Welcome to our latest weekly costs round-up, which is guest edited by Margo Jones, Practice Manager of the John M Hayes Cardiff office.
This week John Hyde reports in the Law Gazette that the Law Society has urged Justice Secretary Michael Gove not to rely on pro bono to plug gaps in the justice system created by Legal Aid Cuts. The Government has planned to ask the very richest in the justice system to “do a little more”. However, he reports that Gove’s reliance on the richest solicitors and barristers to plug the justice gap will cause consternation. Gove was clear that those who have done well financially from the legal profession could and should do more to contribute to the profession. Is relying on pro bono work to fill the justice gap a recipe for trouble and unrealistic? See comments within John Hyde’s article:
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/justice-secretary-told-pro-bono-no-substitute-for-legal-aid/5049566.article
Elsewhere “Costs budgets are here to stay so technical changes and a cultural shift are required” – Sue Nash, Chairman of the Association of Costs Lawyers, reports in the New Law Journal. Speeches made last month by the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson and Lord Justice Jackson at the Harbour Litigation Funding annual lecture made that abundantly clear.
http://www.newlawjournal.co.uk/nlj/content/suck-it
Sue goes on to say that “whilst there is a considerable way to go before we fully understand the best way to approach every aspect of cost management, of which cost budgeting is a part, costs lawyers are in a perfect position to co-ordinate this exercise”
A further article by Mark Bresling, Senior Associate of Nabarro gives a summary and recommendations following the same lecture.
http://www.nabarro.com/insight/briefings/2015/june/costs-budgeting-jackson-recommendations/
Meanwhile, Andrew Spooner writes on “ Rules, Costs and Litigants in Person” following the increase in the number of cases being conducted by Litigants in Person and the impact on the justice system. This is due to the cut backs in legal aid and the increase in the small claims court limits. His article is intended to draw the strands together and provide an overview of the current litigation landscape and how it may involve clients who become involved in litigations.
http://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/knowledge/legal-articles/2015/06/17/rules-costs-and-litigants-person/
Finally, our own Brian Booth of Bristol office has this week written an in-depth blog on the amendments made to Part 36 and how it affects costs proceedings.
http://www.johnmhayes.co.uk/blog/a-summary-of-the-key-changes-to-part-36/
If you have a story worthy of mention in our ‘Costs Round up’ we would love to hear from you. Please contact us at mail@johnmhayes.co.uk