header-logo header-logo

24 March 2021 / Julian Chamberlayne
Issue: 7926 / Categories: Features , Profession , Costs
printer mail-detail

A matter of time: guideline hourly rates (Pt 3)

43925
In his final update, Julian Chamberlayne discusses the future of GHR, inflation & suggests a fairer way forward
  • The working group’s current methodology, based on allowed rates, leads to proposed GHR that are 15% lower than average claimed rates.
  • Erosion of the full compensation principle and possible solution.

This is the third in a series of articles concerning the Civil Justice Council (CJC) working group’s report on the Guideline Hourly Rates (GHR) of 8 January 2021 and the associated consultation that runs to the end of March 2021 (see https://bit.ly/315LEUO).

In the first article, I set out the background, then described and commented on the CJC’s methodology; in the second, I looked at the London and National bandings, plus the application of enhancements to GHR for complexity, importance and value. This leaves me now to turn to the future of GHR, inflation and the consultation questions.

The future of GHR

The CJC working group sensibly acknowledged there were some issues

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

back-to-top-scroll