Dictionary

Slip rule

A provision in the rules or a court of tribunal for the correction of clerical errors in judgments, orders, certificates, awards etc. either on the application of a party or on the motion of the court or tribunal itself.

This provision, contained in Regulation 36.7 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules (2005) allows for errors pertaining to court documents to be addressed in a timely and efficient manner without unjustly extending proceedings.

The slip rule it is to be “exercised sparingly, lest it encourage carelessness by a party’s legal representatives and expose to risk the public interest in finality of litigation”.