On this page
- Contacting the court
- Commencing proceedings
- Getting the matter listed
- Adjourning a listing date
- Getting a hearing date
- Lodging papers
- Getting access to ShareFile
- Knowing about your case
- Getting a copy of orders made in court
- Remote attendance
- Fixing mistakes in legal diary / orders / judgments
- The location of the Court
- Other queries
1. Contacting the court
Email [email protected]. The court can assist with procedural matters only and cannot give legal advice. Correspond in a non-contentious manner, do not copy judicial assistants unless requested, and copy the other parties. Any contentious issues should be raised in court.
2. Commencing proceedings
Most proceedings are by judicial review. File a statement of grounds and grounding affidavit in the Central Office of the High Court in Dublin. If leave is granted, file a notice of motion. Other case types have specific document requirements in the rules of court.
When you file the required documents, you will be given a record number; include this on all future filings. There is no procedure to institute proceedings save by filing papers in the Central Office and paying stamp duty. Urgent applications may be made in an Intended Action on the undertaking to complete filing and payment subsequently.
More about the Central Office of the High Court.
3. Getting the matter listed
Email the List Registrar at [email protected]. If issued, include the record number, statement of grounds or other initiating document and grounding affidavit. You will be given a listing date.
When are matters normally listed?
The main list takes place every other Monday in term. Check the Legal Diary in advance (select “Planning and Environment” and press “Search”).
There is a registrar’s call over at 09:30. The court normally sits not before 10:30. Judge-specific sitting times are set out in the Legal Diary.
The registrar can process consent adjournments/directions/amendments to directions and may direct parties to an appropriate judge if the matter is not dealt with in the main list. Apply the same decorum before the registrar as before the court.
What if my issue is urgent?
For urgent matters (e.g., stays, injunctions, management of an imminent hearing), email [email protected]. If time permits, notify other parties and seek consent. With consent, directions may be given on the papers. Absent consent, the court may propose a pragmatic interim approach pending listing.
My matter is listed in the future, but I need to mention it sooner—what do I do?
Contact the List Registrar, who can usually list the matter or give an earlier date to allow the Central Office to accept your motion.
I obtained leave for JR but missed the deadline to issue the substantive notice of motion—what now?
Ask the List Registrar if the court will direct a new return date on the papers (without prejudice to opposing parties’ positions).
4. Adjourning a listing date
For Monday matters, if all parties consent, email [email protected] by 2pm on the preceding Thursday. If received by 2pm, the matter will be adjourned. If received after 2pm, the matter will remain on the published list and will be called, but the judge will be informed of the consent so attendance is not required.
If there is no consent, you must attend court on the day to seek an adjournment.
5. Getting a hearing date
The first step to getting a hearing date is to complete the Form to Apply for a Date.
You should consult with the other parties and then submit the completed form to [email protected] requesting a listing at least 7 days in advance of the Monday List. The form is available to download at the end of this webpage: Planning Environment List.
On receipt of a completed form, the case will be listed in the Monday List to allocate a hearing date.
Important Notes for Parties
- Cases with a time estimate for hearing of 1 day or less will be allocated a date before hearings of 2 days or more.
- Applications for a hearing date which are made early in the process will be prioritised over applications made later in the process.
- The further in the future a date is sought, the greater the risk of unanticipated judicial availability.
Cases will be adjourned to a Virtual List to Fix Dates (this is a list with no specific date) unless and until the completed form is received.
6. Lodging papers
What is ShareFile? It is the secure online platform used for uploading and managing case papers.
Do I need to upload papers? Unless directed otherwise, each party must upload its own papers. The document management party (normally the applicant) must ensure order and completeness. Files should be searchable PDFs; filenames must comply with PD126 (§37, §43). Guidance: papers & ShareFile guidance.
Who is responsible overall? The applicant is the default document management party unless the parties agree or the court orders otherwise.
Another party hasn’t uploaded or used the right format—what now? Raise it with them first. If the document management party can rectify, it should. If not, raise with the court.
Do I provide hard copies? No, unless directed. If a judge needs hard copy, they will inform the parties.
I’m self-represented and struggling with ShareFile. Check access with the registrars. If unresolved, ask another party to upload; if they decline, request listing for directions. The court may direct another party to take on the role.
I represent an interested party but cannot file because my client isn’t in the title. Contact the List Registrar for a direction permitting filing (often granted on the papers, without prejudice). To be joined formally as a notice party, inform other parties and seek consent.
7. Getting access to ShareFile
I’m instructed in a case—how do I get ShareFile access? Email [email protected].
8. Knowing about your case
How do I know when proceedings are next before the court? Use the High Court Search to view listing dates, filings, orders and judgments.
If no future date is shown and the matter remains live, email [email protected] to obtain a date. If the Search or Legal Diary entries appear inaccurate, inform the List Registrar.
9. Getting a copy of orders made in court
How do I get a copy of an order? For perfected orders, request a plain copy by emailing [email protected]. More information: After Court – High Court. Not all directions result in perfected orders (e.g., case-management directions are normally recorded rather than embodied in a formal order).
10. Remote attendance
Can I or my client observe proceedings remotely?
- For remote court connection for practitioners, consult: Bar of Ireland – Connect and Law Society – Remote hearings.
- Listings are, insofar as possible, hybrid. Speaking-role participants may attend physically or online.
- Observation-only access (no speaking role) to the main P&E list and any ADV matter before Mr Justice Humphreys: Remote observation link .
- Observation for other judges will be facilitated where technically convenient—contact registrars.
Note: Recording of court sittings is strictly prohibited.
11. Fixing mistakes in legal diary / orders / judgments
There’s a mistake in the Legal Diary—what do I do? Contact the List Registrar. If listed before the wrong judge, raise it in advance. For administrative matters (e.g., fixing a date) a case may be listed before any judge.
There’s an error in an order or judgment—how do I fix it? First, propose corrected wording to other parties. If agreed, inform the List Registrar—correction may issue on the papers (e.g., under the slip rule). If not agreed, request Monday listing before the relevant judge.
12. The location of the Court
How do I find a particular court in the Four Courts? See: Maps – Four Courts. Note: Courts 24, 25 and 26 are accessed via the Chancery Place entrance.
13. Other queries
I’m a regular user and want notices/updates. Email the List Registrar to be added to the circulation list.
I have another query. Contact the List Registrar.
