Costs Round Up #14
Welcome to a round-up of costs-related news and posts published over the last seven days.
The tail end of last week produced news of no change to the guideline hourly rates for fee-earners which have remained the same since April 2010. The Master of the Rolls’ decision is reported here and is considered in detail by Barrister Jonathan Holsgrove at No Change to Guideline Hourly Rates for Fee-earners .
Did you know that four courts have reached four different conclusions in cases where the wrong Defendant has been named in a conditional fee agreement? Kerry Underwood explores the subject at CFAs: Never Name the Defendant.
Barrister Bronia Hartley presents Costs Management and Proportionality commenting on how the Courts will approach costs incurred across the 2013 divide. There is useful commentary too on the current round of consultation driven by Jackson LJ to Review Costs Budgeting and the process it entails.
Litigation Futures comments on the more “merciful side” of Lord Justice Jackson in overturning a “swingeing” costs order which would have wiped out the £75,000 damages won by the Claimant in a housing case in which her lack of success in the negligence and misrepresentation claims made had resulted in an order that the Claimant pay the Defendant’s costs for the first period or forfeited 60% of her costs during the second one.
Turning to legal aid we find a useful briefing paper on Access to Justice in the Family Court prepared to explain to candidates in the forthcoming election how changes to civil legal aid under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) are causing injustice to many children and their families.
John Bolch, Solicitor provides further interesting commentary in Are Pro Bono Lawyers Playing the Government’s Game and don’t forget New Guidance for Solicitors on expert witnesses from the Legal Aid Agency. Finally there are some strong words reported from Resolution chair Jo Edwards at Legal Aid Digital System a National Scandal.
“Ms Edwards said that there are a “huge number of vulnerable people now deprived of access to justice” following the extensive cuts to legal aid in April 2013. She claimed it was “nothing short of a national scandal” that the LAA had spent more than £35 million on the CCMS when some of that money could do more good funding initial legal advice.”
We couldn’t agree more.
Don’t forget to register for last minute availability at popular John H Hayes free legal aid training seminars to keep up to date with CCMS and the changes being introduced by the Legal Aid Agency. At a time when legal aid lawyers are being squeezed tight we know that every penny counts. We have been supporting legal aid lawyers for 30 years and our experience ensures you are paid your true value every day for the work you completed on behalf of vulnerable clients. Find out more here
If you have a blog on costs related matters and would like to submit your post to the round-up, e-mail: Ilkley@johnmhayes.co.uk
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