Unsettled forecast for 2014 as MoJ unveils court fee consultation and CBA announces legal aid strike

Unsettled forecast for 2014 as MoJ unveils court fee consultation and CBA announces legal aid strike

Following a year of protests over legal aid cuts and court reforms from a profession better known for its quiet conservatism, 2014 promises more of the same after the government this month launched a consultation over the levying of sizeable court fees in commercial claims and the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) announced a half-day strike of its members on 6 January.

The Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ’s) consultation on fees includes a proposal for imposing percentage-based court fees that could see the cost of a £400,000 piece of commercial litigation increase by £20,000, with around five percent added on top of the total running costs.

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