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...
Jun 25, 2016
People may be forgiven for thinking that “red tape” from the EU will now be swept away, including the requirement for traders to inform consumers about ADR under the ADR Directive. One man’s red tape is another’s consumer rights/employment...
Jun 20, 2016
There is growing concern that Court and tribunal fees increases are resulting in fewer cases going to Court. Mediation is an attractive alternative. The justice committee at the Commons says there has been a “precipitate drop” of almost 70 per cent in the...
Jun 17, 2016
There is a Court rule whereby costs incurred by a lawyer cannot be disproportionate to the claim. This is recently being imposed on parties, reducing the costs which they can claim. Nonetheless the costs claimed are still high and this should be borne in mind...
