New survey from Bar Council finds barristers at “breaking point” – The Bar Council

Posted January 25th, 2021 in barristers, coronavirus, debts, diversity, employment, fees, mental health, news, statistics by tracey

‘The Bar Council, which represents all barristers in England and Wales, has today published findings from its most recent survey of the Bar. The findings show some signs of recovery in workload, but highlight the extreme financial and psychological hardship still facing many barristers.’

Full Story

The Bar Council, 22nd January 2021

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Transparency failures put three firms in the dock – Legal Futures

‘Law firms in London, Manchester and Bath have become the first sanctioned for failing to publish price and service information, with compliance made a condition of their authorisation.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 15th January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SDT “wrong” to strike out prosecution of Law Society president – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) was wrong to throw out a private prosecution brought by a former client against the current president of the Law Society, the High Court has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 13th January 2021

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Domestic abuse victims wrongly charged over £150 from GPs for letters confirming injuries – The Independent

Posted January 8th, 2021 in doctors, domestic violence, expert witnesses, fees, legal aid, news, victims by tracey

‘Domestic abuse victims are being wrongly charged over £150 by GPs for letters proving their injuries which are often required to access legal aid or other crucial services.’

Full Story

The Independent, 7th January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government vows to end complex leasehold costs – BBC News

Posted January 7th, 2021 in fees, leases, news, rent by tracey

‘Planned reforms of the controversial leasehold system in England are set to clamp down on high costs when extending a lease.’

Full Story

BBC News, 7th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Increase guideline hourly rates by 35% pending CJC review, judge says – Litigation Futures

Posted December 4th, 2020 in civil procedure rules, costs, fees, judges, news, solicitors by sally

‘The guideline hourly rates (GHR) should be increased to take account of inflation while they are being reviewed, meaning an increase of 35%, the High Court ruled this week.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 3rd December 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Child Trust Fund court fees waived for parents – Ministry of Justice

‘Parents or guardians of children who lack mental capacity can ask for court fees to be waived when seeking access to a Child Trust Fund, the government has announced today (1 December, 2020).’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 1st December 2020

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

Fixed Fee and Virtual Mediations – Becket Chambers

Posted December 1st, 2020 in dispute resolution, fees, news, remote hearings by sally

‘The present pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the time it takes matters, especially civil claims, to get to court for a final hearing and those delays are only going to get longer so there has never been a better time to consider mediation as a quick, cheap and effective alternative to litigation and the Civil Mediation Council’s Fixed Fee Mediation scheme allows parties to benefit from a very economic tariff for relatively low-value claims (i.e. up to £50,000) using CMC-accredited civil mediators.’

Full Story

Becket Chambers, 13th November 2020

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

High Court refuses to strike out solicitor’s surveillance harassment claim – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has refused to strike out claims of harassment brought by a solicitor and his wife over surveillance of them carried out at the instruction of a former client.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 30th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

A Costly Lesson? A discussion of the decision in Belsner v Cam Legal Services Limited [2020] EWHC 2755 (QB) – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘Lavender J has held that solicitors cannot rely upon CPR 46.9(2) to recover more from a client than could have been recovered between parties in the proceedings, unless they can show that the client provided informed consent. The decision potentially has far-reaching consequences for the use of conditional fee agreements (“CFAs”).’

Full Story

Parklane Plowden Chambers, 20th November 2020

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Criminal justice system is ‘on its knees’, says top English lawyer – The Guardian

‘Crown court cases are being delayed until 2023, the innocent penalised more than the guilty, and the under-funded, criminal justice system brought “on its knees”, according to the chair of the Criminal Bar Association in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal aid lawyers under severe pressure because of Covid – Legal Futures

‘Four-fifths of legal aid lawyers have experienced stress as a result of the pandemic, with more than half of them blaming longer working hours, according to a survey.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 18th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Shocking discrepancies” in Bar gender pay gap analysis – Legal Futures

Posted November 12th, 2020 in barristers, fees, news, remuneration, statistics, women by tracey

‘The gender pay gap at the Bar is “alive and well”, the chair of the Bar Council said yesterday, after new figures looking at individual practice areas revealed “shocking discrepancies”.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 12th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council braces for £3m loss as Covid hits profession’s income – Legal Futures

Posted November 11th, 2020 in barristers, consultations, coronavirus, fees, news, statistics by sally

‘The Bar Council is bracing for a £3.2m loss next year with revenue from practising fees – which are tied to barristers’ income – set to tumble because of Covid-19.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Belsner v Cam Legal Services: An important clarification – What information a solicitor should provide to a client concerning likely costs that may be recovered from the opponent – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted November 10th, 2020 in consent, costs, fees, news, personal injuries, small claims, solicitors by sally

‘The High Court has handed down judgment in Belsner v Cam Legal Services which provides important clarification in respect of what information a solicitor should provide to a client in relation to the likely costs that might be recovered from the opponent.’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 16th October 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Fans to see agent fees from every transfer under new Fifa laws – The Independent

Posted November 6th, 2020 in conflict of interest, fees, news, sport by tracey

‘Football fans will be able to see exactly how much agents earn from transfer deals when new regulations come into force next year, Fifa has said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th November 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court: “No need for City lawyer” in professional executor tussle – Legal Futures

Posted November 4th, 2020 in budgets, costs, executors, fees, news, probate, wills by tracey

‘The High Court has ruled that there was no need for a more expensive City lawyer to be appointed a professional executor in preference to one from the Home Counties in a straightforward probate.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 4th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Viagogo may have to sell all or part of StubHub, regulator says – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2020 in competition, fees, mergers, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘Ticketing site Viagogo may need to sell all or part of StubHub after an investigation by the UK’s competition watchdog found the merger of the two firms could lead to higher fees.’

Full Story

BBC News, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Immigration Health Surcharge To Increase on 27 October 2020 – Richmond Chambers

Posted October 21st, 2020 in chambers articles, fees, health, immigration, medical treatment, news by sally

‘The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2020 (SI 2020 No. 1086) will come into force as law on 27 October 2020 after being signed by Kevin Foster, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Future Borders and Immigration) on 01 October 2020.’

Full Story

Richmond Chambers, 16th October 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Court orders costs repayment after client did not consent to deduction – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Fee-recovery lawyers say millions of clients could stand to benefit from a court judgment which reduced legal fees deducted from compensation.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 19th October 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk