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16 April 2015 / David Greene
Issue: 7649 / Categories: Opinion
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A civil sea change?

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David Greene examines the ongoing civil justice projects that a new government will have to address

Will the forthcoming election and the changes that are bound to follow in personnel at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) mark a sea change in civil justice reform? The general line developed over the past few years has been to dissuade those seeking to resolve disputes from using the court process to achieve that end. The latest episode in that process has seen an unprecedented rise in court fees. There is nothing to suggest that any of the parties who may form all or part of the next government altering this stance to any great extent. 

There are a number of projects in civil justice that remain in process that a new government will be addressing in some fashion over the next 12 months.

Introducing an inquisitorial process

The adversarial process is built upon the concepts that parties are both capable of presenting an argument and that there is equality of arms between the parties. Both are

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Devonshires—Rebecca Eastwood

Devonshires—Rebecca Eastwood

Housing management and property litigation practice strengthened by Leeds partner hire

Trowers & Hamlins—Rahul Sagar

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Banking and finance practice bolstered by partner hire

mfg Solicitors—Ian Sheppard

mfg Solicitors—Ian Sheppard

Commercial litigation team welcomes senior associate in Birmingham

NEWS
A ‘parallel justice system’ is developing due to the increased use of Out of Court Resolutions (OOCRs), magistrates have warned
The government’s plan to cut jury trials could ‘cause more delays than it could ever serve to reduce’, veteran silk Geoffrey Robertson KC has warned
Artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to generate faster and cheaper transcripts of criminal court proceedings, ministers have announced
Solicitors practising litigation have been issued with a Law Society practice note following the Court of Appeal’s judgment in Mazur
Sir Andrew McFarlane has retired from the judiciary, following nearly eight years as president of the Family Division and president of the Court of Protection
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