The growing 'compensation culture' is costing at least 10 billion a year, according to a report from the Institute of Actuaries. These costs range from ordinary insurance claims to negligence involving the National Health Service, the police, local authorities and other public sector bodies.
Source: The Cost of Compensation Culture, Institute of Actuaries (01865 268205)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release | BBC report
Date: 2002-Dec
Researchers examined how far the experience of defendants in housing possession cases is affected by their ethnicity. In particular it explored the perceptions, experiences and understanding of the court functions and processes amongst black and minority ethnic defendants, and more widely within their communities.
Source: Sarah Blandy, Caroline Hunter, Diane Lister and Judy Nixon, Housing Possession Cases in the County Court: Perceptions and experiences of black and minority ethnic defendants, Research Paper 11/02, Lord Chancellor s Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Dec
An advisory body (chaired by a senior judge) said that the government is wrong to consider that civil justice should be largely self-financing. It said that full cost recovery limits arbitrarily the nature and quality of civil justice services, may limit access to the courts, and is wrong in principle.
Source: Full Costs Recovery, Civil Justice Council (020 7947 6670)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
New arrangements for funding civil legal aid have led to better scrutiny by the Legal Services Commission of the work of its suppliers and a greater degree of control over the civil legal aid budget, according to the National Audit Office.
Source: Community Legal Service: The introduction of contracting, HC 36, (Session 2002-03), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NAO press release | LCD press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 4.5
Date: 2002-Nov
A study explored the perspective of family members on the coroner service, particularly the inquest, and reviewed the legal framework within which the coroner service operates.
Source: Gwynn Davis, Rose Lindsey, Gwen Seabourne and Janine Griffiths-Baker, Experiencing Inquests, Research Study 241, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Study (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 6.5
Date: 2002-Nov
The government began consultation on increased civil court fees. It said it is seeking to achieve a balance between recovering the cost of the service provided and ensuring access to justice.
Source: Civil Court Fees, Court Service (020 7210 1780)
Links: Consultation Paper (pdf) | LCD press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A report made recommendations for reforming the administration of courts dealing with family justice, with the aim of reducing delays.
Source: The Report of the Working Party to Consider Delay in Family Proceedings Courts Under the Children Act 1989, Lord Chancellor's Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A review found that civil justice reforms (following the Woolf report in 1999) are working well to promote settlement and 'a culture of openness and co-operation', with a consequent reduction in the number of civil claims issued.
Source: Further Findings: A Continuing Evaluation of the Civil Justice Reforms, Lord Chancellor's Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 6.5
Date: 2002-Aug
The government published a consultation paper posing questions about the regulation of legal services and whether current arrangements are in the public interest.
Source: In the Public Interest?: A Consultation Following the Office of Fair Trading's Report on Competition in Professions, Lord Chancellor's Department (020 7210 8500)
Links: Consultation Paper | LCD press release
Date: 2002-Jul
An increasing number of people unable to afford legal advice faced being left without help because of a decline in the number of solicitors undertaking legal aid work, according to new research conducted by the Law Society.
Source: Access Denied, Law Society (01235 465 656)
Links: Law Society press release
Date: 2002-Jul