“From 1 April 2013 a number of changes to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPRs) governing court action in England and Wales took effect. This is a summary of those changes.”
OUT-LAW.com, May 2013
Source: www.out-law.com
“As of 1 April 2013, standard disclosure is no longer the default provision in most multi-track cases. With disclosure often being the most expensive and time consuming part of the litigation process, this should be welcome news to litigants and solicitors alike. The recent decision in West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited v Willbros Global Holdings Inc. [2012] EWHC 396 (TCC) highlighted the significant issues encountered in the disclosure process, especially in high value claims involving e-disclosure. The new rules aim to tackle these problems by introducing stricter case management in the disclosure process.”
New Law Journal, 26th April 2013
Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk
“The Jackson and associated reforms in civil court procedure are largely now in place. Extended ‘tracks’ and ‘portals’, reduced fixed fees, costs budgeting and non-recoverability of success fees will force lawyers to take a close look at the costs incurred in presenting an injury claim and how most efficiently to put the claim together. The medical report is essential, providing the foundations of much of the claim.”
New Law Journal, 19th April 2013
Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk
“In all of the furore surrounding LASPO and the very real concerns about funding, it seems that very little attention has been paid to the significant changes to the CPR which will come into force on 1st April 2013. This is not an article about funding, legal aid, CFAs, DBAs, or even QOCS. Instead it is intended to provide an overview and guidance on the amendments being made to the CPR.”
Full story (PDF)
Zenith Chambers, 28th March 2013
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today published a discussion document on ‘Reforming civil litigation’, which reflects the recommendations of a Working Group including the chairs of the Chancery Bar Association, Commercial Bar Association and the Technology and Construction Bar Association.”
The Bar Council, 25th March 2013
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“‘Throughout the web of the English Criminal Law one golden thread is always to be seen, that it is the duty of the prosecution to prove the prisoner’s guilt subject to what I have already said as to the defence of insanity and subject also to any statutory exception
No matter what the charge or where the trial, the principle that the prosecution must prove the guilt of the prisoner is part of the common law of England and no attempt to whittle it down can be entertained.’
Per Viscount Sankey in Woolmington v DPP [1935] AC 462 – emphasis added.
There cannot be an English lawyer who is unaware of this paragraph in Viscount Sankey’s judgment in Woolmington. Many non-lawyers who have chanced to read the Rumpole stories will also be as aware of, if not as attached to, it.”
Full story (PDF)
Zenith Chambers, 19th March 2013
Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk
“Nicholas Moss JP, a member of the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee, talked about the origin of, and context for, the Criminal Procedure Rules and explained the Committee’s role.”
Judiciary of England and Wales, 8th March 2013
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
“Alex Verdan QC of 4 Paper Buildings considers three important recent judgments in Children private law proceedings.”
Family Law Week, 13th February 2013
Source: www.familylawweek.com
Intellectual Property Litigation: Implementation of the Jackson Report’s Recommendations (PDF)
Speech by Mr Justice Arnold
AIPPI UK, 14th February 2013
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
“Many children who end up in care are never interviewed by the judge who makes the decision to remove them from their families, according to a report by an influential group of MPs and child protection experts.”
The Guardian, 10th February 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Listing hearings can be tricky. You need to find a time the Court can fit you in. You need to squeeze it into your hectic diaries without upsetting other clients who firmly believe that theirs is the only case you have on right now. It needs to be a time that your busy barrister and the other side’s busy barrister can make.”
Hardwicke Chambers, 7th January 2013
Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk
“Saying you’re going to end the legal world’s reliance on paper sounds almost as audacious a claim as announcing you’re going to stop banks paying bonuses. Graham Smith, however, believes his small London-based business is set to revolutionise the way trials and other hearings are managed all over the world by doing exactly that.”
Daily Telegraph, 8th January 2013
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“OPINION: A seemingly attractive plan to make judges responsible for predicting the cost of court action is not the best way to encourage the accurate prediction of costs, but it is better than nothing.”
OUT-LAW.com, 17th December 2012
Source: www.out-law.com
“Controversy still rages over whether the Jackson reforms are a coherent set of proposals that will rebalance a system where claims and costs are out of control, or if they represent an assault on access to justice for people whom ‘no win, no fee’ represents the only hope of redress for a wrong inflicted on them.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 13th December 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.gov.uk
“Immigration casework needs to improve so that people aren’t detained for longer than necessary, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, and John Vine, Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, publishing the report of a thematic review of immigration detention casework.”
HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 12th December 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Spotlight On Reform (PDF)
Speech by Mr. Justice Ryder
The Association of Lawyers For Children National Conference, 16th November 2012
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
“Today the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, John Vine, published his report on the Handling of Legacy Asylum and Migration Cases.”
UK Border Agency, 22nd November 2012
Source: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
“Senior UK Border Agency officials have been accused of misleading parliament after a damning report said they wrongly claimed they had dealt with a backlog of asylum and immigration claims – and that at one point more than 100,000 items of post about such cases remained unopened.”
The Guardian, 22nd November 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A former Metropolitan Police detective constable who specialised in rape cases has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for faking police records.”
BBC News, 29th October 2012
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The Government has published draft legislation on family justice for pre-legislative scrutiny.”
Family Law Week, 4th September 2012
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
