New whiplash and PPI claim rules – Ministry of Justice

‘The latest stages of the government’s work on compensation claims take effect today (Wednesday 1 October 2014) with new measures around whiplash and PPI claims.’

Full press release

Minsitry of Justice, 1st October 2014

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

Marley v Rawlings (No 2) – WLR Daily

Posted October 2nd, 2014 in appeals, costs, fees, law reports, mistake, rectification, solicitors, Supreme Court, wills by sally

Marley v Rawlings (No 2); [2014] UKSC 51; [2014] WLR (D) 402

‘Where a mistake made by a solicitor in the execution of a will required its validity to be determined in litigation, funded in the High Court and the Court of Appeal on a traditional basis and in the Supreme Court under contingency fee agreements, the proper order for costs in the High Court and the Court of Appeal was that the solicitor’s insurers should pay the costs of both the successful claimant and the unsuccessful defendants, thereby short-circuiting the approach that, on a reasonable, but unsuccessful, challenge to the validity of a will, the costs should be borne by the estate.’

WLR Daily, 18th September 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

New, fairer way of calculating barristers’ practising certificate fees announced – The Bar Council

Posted September 26th, 2014 in barristers, fees, press releases, remuneration by sally

‘The way in which barristers’ Practising Certificate Fees (PCF) are calculated will soon change to become fairer, the Bar Standards Board and Bar Council have announced today.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 25th September 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Council publishes third representational annual report – The Bar Council

Posted September 22nd, 2014 in advocacy, barristers, budgets, costs, diversity, equality, fees, legal aid, news, reports by sally

‘The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today published the third edition of its annual report, ‘Representing the Bar’, which focuses on the organisation’s representational activities and performance against key strategic aims for 2013-14.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 19th September 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Fee-paid Judicial Pension Scheme – Ministry of Justice

Posted September 22nd, 2014 in consultations, fees, judiciary, news, pensions by sally

‘This consultation seeks views on the proposed design of the Fee-paid Judicial Pension Scheme (FPJPS).’

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 19th September 2014

Source: https://consult.justice.gov.uk

Supreme Court forces barristers to waive success fees – Litigation Futures

Posted September 22nd, 2014 in appeals, barristers, costs, fees, news, solicitors, Supreme Court, wills by sally

‘The president of the Supreme Court has taken the “fairly remarkable” course of forcing two barristers into dropping their claims to success fees in a case which he said again highlighted the “many unsatisfactory aspects” of the pre-Jackson CFA regime.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 18th September 2014

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

High Court slaps down legal aid reform – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The lord chancellor acted ‘unlawfully’ in the way he consulted on controversial plans to shake up criminal legal aid, the High Court ruled today [19 September].’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th September 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Standards Board launches consultation on entity authorisation fees – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 12th, 2014 in barristers, consultations, fees, legal services, press releases by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today issued an open consultation paper outlining its ideas on how much it should charge for authorising entities. Entities are organisations that provide advocacy, litigation, and expert legal advice services and which, in this instance, are owned and managed by barristers and other lawyers.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 11th September 2014

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

University of Law revolutionises bar course, sets minimum 2:1 entry grade – The Lawyer

Posted September 1st, 2014 in fees, legal education, news, standards, universities by sally

‘The University of Law has unveiled plans to dramatically change its bar professional training course (BPTC) in a move to set it apart from its competitors.’

Full story

The Lawyer, 1st September 2014

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Parents who lose objectivity – Education Law Blog

Posted September 1st, 2014 in anonymity, bullying, contracts, damages, fees, media, news, public interest, racism, school children by sally

‘It is not often that private law disputes between schools and parents are pursued to trial and judgment in the High Court, but St Christopher School (Letchworth) Ltd v Schymanski and Rao [2014] EWHC 2573 (QB) is one of those cases.’

Full story

Education Law Blog, 28th August 2014

Source: www.education11kbw.com

Barristers’ clerks leader condemns “scandalous” local authority portal scheme – Legal Futures

Posted August 22nd, 2014 in barristers, barristers' clerks, fees, local government, news, tenders by sally

‘A barrister portal scheme operated by the North West Legal Consortium, a group of over 30 local authorities, has been condemned as “scandalous” by the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC).’

Full story

Legal Futures, 22nd August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Guidance for the instruction of experts in civil claims 2014 – Civil Justice Council

‘Civil Justice Council issues new guidance on instructing experts in civil claims.’

Full guidance

Civil Justice Council, 13th August 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Barristers’ clerks attack law firms over contract payment terms – Legal Futures

‘Law firms are imposing contracts on barristers they would never sign themselves, the chair of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks (IBC) has said.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 18th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judicial Speeches, Gaza Boycotts and Social Media Crimes – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘This week, former leaders of the Khmer Rouge face life imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed in Cambodia. In other news, the on-going conflict in Gaza sparks controversy at home, while the Lords inquiry into social media offences reaches an unexpected conclusion.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 18th August 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Whiplash assessment report fees cut to tackle fake claims – BBC News

‘Medical assessment fees for people who claim they have suffered whiplash are to be cut in England and Wales.’

Full story

BBC News, 3rd August 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal aid cuts: In the new landscape, it’s the lawyers who could now suffer – The Independent

Posted August 4th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, fees, legal aid, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘Public access work allows barristers to bypass solicitors to gain clients on fixed fees agreed in advance.’

Full story

The Independent, 3rd August 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Employment tribunal cases drop significantly, but claims that go forward tend to be more expensive, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 1st, 2014 in employment tribunals, fees, news, statistics by sally

‘The number of claims referred to employment tribunals may have dropped by as much as 79% in the year since fees were introduced, according to figures produced for the Trade Unions Congress (TUC).’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 31st July 2014

Source: www.out-law.com

Savile estate cash ‘to go to lawyers, not victims’ – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2014 in charities, compensation, fees, legal profession, news, victims by michael

‘A charity set up by Jimmy Savile has warned a compensation scheme for the sex abuser’s victims could result in millions being paid in lawyers’ fees.’

Full story

BBC News, 31st July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Parents ordered to pay £23k school fees after judge throws out race claim – Daily Telegraph

Posted July 31st, 2014 in bullying, costs, education, fees, news, racism, vegetarianism by michael

‘Parents who refused to pay their private school fees – claiming their three sons had been been bullied and racially abused at a vegetarian school – have had their complaints thrown out by a High Court judge.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Discrimination at work goes unpunished as women can’t afford to sue – The Independent

‘Women are being priced out of justice in the workplace, according to figures which show the number of sex discrimination claims brought by women against employers have fallen 80 per cent since court charges were introduced.’

Full story

The Independent, 29th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk