Civil way: 30 November 2018

It has arrived: CPR update 101. Delegation of powers to non-judges throughout the legal system continues to rival on-line grocery deliveries in popularity. As from 8 November 2018 legal advisers in the CCBC and CCMCC are able to grant permission to counterclaim after the filing of a defence even without consent. The only caveat is that the counterclaim limitation period has not expired which in itself might give rise to a conundrum worthy of consideration by three Lords Justice of Appeal.

The plan for Gogglebox civil justice has not been derailed even by Brexit. Proof comes in the form of a 12-month video hearing pilot scheme which starts today under PD51V. It will operate out of Birmingham and Manchester only (the latter also participating in next year’s flexible hours pilot and qualifying the district judges there for bravery awards) and be confined to applications to set aside default judgments where the parties have consented