Consolidated practice directions

participant is responsible for that failure). A failure is 
significant if it might hinder the court in furthering the 
overriding objective. 
The case management conference 
10. 
The case manager may direct that a case management conference be 
held at any time before trial of a case. 
11. 
A case management conference will be held in an appropriate 
conference room or, if such a room is not available, court and will be 
transcribed, unless the case manager directs otherwise. 
Who should attend the case management conference? 
12. 
The lawyers responsible for the conduct of the case must attend a 
conference, unless otherwise directed by the case manager. If the 
lawyer practices in a city or circuit town other than the city or circuit 
town in which the conference is being held, he or she may attend the 
conference in person or by audiovisual link. The lawyer responsible 
for the conduct of a party's case is: 
(a) 
where counsel has been briefed, that counsel; and 

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5. General Division - Criminal 
 
PD 5.8 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
(b) 
where counsel has not been briefed, or where counsel has been 
excused from attending by the case manager, the most senior 
lawyer directly responsible for the conduct of the case and who 
has authority to make decisions and (or) take instructions from 
the accused about the conduct of the case. 
13. 
The case manager may direct that any participant in the conduct of the 
case attend a case management conference. 
Attendance by accused 
14. 
The accused must attend a conference in person, by audiovisual link or 
by audio link unless otherwise directed by the case manager. 
15. 
If there is no lawyer on the record for an accused then the accused 
must appear in person or by audiovisual link. 
Matters to be dealt with at the case management conference 
16. 
At a case management conference the case manager will expect the