Partner Article

Restriction of access to Justice unfair

Sydney Mitchell’s Senior Partner, Div Singh, hosted a private meeting with Robert Bourns, the President of the National Law Society. Mr Singh was particularly concerned about the ongoing changes to the legal profession and how this risked undermining both the high quality of the legal profession as well as restricting the ability of many people to access justice. In particular, Mr Singh discussed Lord Justice Jackson’s review as to whether fixed fees should be extended to a much wider range of litigation (up to a value of £250,000). During the meeting Mr Singh pointed out that any implementation of fixed fees in litigation cases needs to be considered very carefully so as to avoid the risk of having clients who win their cases but are then unable to recover the majority of their legal costs. Such an outcome would be seen as unfair and it could deter people from seeking legal redress from the Courts.

Following the meeting Mr Singh commented:

“I felt the meeting was very productive and Mr Bourns has a full grasp of these issues. It is important that people have the ability to access justice and it is equally important that the court system inspires confidence and certainty with both the legal profession and the public.”

Mr Bourns responded by saying:

“I completely understand the concerns raised by Mr Singh and these concerns are being echoed by so many other solicitors. Our legal profession is the envy of the world and the Law Society is doing everything it can to ensure that this remains the case.”

Sydney Mitchell specialist teams include employment, commercial property, company and commercial services, litigation and insolvency. Private client teams include family law, residential property, dispute resolution and wills and probate, tax and trusts and personal injury.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Linda Heyworth .