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Civil justice: no going back?

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Where now for the civil justice system post-COVID, asks Shirley Denyer
  • Service of documents including proceedings.
  • Remote hearings and e-documents.

As anyone involved in civil justice will know, the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a transformation of the system. With the judiciary, legal representatives and parties confined to their homes, and attendance at court rendered impossible, the court service rose to the occasion to maintain access to justice.

Changes to the system impossible to imagine in February 2020 have become the norm. Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) members recognise fully the enormous pressure the crisis placed on the court service and are very appreciative of the hard work and commitment that has been shown to keep the system in operation.

With the vaccine programme now well underway in the UK, with some hope of normality returning, attention is turning to the longer-term implications of the pandemic on court reform. In effect, COVID has been the catalyst for the biggest pilot scheme ever experienced in the court service

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

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