header-logo header-logo

09 October 2015 / Dominic Regan
Issue: 7671 / Categories: Features , Profession , Costs
printer mail-detail

Costs capers

nlj_7671_regan

Dominic Regan conducts a costs poll around the country

Now that the nation can no longer reel back in shock at the result of Labour leadership polls I decided to conduct my own poll into a topic of equal concern—costs!! Since, in a typical talking week, I will find myself in five cities in as many days I was able to speak to numerous practitioners about their experiences. I was appalled at some of the antics which some members of the judiciary have got up to. The plea from Jackson for a consistent approach and better training is unanswered.

Proportionate cost?

Take the case where a fee-earner in the north east was directed by central London to personally attend the case and costs management conference (CCMC). The return train journey cost £276, took six hours and that excludes the time and cost of reaching the station and the court respectively. A quiet read of CPR 1.1 which requires the court to deal with cases

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

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Gateley Legal—Caroline Pope & Bob Maynard

Construction team bolstered by hire of senior consultant duo

Switalskis—four appointments

Switalskis—four appointments

Firm expands residential conveyancing team with quadruple appointment

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

mfg Solicitors—Claire Pope

Private client team welcomes senior associatein Worcester

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
back-to-top-scroll