While the Court of Appeal is the highest court in Victoria, George Pell's legal team can take their appeal to the High Court, the final court of appeal in Australia.

If Pell's legal team pursues an appeal in the High Court within the next 28 days, and the High Court agrees to hear it, a ruling would likely take about another 12 months.

The Department of Public Prosecutions would have an opportunity to respond to the application, which Pell could also respond to. The High Court would then decide whether to hear an oral application, where each side has just 20 minutes to persuade two to three judges whether the matter should proceed to a full appeal in front of five or seven judges.

Dr Matt Collins QC, the President of the Victorian Bar, said the High Court would disregard that it's a high profile case when deciding whether to grant or refuse special leave.

"It's not a matter that would enter into the High Court's thinking."

In 2017-18, the High Court refused special leave for 430 cases and granted it for only 65.