Blog Post 31 Mar 2020 5 min read

5 key considerations for planning virtual court hearings

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In recent years, hybrid and virtual court hearings have emerged as a vital component of the legal landscape. Shifting from a practical necessity to a strategic benefit, striking the right blend between in-person, hybrid, and virtual hearings can deliver increased efficiency, accessibility, and cost savings. 

In this article, we’ll explore five key tips for planning a hybrid or virtual court hearing. But first, we’ll compare the three types of hearings including in-person, hybrid, and virtual, sharing when you might use each. Then, we’ll offer a few key considerations when planning hybrid or virtual hearings. 

- Approaches to court hearings: In-person, hybrid, and virtual
- 5 key considerations when planning a virtual court hearing?

Approaches to court hearings: In-person, hybrid, and virtual

1. In-person court hearings

Before 2020, the business of law was conducted almost exclusively in person. Courts and tribunals heard matters face-to-face, and the various people involved in the case traveled to participate. This included counsel, the parties, barristers, judges, witnesses, experts, administrative staff, and so on. 

After the temporary shift to virtual court hearings, courts have now returned, at least in part, to in-person proceedings. This remains a good option for cases where participants are all central to the court system where the matter will be heard.

2. Hybrid court hearings

In matters where most participants are central to the hearing location, a hybrid court hearing might be the best choice. In this approach, at least one participant is not physically present in the court, but instead joins virtually.

3. Virtual court hearings

Unlike in-person and hybrid hearings, virtual court hearings happen 100% remotely, there are no parties present in a physical hearing room – instead, all participants join the proceedings via an audio or video conference provision. Typically, both hybrid and remote participation is facilitated by virtual hearing software.

The most significant shift in the dynamics of the hearing is the loss of face-to-face interaction. However, the real time transcription and electronic presentation of evidence (EPE) feeds (like those offered by Opus 2) help virtual courts follow a similar process to in-person hearings. 


Ten years ago, when paper-based trials and arbitration hearings were still dominant, conducting virtual court hearings may have posed many additional complexities. But with the growth and dominance of electronic hearings, the transition to virtual court hearings today is a smaller leap.

5 key considerations when planning a hybrid or virtual court hearing

1. Choose your virtual conferencing solution

There are several virtual conferencing solutions on the market, ranging from a simple telephone bridge to full video and audio streaming capabilities.

Before making a decision, ensure the technology solution is compatible with all the sites that participants will be connecting from. Check with the venue or your internal IT teams if they have a preferred, tested provider.

Opus 2 Hearings integrates with many widely-used solutions such as Cisco Webex, Zoom, Blue Jeans, Skype for Business and many others.

2. Evaluate available technology and equipment

To ensure your virtual or remote hearing runs as smoothly as possible, determine what equipment virtual hearing participants have already access to and then augment with services and equipment provided by a hearings solution as needed.

You'll want to check that all participants have good quality speakers, high-resolution cameras, and microphones in close proximity to each active participant. If possible, arrange participants in rooms designed to ensure high sound quality with sound panels to reduce echoing.

3. Consider the venue and environment of participants

With modern court hearing services and technology, a hybrid or virtual hearing can take place almost anywhere, but not every space is well suited to the needs of the court.  Venue and environment play a significant role in the success of a hybrid or virtual court hearing.  Here are a few things to check before selecting your location:

  • Centralise participants where possible to limit the number of virtual locations
  • Select a space that limits noise like office chatter and road traffic 
  • When using video conferencing, use a neutral, plain background and limit distractions in the participants' sight line to increase focus

Often, virtual participants will connect from an office, conference room, or meeting room. Additionally, you can explore spaces that are purpose-built for virtual court hearings like the IDRC Opus 2 Suite.

4. Facilitate training and support

Before your hearing begins, ensure that all hearing participants, both in-person and remote, know what to expect. Conduct training sessions to share how the technology being used will work, who will manage it, and when it will be used. Allowing the participants to familiarise themselves with the technology being used in advance improves confidence and ensures a smooth hearing.

In addition, it is beneficial to have a professional, live session manager responsible for monitoring the operational and technical aspects of the virtual hearing, allowing you and your team to focus on the proceedings. 

5. Build a proactive plan for troubleshooting

Hybrid and virtual court hearings hearings often involve multiple contributors in different locations, using a range of hardware, and varying quality of internet connections. Given these circumstances and the importance of your work, when technical issues occur, you need to be ready to respond.

Create a proactive recovery plan that clearly defines what happens if issues arise. Share the with all participants and ensure they know what to do. Quick action is essential in these situations.

Virtual hearings powered by Opus 2

We have been empowering legal teams to conduct hearings that involve remote or virtual participants globally, for almost a decade. The Opus 2 Remote Access solution allows team members to follow proceedings remotely, in real time, from anywhere in the world.

For more information on how Opus 2 can help deliver your Virtual Hearing, visit our website for more information and useful resources.