It is “wrong in principle for the courts to make a profit for the government,” the Law Society has said in a firm rebuttal of government proposals to hike court fees for a second time. Law Society president John Smithers said there had been no assessment of the impact of increases of more than 600% just six months ago, which solicitors believe will stop people from bringing legitimate cases. He also reiterated Law Society concerns for higher fees for divorce claims. The government proposes to charge £550 but the Ministry of Justice estimates the actual cost to the courts to be £270.
25 September 2015
Law Society president criticises court fees
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Browne Jacobson—Caroline Barker & Tom Walker
Browne Jacobson recruits regulatory experts Caroline Barker and Tom Walker to bolster health, government and corporates practices
Jackson Lees Group—Paul Harrison, Helen Innes & Sorcha McMullan
Partner and paralegals bolster clinical negligence team at Jackson Lees Group
Stone King—Manchester
Stone King triples Manchester footprint with office move as law firm’s rapid growth journey continues
NEWS
The Court of Appeal has overturned the convictions of five Barclays LIBOR/EURIBOR traders—demonstrating the dangers of removing jury trial from serious fraud cases, according to a solicitor acting in the case
Lawyers have welcomed the Lord Chancellor’s reverse-ferret on jury reforms, but expressed ‘serious concerns’ about the decision to exclude fraud trials
From ‘rats in the robing room’ to ‘overworked’ judges and a shortage of court staff, barristers have aired their concerns about the state of the justice system
The use of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) poses ‘significant risks’ across the justice system, public services and government, and current regulation is ‘poorly suited’ to control it, experts have warned
The solicitors’ regulator has paused controversial plans to exclude owner-managers from compliance officer roles
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