Quebec Bailiffs are Becoming Digital Process Servers

I had the pleasure of being a guest of the Chambres de Huissiers du Justice (Quebec Bailiffs Association) in Montreal a few weeks ago.  The annual "congress" was focused on technology and how the Quebec Association of Bailiffs have developed a product called "Notabene".  Notabene is a platform that acts as a disinterested third party that performs many of the same functions as a physical process server only electronically.  Clearly the Bailiffs in Quebec recognized that fax and email was eroding their business so they sought to create a platform that enabled them to become the equivalent of an electronic process server.  

“There has been a lot of talk in the legal community about electronic notice and, to help make that happen, we are offering a vehicle that is secure and operated by a trusted third party,” says Louis-Raymond Maranda, president of the Chambre des huissiers de justice du Québec. 

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Strictly+Legal+Quebec+bailiffs+become+digital+process+servers/6821874/story.html#ixzz1yZjLBDmn

As the article indicates the product is owned by the association and the actual members of the association.  It is a very interesting product that currently allows lawyers to serve each other (notice to opposing counsel) in an inexpressive, secure and trusted manner.  

The important point (at least to me) is that this effort in Quebec is a great example of folks with a common interest (survival and prosperity) coming together to create something that allows them to remain relevant in an increasingly digital world that threatens their very existence. 

Thank you to Chambre des huissiers de justice du Québec allowing me to address their members as a guest speaker at their conference.  I spoke to them about eFiling, eService, change management.  

Jeff H. Karotkin