*/
The Government must return funding of the civil courts to a “realistic level”, the new President of the Association of District Judges has warned.
District Judge David Oldham, who replaced Edwina Millward as President in March, said the civil courts remained the “Cinderella” of the justice system and fees have increased to “draconian levels”.
“Legal aid has virtually disappeared in civil cases and so the proportion of litigants without legal representation has soared,” he said.
His aim, “as the recession brings more and more individuals to the county courts, [is] to ensure ... access to free and efficient expert advice and assistance from a duty solicitor or CAB or other advice agency which is independent of HM Courts Service”.
Since the Woolf reforms a decade ago, civil claims are settling at a higher rate than ever and contested cases are coming on for trial earlier, he said.
A justice system which forced litigants with good claims to abandon them because of the expense of going to the law was “deficient.”
District Judge Monty Trent has been elected Senior Vice President of the Association, and District Judge Paul Mildred is the new Junior Vice President.
District Judge David Oldham, who replaced Edwina Millward as President in March, said the civil courts remained the “Cinderella” of the justice system and fees have increased to “draconian levels”.
“Legal aid has virtually disappeared in civil cases and so the proportion of litigants without legal representation has soared,” he said.
His aim, “as the recession brings more and more individuals to the county courts, [is] to ensure ... access to free and efficient expert advice and assistance from a duty solicitor or CAB or other advice agency which is independent of HM Courts Service”.
Since the Woolf reforms a decade ago, civil claims are settling at a higher rate than ever and contested cases are coming on for trial earlier, he said.
A justice system which forced litigants with good claims to abandon them because of the expense of going to the law was “deficient.”
District Judge Monty Trent has been elected Senior Vice President of the Association, and District Judge Paul Mildred is the new Junior Vice President.
The Government must return funding of the civil courts to a “realistic level”, the new President of the Association of District Judges has warned.
It’s been a particularly hectic period in both the political sphere and our working lives
Casey Randall explores the benefits of prenatal paternity testing and explains how the test is performed
Philip N Bristow explains how to unlock your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step
Kate West discusses how best to interpret a drug test report, and the common misconceptions about what can be learnt from a drug test
Ashley Hodgkinson looks at drug testing methods and some of the most common ways people try to cheat a drug test
Clerksroom Chambers has recruited Matthew Wildish from 3 Paper Buildings (3PB) to a newly created position of Director of Clerking. Matthew joined the team at Clerksroom on 1 June
How did the international DJ and BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter find his transition to the Criminal Bar? Mark Robinsons secrets of a successful career change and his perception-breaking projects
Barrister, historian, legal biographer it was pure serendipity that the whirlwind silk went into the law and found his niche as a bestselling author, finds David Rhodes
Surely diversity of thought at the Bar is a good thing? Why are chambers shoehorning all applicants for pupillage into the same mould? Roxy Lackschewitz-Martin looks at the diagnostic gap and neurodiversity in pupillage applications
On the hunt for the perfect beach book/listen? Circuit Leaders, Michelle Heeley QC, Richard Wright QC, Kate Brunner QC, Lisa Roberts QC and Christine Agnew QC share their recommendations
From a chance airfield encounter to war crimes counsel, Karadzic trial judge, International Criminal Court judge and Independent Adviser to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General Sir Howard talks to Anthony Inglese CB about the pivotal points that shaped his career
