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Here is a quick round-up of costs articles that have caught my eye over the week and made me think about legal costs provision.
Let’s start with costs budgeting. Over at Zenith Chambers PI Barrister Colin Richmond presents his take and review of costs budgeting following Lord Justice Jackson’s contact and recent round of consultation. Sarah Breckenridge Lawyer at Berwin, Leighton and Paisner LLP presents additional insight on costs management asking: costs management two years on, how far have we come?
Meanwhile Dyson , J suggests lawyers have not yet come far enough in embracing change recognizing solicitors as resistant to change and movements out of the comfort zone – although to be fair that probably encompasses a vast majority of the population for whom change is uncomfortable and new. Here, Dyson J calls on the judiciary to lead the resistant lawyers to embrace the post Jackson culture reform. That’s not to say we can’t all play our part in embracing change and learn to invest our time and energy in shaping progress so that it works for us. The development of successful partnerships is certain to help drive legal services forward in all areas of unfamiliar progress: CCMS, J-codes anyone?
There a couple of other helpful articles on Part 36 penalties in detailed costs’ assessments with Barrister Justin Crossley exploring the case of Cashman v Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust and Barrister Andrew Hogan sharing his thoughts on the assignment of CFAs and whether a conditional fee agreement can effectively be assigned between solicitors firms - both worth a look.
Meanwhile, teams from our London and Sussex Offices stepped out on Monday with Lady Justice and 9000 other legal professionals for the annual London Legal Walk . Our training event on family legal aid headed west to Manchester where Training Director David Smith gave a well-received seminar with a very interactive audience eager to learn about CCMS and how this would affect their cash flow and business over the next few months.
For further inspiration and a better idea of how to improve billing in CCMS take a look at this article David has written on bulk upload. Not the catchiest of titles but you will be surprised at how we can make your life post CCMS easier and simpler with this proven technique.
Legal aid updates are provided on the new single e-mail address for case work enquiries to the high cost civil team and on a new updated costs assessment guide – just a thought but if you ever fell out of the legal aid agency billing loop – how on earth would you get back in?
I’ll leave you with that thought, I don’t know about you but with Michael Gove in situ at the MOJ, I can’t helping thinking on legal aid there is going to be a stormy ride ahead.
So buckle up and until next week enjoy the Bank Holiday
Friday 22nd May 2015