders for alternate dispute resolution.

    Practitioners to appear at the First Court Date

    On the first court date, the Court expects that each party not appearing in person shall be represented by a legal practitioner familiar with the subject matter of the application.

    It is expected that practitioners:

    a) Will attend the first court date even if agreed short minutes have been prepared;
    b) Will have a good knowledge of the case and be able to inform the Court about the nature of the case and the issues in dispute and the estimated length of the hearing.
    c) Will have instructions sufficient to enable all appropriate orders and directions to be made.
    d) Will have their availability, including the availability of counsel for a final hearing date which may be given at the first court date.

    Practitioners should expect that the Court may make appropriate orders as to costs of any further appearances occasioned by a practitioner’s failure to comply with the expectations and requirements of the Court in respect of First Court Dates set out in this Notice.

    For more information about the procedure of the Court please refer to the Practice Direction on the Court’s website “Information about the Conduct of General Federal Law Matters”

    Michael Wall
    Registrar
    8th October 2007

    See also

    The Federal Magistrates Court' s general federal law jurisdiction includes: administrative law, bankruptcy, unlawful discrimination, consumer protection and trade practices, privacy, migration, copyright, industrial law and admiralty law.

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