Costs Round Up #67
Welcome to a quick round up of news and articles from the week in legal costs
This week we take a look at:
Proportionality
Kerry Underwood discusses proportionality in costs: proportionality: an utter mystery and concludes that until we have contingency fees and/or fixed fees in all cases we have a problem – that problem is that no one has ever defined what “proportionate” means
Guidance for Deputies the Court of Protection
There is new guidance for Deputies on the Court of Protection published by the SCCO to explain what can be claimed for in general management bills, a reminder of what to consider when incurring General Management costs. There is guidance on bills for detailed assessment and what to include in costs estimates.
Joint CLAF working Group News
There is news of a joint CLAF working group established for legal aid The group which comprises the Bar Council, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) and the Law Society of England and Wales has agreed to produce an initial report by the end of September 2016 and a final report before the end of December 2016.
Match.com
Speaking of innovative ideas, a new match making initiative offering advice partnerships between Solicitors and clients has been launched in Manchester this week
The service aims to recruit 15,000 to 20,000 clients by the end of the year. The site will be funded through annual subscriptions by solicitors, paying £295 for a standard package of five cases per month and £495 for 10 cases per month.
Solicitors can get a single case per month for free.
Legal Aid Merits Tests
Legal aid news sees late changes to the legal aid merits test such that a case considered border line might be worth a re-assessment even at this late stage. The amendment rules come into force on 22nd July.
Company News
Office visits to Bristol, Birmingham and Norwich complete a hot, busy week at John M Hayes. Great to see summer is finally here!
Until next week….
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