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29 November 2024
Issue: 8096 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Civil way: 29 November 2024

Financial remedy copy; Civil legal aid eligibility; Secret commission; Interim costs whopper; Right to Buy hit

SNIFFING AROUND WITH NOTEBOOK

The reporting pilot scheme which has been embracing financial remedy proceedings at the Central Family Court and in Birmingham and Leeds hit the Royal Courts of Justice on 11 November 2024. More concerning is that the pilot was extended to public and private law cases before magistrates in all 19 current pilot areas from 4 November 2024.


BETTER THAN NOTHING

The Ministry of Justice’s legal aid means test review which closed two and a half years ago led to the Civil and Criminal Legal Aid (Financial Resources and Contribution Orders) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/1074) limping into force on 20 November 2024. On the civil side, they will let in a modest number of applicants who have been shut out on eligibility grounds, and transitional provisions allow those funded with contributions to seek a reassessment. A series of mandatory disregards is introduced and amended (such as infected blood and modern slavery compensation) along with discretionary disregards (such as Grenfell Tower compensation).

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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