*/
Lord Justice Jackson condemned the government’s legal aid cuts in his final speech before retiring on his 70th birthday.
The judge, who has been the architect of major civil litigation reforms, said ‘I regret and deplore’ the cuts that were introduced in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, the same Act as his costs reforms.
In a speech to the Cambridge Law Faculty, 'Was it worth it?', Jackson LJ said that ‘most unfortunately’ the recommendation in his final report on civil justice reform of ‘the vital necessity of making no further cutbacks’ in legal aid availability or eligibility had not been heeded by ministers. ‘Likewise, my plea for restraint in setting court fees has fallen on deaf ears,’ he said.
Jackson LJ’s reform ended the recoverability of success fees and after the event insurance premiums, introduced case management reforms and the joint use of experts. He also recommended the ban on referral fees in personal injury claims.
He told his audience that spending ten years reforming the procedure rules to reduce litigation costs was ‘about as unglamorous as it gets’ and accepted that lawyers did not love him for his work. Lawyers, he said, ‘generally don’t like change and they particularly dislike anyone meddling with costs’.
The Lord Justice concluded that while ‘many of the causes of excessive costs have been eliminated and significant improvements have been made in the litigation process’ costs were ‘still too high’.
He will return to his old chambers as an arbitrator and adjudicator, and will also join the new commercial court in Kazakhstan.
Lord Justice Jackson condemned the government’s legal aid cuts in his final speech before retiring on his 70th birthday.
The judge, who has been the architect of major civil litigation reforms, said ‘I regret and deplore’ the cuts that were introduced in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, the same Act as his costs reforms.
In a speech to the Cambridge Law Faculty, 'Was it worth it?', Jackson LJ said that ‘most unfortunately’ the recommendation in his final report on civil justice reform of ‘the vital necessity of making no further cutbacks’ in legal aid availability or eligibility had not been heeded by ministers. ‘Likewise, my plea for restraint in setting court fees has fallen on deaf ears,’ he said.
Jackson LJ’s reform ended the recoverability of success fees and after the event insurance premiums, introduced case management reforms and the joint use of experts. He also recommended the ban on referral fees in personal injury claims.
He told his audience that spending ten years reforming the procedure rules to reduce litigation costs was ‘about as unglamorous as it gets’ and accepted that lawyers did not love him for his work. Lawyers, he said, ‘generally don’t like change and they particularly dislike anyone meddling with costs’.
The Lord Justice concluded that while ‘many of the causes of excessive costs have been eliminated and significant improvements have been made in the litigation process’ costs were ‘still too high’.
He will return to his old chambers as an arbitrator and adjudicator, and will also join the new commercial court in Kazakhstan.
As we look ahead to Justice Week 2022, the sustainability of the Criminal Bar remains a critical issue for the government to address
Opportunity for female sopranos/contraltos in secondary education, or who have recently finished secondary education but have not yet begun tertiary education. Eligibility includes children of members of the Bar
Fear of the collection and test process is a common factor among clients, especially among vulnerable adults in complex family law cases. Cansford Laboratories shares some tips to help the testing process run as smoothly as possible
Casey Randall explains how complex relationship DNA tests can best be used – and interpreted – by counsel
Casey Randall, Head of DNA at AlphaBiolabs, explores what barristers need to know about DNA testing for immigration, including when a client might wish to submit DNA evidence, and which relationship tests are best for immigration applications
Julian Morgan reminds barristers of the top five areas to consider before 5 April
Barristers are particularly at risk of burnout because of the nature of our work and our approach to it but it doesnt have to be this way. Jade Bucklow explores how culture, work and lifestyle changes can rejuvinate our mental health...
The case ofR v Brecanihas complicated matters for defence lawyers. Emma Fielding talks to gang culture expert, Dr Simon Harding about County Lines, exploitation and modern slavery
If the Bar cannot define and prohibit bullying behaviour, what chance do we have of persuading the Judiciary to do so? Darren Howe QC and Professor Jo Delahunty QC's call to action on codification plus suggested strategies for dealing with bullying from the Bar and Bench
The Schools Consent Project (SCP) is educating tens of thousands of teenagers about the law around consent to challenge and change what is now endemic behaviour. Here, its founder, barrister Kate Parker talks to Chris Henley QC about SCPs work and its association with Jodie Comers West End playPrima Facie, in which she plays a criminal barrister who is sexually assaulted
Professionally embarrassed? The circumstances in which criminal barristers may return instructions to appear at trial have become clearer following the Court of Appeal judgment inR v Daniels By Abigail Bright