Fee proposals too high

Claimants will be priced out of the civil courts if government proposals on fees go ahead, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (Apil) has claimed. The Ministry of Justice proposed increases in civil and family court fees in its paper, Civil Court Fees 2008. Amanda Stevens, Apil president, says the changes would mean fees could rise, on average, by around 55%, and as much as 5,000% in some areas.