Jul 28, 2016
In case readers do not want to read a detailed article about this, here are the main points from a mediator’s perspective: 1. The report recommends reinstating the National Mediation Helpline and After hours court based mediation scheme that was previously...
Jul 28, 2016
The report on the structure of the Civil Courts and the introduction of an online “Solutions Court” was published on 27 July 2016, citing contributions from ProMediate. The report gives a green light for the idea of an online court system for claims valued...
Jul 28, 2016
The Supreme Court has reversed the decision in eve Hayward v Zurich Insurance Company plc [2016] UKSC 4. What does this mean? It means that anyone who enters into a settlement agreement and later discovers that the claim was fraudulent can escape from the terms agreed...
Jul 28, 2016
Briggs LJ’s long awaited report on the structure of the civil courts was published on 27 July 2016, showing the way forward for the Courts and mediation. Summary The judge identifies a mediation deficit in the system, particularly for middle value cases....
Jul 19, 2016
There is a continuing lack of trust in the legal profession. According to a study from the legal services consumer panel, the rating for the legal profession has slipped: 42 per cent of the public said they trusted lawyers, compared with 47 per cent four years ago....
Jul 15, 2016
Nearly a third of British consumers with legal problems do not even consider consulting a lawyer because they fear they will not be able to afford the fees, according to a recent survey by Legal Cost Finance, a litigation funder. The researchers found that lawyers...
Jul 4, 2016
More and more people are choosing to mediate their disputes at an early stage rather than incurring costs. According to a report from the Legal Services Board, one hour of litigation now costs nearly half an average UK adult’s weekly earnings of almost £500,...
Jun 30, 2016
An example of one litigant who recently had her fingers burnt by the litigation system, but settled her claim is Aisha Ali-Khan who sued George Galloway for defamation. This story highlights how litigation can be a bad experience for someone who is unrepresented. Ms...
Jun 30, 2016
It it has to be said that the divisions between The EU and the UK and internally within the UK are getting worse. Commentators have described the Brexit vote as being like a divorce petition. Like many divorces, however, people don’t often look at the...
Jun 30, 2016
A recent report from litigation funder, Burford Capital, highlights the fact that winning your legal case can be only the start of the battle. You then need to enforce. Settlement agreements through mediation are often easier to enforce in that there is normally some...
