Bar Council response to Lord Justice Briggs’ review – The Bar Council

Posted July 28th, 2016 in barristers, civil justice, courts, internet, press releases, reports by tracey

‘The Bar Council has responded to Lord Justice Briggs’ Civil Courts Structure Review. Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, said: “Efforts to modernise the courts and improve efficiencies in our justice system are essential. It is surely time to make a proper investment in our civil justice system for the future, to provide justice for all.” ‘

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th July 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Civil Courts Structure Review (CCSR): Final Report published – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted July 28th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, press releases, reports by tracey

‘The final report of Lord Justice Briggs’ Civil Courts Structure Review was published on 27 July 2016.’

Full report and report

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 27th July 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Breaking: ‘minimal assistance’ from lawyers in online court – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A long-awaited report on the future of civil courts has recommended a new online court for dealing with all monetary claims up to £25,000.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 27th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fees fi fo fum – New Law Journal

Posted July 27th, 2016 in advocacy, appeals, civil procedure rules, costs, courts, damages, fees, news by sally

‘David Wright discusses fixed advocacy fees.’

Full story

New Law Journal, 26th July 2016

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Bringing the Bar to the Pub: “Pop-up Justice” for the 21st Century? – Littleton Chambers

Posted July 26th, 2016 in courts, litigants in person, news by sally

‘On 30 June 2016, The Times reported on a speech given by Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court, to a conference organised by Solicitors for the Elderly. It touched on the possibility of holding court hearings in public places other than court buildings. On the same day, The Daily Mail reported that “[m]akeshift courts could be held in buildings such as pubs or town halls.” Now, many a practitioner (not least myself) has calculated the swiftest route from a judicial tongue-lashing to some alcoholic relief from sanction, but can they really be proposing pub hearings (legal history buffs might like to note that a Court of Piepowders, described by Sir William Blackstone as “the lowest, and at the same time the most expeditious, court of justice known to the law of England”, sat at the Stag and Hounds in Bristol until 1870)? Probably not.’

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 18th July 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Protester, 91, goes to European court over secret police files – The Guardian

‘A 91-year-old whose political activities were covertly recorded by police has won the right to take his legal case to the European court of human rights.’

Full story

The Guardian, 25th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

iPhone evidence ‘could be more effective than court hearing’ – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Resolving neighbour disputes using iPhone evidence and a video hearing might be more effective than the parties travelling several miles to court, a senior government official has said, outlining significant developments to modernise the justice system.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Teenager jailed for posting murder trial images on Facebook – The Guardian

Posted July 14th, 2016 in contempt of court, courts, internet, news, photography, sentencing, trials, young persons by tracey

‘A teenager who took photographs in court as his friend was being jailed for murder and then glorified the killer on social media has been given a 15-month sentence.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The digital drive – Counsel

‘Catherine Baksi considers whether lawyers, judges, courts and clients are ready for a digital revolution, the drivers for change, and impact on access to justice.’

Full story

Counsel, July 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

What now for human rights in the UK post-Brexit? – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted July 5th, 2016 in bills, brexit, constitutional reform, courts, EC law, human rights, news, treaties by sally

‘Theresa May, expected to shortly emerge as the “stop Boris” prime ministerial candidate in this post-referendum world, kept her head down during the Brexit campaign apart from one notable intervention.’

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Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th July 2016

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

MPs castigate government over court and tribunal fee rises – Litigation Futures

‘MPs have hit out at the government’s approach to increasing court fees, with major changes needed to restore an “acceptable level of access to the employment tribunals”, and also urged ministers not to introduce any more civil court fee rises until there is research into the impact of what has been done to date, particularly on London’s competitiveness as a litigation centre.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 20th June 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.co.uk

Employment tribunal fees ‘will deny workers justice’ – The Independent

‘Workers unfairly dismissed by their employers are being denied access to justice because of new Government court fees, a cross party committee of MPs has warned. Since the new employment tribunal fees were introduced in 2013 there has been a “precipitate drop” of almost 70 per cent in the number of cases being brought, the Commons Justice committee said. It can now cost as much as £1,200 simply to bring a claim.’

Full story

The Independent, 20th June 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Two-thirds of litigators say increased court fees already putting off clients – Litigation Futures

Posted June 16th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, fees, news, statistics by tracey

‘Two-thirds of litigation lawyers say increased court fees have already deterred clients from commencing proceedings, a survey has found.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 15th June 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Court rule changes ‘may drive innocent defendants into making guilty pleas’ – The Independent

‘Changes to court rules to encourage more defendants to plead guilty earlier may lead to more miscarriages of justice as well as increasing the prison population, MPs warn today.’

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The Independent, 14th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Economic complexity: CAT vs High Court – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

‘One of the advantages of the Competition Appeal Tribunal is said to be the fact that its three-member panel typically includes an economist. But is that really such a big advantage over the High Court?’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 9th June 2016

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Human Rights and Property Litigation: some general concepts – Falcon Chambers

‘In this talk we introduce you to some of the concepts that you need to be familiar with when dealing with human rights under the European Convention of Human Rights (“ECHR”) as incorporated into our domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998 (“HRA”).’

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Falcon Chambers, May 2016

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Online Court will include “limited” legal costs to aid unbundled advice, says Briggs – Legal Futures

Posted May 25th, 2016 in budgets, civil justice, costs, courts, internet, legal aid, news by sally

‘The new Online Court will not ban lawyers and there will be “a very limited element of fixed costs” so litigants can get initial legal advice – but not the full “over-expensive” service, Lord Justice Briggs said yesterday.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 24th May 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Civil Justice Council decides against new housing court – Litigation Futures

‘The Civil Justice Council (CJC) has decided not to back a new housing court to deal with all property disputes, despite support for the move among lawyers in the sector.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd May 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Pop-up courts needed to help create more flexible justice system – report – The Guardian

Posted May 19th, 2016 in courts, criminal justice, internet, news, reports by sally

“Pop-up” courts with easily transportable judicial stage sets, remote video screens and online access are needed to develop a more flexible justice system, according to a leading legal thinktank.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoJ seeks to allay court closure concerns – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 6th, 2016 in budgets, courts, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Ministry of Justice has given some insight into the reasons behind its decision to close a court that campaigners have bitterly fought to save.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk