Timelines in civil litigation can vary significantly depending on the nature of your case and the level of court involved.
For regular civil cases, in {city} the process typically begins well before any court date is scheduled. Most of the early and mid-stage work — such as issuing and serving a Statement of Claim, preparing a Statement of Defence, conducting document exchange, and holding examinations for discovery — is done without needing to book a trial date. Only once the case is procedurally ready for trial do the parties request a date, which can take many months to over a year, depending on court availability and scheduling backlogs.
For urgent matters, it’s sometimes possible to obtain an interim or ex parte injunction (without notice to the other party). These are reserved for exceptional circumstances — for example, when immediate action is required to prevent irreparable harm. In such cases, a motion may be heard within a few days or even the next day, subject to the court’s approval and the urgency of the situation.
If the dispute is proceeding by arbitration instead of through the public court system, the process is generally much faster. Arbitrations can often be scheduled and completed within one to two months, depending on the parties’ and arbitrator’s availability.
Every case is unique, so timelines can differ based on urgency, complexity, and court workload.
Please contact us to discuss your specific situation so we can provide a more accurate estimate and strategy tailored to your case.