Costs Round-Up #16
Welcome to a round-up of costs-related news and posts published over the last two weeks. Round-up last week was postponed for the general election result!
Last week the Association of Costs Lawyers released a report on CCMS, a key project for the Legal Aid Agency which is due to become mandatory in October 2015. The report concludes that:
- CCMS is fundamentally flawed, but that the LAA is in institutional denial about those flaws;
- some functionality has been poorly implemented, and some missed altogether;
- that CCMS continues to get some of the basics wrong and ignores LAA and legal requirements.
David Smith, Training Director at John M Hayes shares his thoughts on how to improve billing efficiency in CCMS with bulk upload. David continues on his journey around the country providing the popular seminar 'Family Legal Aid Costs: Getting it Right' which includes a look at issues in respect of billing in CCMS. The schedule of remaining venues is detailed here and includes Manchester and Cardiff in the next weeks.
Sarah Hunt at John M Hayes Chesterfield presents Trial and Error including a look at the case of James v Ireland in which the High Court considers the question of when a trial actually starts.
Laura Meyrick at John M Hayes Amersham writes on the recent case of XYZ v Various where it was found that a payment on account of costs in an ongoing CFA funded case did not breach the indemnity principle.
Christopher McClure at John M Hayes Manchester considers the sometimes misunderstood case of Cockell v Holton and the real reason behind the refusal to grant relief in Relief? Not Likely!
That’s your lot for this week although we can’t let the week conclude without reference to the ringing endorsement from the Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson and Lord Justice Jackson to costs management (while accepting that there were a few problems that perhaps need to be fixed). Find out more here
Have a great weekend
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