The free guide to costs, funding and the Jackson reforms
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High Court upholds CFA despite legal aid certificate remaining in place
The High Court has ruled that a conditional fee agreement was valid even though the claimant’s legal aid certificate remained in place. Mr Justice Soole ruled that the certificate had been discharged by conduct.
Burcher Jennings launches “first of its kind” funding package for firms
Cost and pricing consultancy Burcher Jennings has launched a new funding package for law firms, which it believes is “the first of its kind in the UK legal industry”. Firms are reported to be keen to use the funding to finance increased court fees.
ACL and Bar Council collaborate to help barristers claim enhanced fees
The Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) has joined forces with the Bar Council for the first time to issue guidance to barristers on how to claim enhancements on fees paid for legal aid work.
Legal Aid Agency bids to map CFA market
The Legal Aid Agency has extended the deadline for an online survey on the availability of conditional fee agreements (CFAs) when clients are looking for legal help.
Judicial review changes “will not undermine access to justice”, government tells peers
Lord Faulks, the justice minister, has told the House of Lords that ministers “firmly reject” the accusation that changes to the rules for payment of legal aid in judicial review cases will undermine access to justice.
LSC, Law Society and practitioner groups join forces to sort out civil legal aid bill rejection
The Legal Services Commission is working with the Law Society, the Legal Aid Practitioners Group and Resolution to address civil legal aid bill rejections, it announced last week. The commission reckons it could pay 1,000 extra bills a week if it did not have to return documents.
MoJ ditches supplementary legal aid scheme – for now
Campaigners yesterday welcomed the government’s announcement that it is to drop the supplementary legal aid scheme (SLAS), which would have taken 25% of damages from those cases still eligible for legal aid next year, such as claims on behalf of brain-damaged babies.
Peers reinstate three amendments as clock begins to tick on LASPO
The House of Lords yesterday reinstated three of its amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill to intensify the battle of wills with the Commons. The bill needs to be finalised by next Monday.
Government overturns LASPO changes as Djanogly hits out at "inflated" law firm profits
The government as expected overturned all of the House of Lords amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill last night, with justice minister Jonathan Djanogly saying the Jackson reforms would put an end to the “racket” that has allowed “inflated profits” for law firms.
Peripheral vision
There was a time when it looked like the Jackson report was heading for the long grass. Instead, it has now been embraced almost in its totality by the Coalition government, with the referral fee ban being the piece of the famously “interlocking” reforms that few had expected to see until very recently. Though Lord Justice Jackson himself is becoming peripheral to their implementation, PI lawyers need to be planning now for a very changed future.
