‘We’re at the cliff edge now’ – LegalVoice

“‘Unity is our secret weapon’ was the key message that emerged from this week’s unprecedented meeting of 1,000 defence lawyers who voted unanimously backing a motion that price competitive tendering was ‘not the way forward’, writes Jon Robins.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 24th May 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Interview: Chris Grayling – Law Society’s Gazette

“In his foreword to the consultation on ‘transforming’ legal aid, justice secretary Chris Grayling explains that change is needed to ‘boost public confidence’ and cut costs, which he claims have ‘spiralled out of control’. Speaking to the Gazette, he offers no empirical evidence that the public has lost confidence in the system. But he claims to have received ‘lots of letters and emails’ from people concerned about legal aid entitlement. He alludes to prisoners getting legal aid ‘to argue they should have a different cell’, and migrants receiving civil legal aid.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th May 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Changes to Civil Procedure Rules and court costs made in April 2013 – OUT-LAW.com

“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.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, May 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Criminal legal aid cuts to reach £370m – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 20th, 2013 in budgets, consultations, fees, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

“The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that projected savings of £150m in fee cuts will not, as was expected, count towards required cuts of £220m a year – taking cuts in criminal legal aid to £370m.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Trainee lawyer was denied permanent contract when she became pregnant – The Guardian

“A trainee lawyer is in line for compensation from a top City law firm after winning her case for discrimination after she missed out on a job because she was pregnant.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal watchdog warns budget cuts will damage justice – The Guardian

“Depriving defendants of the ability to choose their own solicitor will undermine confidence in the criminal justice system, an official legal watchdog warned on Monday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Obtaining cost orders against solicitors – 4 New Square

“Dispute Resolution analysis: When can solicitors who failed to obtain ATE insurance, become parties
to the litigation for the purpose of cost orders? Stephen Innes, barrister at 4 New Square Chambers
looks at the Court of Appeal’s decision in Heron v TNT.”

Full story (PDF)

4 New Square, 14th May 2013

Source: www.4newsquare.com

Ramsey: costs management limits being reviewed – Litigation Futures

Posted May 13th, 2013 in costs, damages, judges, limitations, news, solicitors by tracey

“The £2m limit above which commercial cases are not subject to automatic costs management is being reviewed, the judge in charge of Jackson implementation has revealed, while also hinting that pre-issue costs may come within costs management in future.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 13th May 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Costs Management Pilot Report – Judiciary of England and Wales

“The Costs Management Pilot Scheme (the ‘Pilot’) was launched in all Technology and Construction Courts (‘TCC’) and Mercantile Courts on 1 October 2011. The Pilot applies to any case which has its first case management conference on or after 1 October 2011.”

Full report

Judiciary of England & Wales, 10th May 2013

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Solicitor James Watson attacks police ‘vendetta’ – The Independent

“A defence solicitor who secured more than £500,000 in damages from a police force after he was wrongly arrested says officers mounted a ‘vendetta’ against him.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th May 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Khans Solicitors (a firm) v Chifuntwe and another – WLR Daily

Posted May 10th, 2013 in appeals, costs, law firms, law reports, solicitors by sally

Khans Solicitors (a firm) v Chifuntwe and another [2013] EWCA Civ 481; [2013] WLR (D) 167

“The court would intervene to protect a solicitor’s claim on funds recovered or due to be recovered by a client or former client if the paying party was on notice that the other party’s solicitor had a claim on the funds for outstanding fees.”

WLR Daily, 8th May 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Golstein v Bishop – WLR Daily

Posted May 8th, 2013 in law reports, partnerships, solicitors by sally

Golstein v Bishop [2013] EWHC 881 (Ch); [2013] WLR (D) 163

“The dissolution of a partnership could not be brought about by an accepted repudiation.”

WLR Daily, 2nd May 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Society urges super-regulator to delay advocacy scheme – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 2nd, 2013 in advocacy, law firms, Law Society, news, quality assurance, solicitors, tenders by sally

“The Law Society’s chief executive has urged super-regulator the Legal Services Board to delay implementation of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA), in recognition of the ‘profound shifts and uncertainties’ afflicting criminal practitioners.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 1st May 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

New legal aid reforms end ‘justice for all’, lawyers warn – The Independent

“England’s 800-year-old tradition of fair and open access to justice for all will
be destroyed by sweeping Government plans to reform criminal legal aid, senior
judges and magistrates warn today.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Revealed: Grayling’s plan to drive a wedge between bar and solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

“Justice secretary Chris Grayling has sought to drive a wedge between solicitors and barristers over the drastic plans to cut criminal legal aid and restructure the market, the Gazette has learned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 25th April 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fraudulent claims – The net continues to close – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted April 23rd, 2013 in costs, fraud, insurance, news, personal injuries, solicitors, striking out by sally

“It seems that the courts – and in particular Central London Court – are taking an increasingly intolerant approach to fraudulent and exaggerated claims, and are visiting the consequences of such claims on the solicitors, as well as the unsuccessful claimant.”

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 18th April 2013

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Criminal legal aid cuts prompt protest by northern lawyers – The Guardian

“Hundreds of barristers and solicitors are holding an all-day protest meeting against government plans to cut criminal legal aid and end defendants’ right to choose their lawyer.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd April 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Flatman v Germany(Law Society intervening); Weddall v Barchester Health Care Ltd (Same intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted April 17th, 2013 in costs, disclosure, fees, law reports, personal injuries, solicitors by sally

Flatman v Germany(Law Society intervening); Weddall v Barchester Health Care Ltd (Same intervening) [2013] EWCA Civ 278; [2013] WLR (D) 138

“The funding of a client’s disbursements by a solicitor did not, without more, justify the making of an adverse costs order against that solicitor.”

WLR Daily, 10th April 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Law firms cannot be held liable for disbursement costs, rules CoA – The Lawyer

Posted April 12th, 2013 in champerty, costs, fees, news, solicitors by sally

“Firms cannot automatically be held liable for costs when they have funded a claimant’s disbursements in a failed claim, the Court of Appeal has ruled.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 11th April 2013

Source: www.thelawyer.com

The Future of commercial litigation: Bleak House or Great Expectations? – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 11th, 2013 in barristers, costs, fees, news, solicitors by sally

The Future of commercial litigation: Bleak House or Great Expectations? (PDF)

Littleton Chambers, 2nd April 2013

Source: www.littletonchambers.com