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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.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
