High Court brands claim of late budget filing “manifest nonsense” – Litigation Futures

Posted March 13th, 2014 in budgets, case management, costs, news, service, time limits by tracey

‘A High Court judge yesterday sought to “reinforce the message that the Commercial Court will firmly discourage the taking of futile and time-wasting procedural points” as it appeared the message from last month’s Summit Navigation ruling “may not yet have been heard”.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 13th March 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Legal aid cuts for prisoners face high court challenge – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2014 in budgets, legal aid, ministers' powers and duties, news, prisons by sally

‘The government’s decision to deprive prisoners of legal aid has been challenged in the high court on Thursday by charities warning that it will hamper rehabilitation efforts and fail to save money.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lawyers to walk out for second time in protest against legal aid cuts – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, industrial action, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Barristers and solicitors will attempt to bring the criminal justice system to a standstill on Friday in protest at the government’s latest round of £215m cuts to legal aid.’

Full story

The Guardian, 7th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Precedent H to be amended in CPR update but no news yet on costs management limit – Litigation Futures

Posted March 6th, 2014 in budgets, civil procedure rules, costs, news, time limits by tracey

‘The statement of truth to be used in verifying a costs budget is to be changed, the latest update to the Civil Procedure Rules has revealed – but there is no word as yet about whether the level at which the costs management exemption kicks in will be increased.’

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Litigation Futures, 6th March 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Recent rulings show “sensible and pragmatic” approach to costs sanctions emerging, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 28th, 2014 in budgets, case management, costs, news by sally

‘A recent run of High Court rulings shows that a “sensible and pragmatic” approach to the circumstances in which relief from sanctions for breaches of the civil court costs rules will be granted is gradually beginning to emerge, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th February 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Fears for legal aid justice as lawyer admits ‘I can’t afford my own wig’ – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2014 in budgets, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news, remuneration, solicitor advocates by sally

‘Solicitor advocate Caitriona McLaughlin fears government cuts will deter firms from taking loss-making magistrates court cases.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Rule committee set to introduce blanket £10m costs management exemption – Litigation Futures

Posted February 26th, 2014 in budgets, civil procedure rules, costs, news, practice directions by tracey

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) looks set to introduce an exemption from costs management for all civil cases that are worth in excess of £10m – even though Sir Rupert Jackson himself is opposed to any exceptions. Newly released papers from the 6 December meeting of the CPRC reveal that it fell into line with the joint recommendation of the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson, and the deputy head of civil justice, Lord Justice Richards.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 26th February 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Judge asks attorney general to intervene in VHCCs – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The attorney general is considering intervening to appoint an amicus curiae to assist the court on legal arguments expected to be made on behalf of defendants facing trial without representation in court, the Gazette can reveal.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 25th February 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

‘One Bar: one voice – United for justice’ – audio recording – The Bar Council

Posted February 17th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, legal aid, news, speeches by sally

‘Audio recordings of the speeches, and contributions from the floor, from the event ‘One Bar: one voice – United for Justice’ on Saturday 8 February 2014.’

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The Bar Council, 13th February 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Family law in crisis – New Law Journal

‘Cuts to legal aid have thrown family proceedings into chaos, say Kim Beatson, Caroline Bowden & Ellen Lucas.’

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New Law Journal, 10th February 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Another council faces judicial review over changes to library provision – Local Government Lawyer

‘Lincolnshire County Council has become the latest local authority to face judicial review proceedings over proposed cuts to its libraries.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th February 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

When three into one will go – High Court rejects challenge to single costs budget for three cases – Litigation Futures

Posted February 11th, 2014 in budgets, class actions, costs, news by tracey

‘The High Court has rejected a Mitchell challenge to a budget that could have left well-known car manufacturer Lotus with hundreds of thousands of pounds of costs up in smoke.’

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Litigation Futures, 11th February 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Linford Christie lawyers outpaced by Mitchell penalty – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 11th, 2014 in budgets, civil procedure rules, costs, news, time limits by tracey

‘Filing a costs budget even just a day late does not count as a “trivial” breach of rules, a county court has ruled.’

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Law society’s Gazette, 11th February 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Councils win High Court case over allocation of EU structural funds – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 10th, 2014 in budgets, EC law, local government, news by tracey

‘Nine local authorities have won a High Court challenge over the Government’s regional allocation of EU structural funds for 2014-2020.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th February 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Number of sex offenders in England and Wales rises by more than third in five years – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 10th, 2014 in budgets, news, probation, rehabilitation, sexual offences, statistics by tracey

‘The number of registered sex offenders in England and Wales has risen by more than a third in the past five years. More than 40,000 registered sex offenders, including 2,700 judged to pose a serious risk to the public, are living in the community and being monitored by probation services.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th February 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Supporting the introduction of the single Family Court – Proposed changes to Family legal aid remuneration schemes – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in budgets, consultations, equality, family courts, fees, legal aid, remuneration by tracey

‘The Government consulted on a proposal to change the current family legal aid fee payment schemes in October 2013. This document reflects the responses that we have received to the consultation and describes how the Government intends to proceed.’

Full document

Ministry of Justice, 31st January 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

VHCC cases jeopardised by fee cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in barristers, budgets, costs, fees, fraud, legal aid, news, solicitor advocates, trials by tracey

‘Multi-million-pound fraud trials are being put in jeopardy by the Ministry of Justice’s cuts to advocates’ fees, the Gazette has learned.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd February 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Unfinished business – New Law Journal

‘Dominic Regan predicts the likely civil procedure developments for 2014.’

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New Law Journal, 29th January 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Bar Council chairman: further legal aid cuts would be false economy – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, miscarriage of justice, news by sally

‘There will be too few experienced barristers to deal with complex criminal cases if the government pushes through proposals for further cuts to legal aid, the new chairman of the Bar Council has warned.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal aid lawyers form new group to oppose cuts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 29th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, demonstrations, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Groups representing legal aid lawyers have formed a new campaign group to oppose fresh cuts in funding.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 28th January 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk