‘Hot courting’ is causing havoc, says criminal bar – Law Society’s Gazette

‘So-called “hot courting” is delaying trials and fuelling job insecurity for barristers, the criminal bar has warned. Caroline Goodwin QC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said that the practice of different judges using the same courtroom back-to-back has caused backlogs of cases – just for the sake of “saving electric”.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court upgrades solicitor’s “lenient” fine to strike-off – Legal Futures

Posted October 21st, 2019 in deceit, disciplinary procedures, fees, fines, licensing, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) was too lenient in only fining a solicitor who had clients pay money into his personal bank account, High Court has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 21st October 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

CJC group fails to agree fixed costs for clin neg cases – Litigation Futures

‘The working group charged with agreeing fixed recoverable costs (FRCs) for clinical negligence claims worth up to £25,000 has been unable to do so, although it has made progress on process changes.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th October 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Charity launches legal action against NHS fees for pregnant migrants – The Guardian

Posted October 17th, 2019 in charities, fees, immigration, news, pregnancy by sally

‘A charity has launched a legal challenge against the policy of charging vulnerable migrant women £7,000 or more to access NHS maternity care.’

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The Guardian, 16th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Review lays ground for both hybrid and defendant DBAs – Litigation Futures

Posted October 16th, 2019 in costs, damages, fees, news, regulations by sally

‘Changes to the damages-based agreement (DBA) regulations, including opening them up to defendants and allowing hybrid DBAs, have been put forward by an independent review – with the approval of Sir Rupert Jackson.’

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Litigation Futures, 16th October 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Financial Remedy & Divorce Update, October 2019 – Family Law Week

‘Naomi Shelton, Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP considers the important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during September 2019.’

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Family Law Week, 10th October 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

High Court judge allows £786 hourly fees but calls for rate review – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 11th, 2019 in costs, fees, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A High Court judge has said updated guideline hourly rates would be ‘very welcome’ after allowing costs far in excess of the supposedly prescribed amount.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 11th October 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Supreme Court to hear Mastercard CPO appeal – Litigation Futures

Posted October 9th, 2019 in appeals, banking, class actions, EC law, fees, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court has granted Mastercard permission to appeal against the Court of Appeal ruling that kept the massive £14bn class action over interchange fees alive.’

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Litigation Futures, 8th October 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Mum faced £10k bill to move from rapist neighbour – BBC News

Posted September 20th, 2019 in disabled persons, fees, housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, rape, victims by sally

‘A mother who discovered her disabled daughter’s rapist had moved next door was told she would have repay £10,000 to a council to leave her property.’

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BBC News, 19th September 2019

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Landlords charge ‘pet rent’ to recoup losses after ban on unfair fees – The Guardian

Posted September 4th, 2019 in animals, fees, landlord & tenant, news, rent by sally

‘Landlords are charging “pet rent” running into hundreds of pounds a year in an attempt to recoup losses from a ban on unfair letting fees enforced by the government this summer.’

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The Guardian, 3rd September 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office outsourcing to ‘exploitative’ contractor must be reviewed, say MPs and lawyers – The Independent

‘MPs and lawyers have called for an urgent review into outsourced immigration services after it emerged Home Office profits on UK visas had surged by millions of pounds a week since visa operations were contracted to a private firm accused of exploiting applicants.’

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The Independent, 18th August 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitors right to throw off “shackles” of legal aid for CFA – Litigation Futures

Posted July 25th, 2019 in fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The High Court has described as “reasonable” a decision by claimant lawyers that they needed the “freedom” of a conditional fee agreement (CFA) and shake off “the shackles” of legal aid to properly conduct a medical negligence claim.’

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Litigation Futures, 24th July 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Report calls for better regulation of criminal defence work – Legal Futures

Posted July 23rd, 2019 in advocacy, criminal justice, fees, news, standards by sally

‘An “effective system” is needed for monitoring the quality of criminal defence lawyers, a report by charity Transform Justice has found.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd July 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Employment tribunals “suffering from lack of resources” – Litigation Futures

Posted July 4th, 2019 in budgets, delay, employment tribunals, fees, news by sally

‘The employment tribunal system is still not coping with the increased demands on it since fees were abolished in 2017, with lawyers reporting that delays have worsened from an already parlous state a year ago.’

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Litigation Futures, 1st July 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Former client refused a fresh look at solicitor’s £340k bill – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 3rd, 2019 in costs, fees, news, solicitors, time limits by sally

‘A costs judge has told a claimant they cannot challenge a solicitor’s bill which was agreed and approved more than four years ago.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 2nd July 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

LSB agrees to limit price transparency to public access barristers – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2019 in advertising, barristers, fees, internet, Legal Services Board, news by sally

‘The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved plans by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) which will require public access barristers, but not other self-employed barristers, to publish fees for routine legal services on their websites.’

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Legal Futures, 25th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Regulator considers cap on fees charged by personal injury CMCs – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2019 in claims management, fees, financial regulation, news, personal injuries by sally

‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to explore whether to use its power to cap the fees charged by personal injury claims management companies (CMCs), it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 24th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Women lawyers face uphill struggle on fees and salaries – Legal Futures

Posted June 19th, 2019 in bias, equality, fees, legal profession, news, remuneration, reports, women by tracey

‘Some clients expect discounts on fees for using a female lawyer while women who push for higher salaries are likely to be labelled “aggressive”, a global survey by the Law Society has found. The report concluded that quotas could help to tackle inequality as there was “no real equality or meritocracy in the legal profession”.’

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Legal Futures, 19th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Insurers agree to be bound by ADR in new whiplash system – Legal Futures

‘Defendant insurers have agreed to be bound by the outcome of the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process being built into the new whiplash system, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 13th June 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal barristers advised to accept pay deal – The Guardian

Posted June 13th, 2019 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, industrial action, news by sally

‘Criminal barristers who threatened to stage a walkout from courts across England and Wales in protest at low fees are being advised to accept a government pay deal.’

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The Guardian, 12th June 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com