Hi and welcome to a round-up of this week’s legal costs news
Favourite twitter headline this week goes to Professor Dominic Regan writing on Jackson LJ’s speech on fixed fees:
“Fixed costs in everything, including clin neg (sic), up to £250k says Jackson and by the end of this year. Gulp.”
Don’t panic! Read the content of the speech: Fixed Costs – The Time Has Come then read Professor Regan comments on the speech “The Man is Not for Turning” and thoughts from Nick Hilborne at Litigation Futures where “Jackson Reveals “grid of fixed costs” worth up to £250,000”
And don’t forget Jackson LJ is delivering a sister speech on 2nd February outlining his plea for a Contingent legal aid fund first raised by JUSTICE in 1978.
Can someone remind us why the Government removed personal injury work from legal aid in the first place? From memory, it was the only legal aid work that provided a steady income stream back to the Government – answers on a postcard below.
Neil Rose writing in Litigation Futures confirms that the Law Society, APIL and MASS have joined forces to fight Government PI reforms, .
Elsewhere, it appears that Insurers not living up to promises to pass on savings to customers through reduced premiums and Gordon Exall writes on the increase in Court fees with a very useful series of links to related articles here
Speaking of legal aid, 1st February marks the start date for the mandatory use of CCMS in all special children act cases. David Smith provides additional information here.
Lord Justice Holman, a Senior High Court Judge continues to remind us of the difficulties caused by the knock-on effects that Government legal aid reforms are having in Family Courts: Ministry Defends Legal Aid Reforms as High Court Judge highlights “difficulties”.
Back at John M Hayes, Kenny Shealey continues his preparations for the Brighton marathon and we are delighted to welcome two new recruits to the Company specialising in both inter-partes and legal aid work.
And it’s snowing!
Until next week