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05 August 2011 / Dr Jon Robins
Issue: 7476 / Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus , Costs
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Rolling back justice (2)

Jon Robins investigates the latest challenges to hit clinical negligence lawyers

Clinical negligence lawyers and their clients find themselves squeezed by an uncomfortable pincer movement: on the one side they fear the full brunt of savage legal aid cuts and, closing in from the other side, there are the Jackson proposals. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill published in June threatens to both scrap legal aid for the victims of medical accidents and radically change the “no win, no fee” model by scrapping the recoverability of success fees and the after-the-event insurance.

Public Bill Committee

There was an interesting exchange in last week’s Public Bill Committee. Claire Fazan, a partner at the claimant firm Leigh Day & Co, cited the example of profoundly brain-injured children. People might assume that it’s easy for a specialist like Fazan to spot the minute that somebody walks into their office whether there is a valid claim. “I wish that was the case,” she told MPs; adding that she could only think

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

20 promotions mark major people investment at national law firm, Anthony Collins

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley adds competition litigator Elaine Whiteford in London

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes Claudina D’Costa as Director of Client Development Marketing

NEWS
The 25th Pro Bono Week begins today until 6 November, with events hosted by law firms, chambers, law schools and charities across the UK
Pro bono is celebrating a silver anniversary, with initiatives putting businesses and students at the heart of access to justice
Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
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