Access to Justice

Fairness starts with . If we lose it, we lose everything.

New analysis of the government’s own claims data showed that, based on current trends, by 2020 there will 40% fewer accident claims than 2015, when the reforms were first announced

Proponents of the are so fixated on removing lawyers from doing their job, that they have failed to foresee the problems that will be created for injured claimants.

Cuts to legal aid present a “huge threat to access to justice” in England and Wales, the chairman of the Bar has warned. Andrew Walker, QC recently said: “We have been following a course that has set its face against justice, by political design, political folly and political expediency."

Ministers ‘preyed on goodwill’ to cut legal aid Cuts to legal aid present a “huge threat to access to justice” in England and Wales, the chairman of the Bar has warned. Andrew Walker, QC, told hundreds of barristers gathered in London for their...

Justice and the rule of law in the UK are at risk because of political decisions that threaten to undermine the independence of the judiciary, the chair of the Bar Council has claimed in a bombshell speech that underscores a deep anger coursing through the legal profession. Andrew Walker QC used his speech to the Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference on Saturday to say: “In truth, in the last two decades, we have been following a course that has set its face against justice, by political design, political folly and political expediency.”

Legal aid cuts are 'huge threat' to access to justice in UK Bar Council chair says rule of law is at risk because of political folly and expediency

Journalist John Hyde suggests that perhaps there will be same sense of regret from motor insurers once they deal with the fallout of the . He argues that insurers "will have their way by forcing experienced and qualified solicitors out of the market for handling whiplash claims. But instead of fighting old adversaries, they face the whack-a-mole game of trying to take on claims management companies."

Whiplash reform is done, but insurers have reason to fear The claims industry is fleet-footed and adaptable - and the Civil Liability Bill is half-baked and flimsy.

Preview of things to come under the : A much-vaunted online service for the public to make low-value claims has been beset by a string of teething problems.

'Good for video games, wrong for courts': online claims project hits trouble Judge overseeing testing of new service says it has been under resourced and is too complex for chosen development method.

The Civil Liability Bill overcame its final parliamentary hurdle yesterday as a leading insurer admitted that the anticipated £35 reduction in motor premiums might be swallowed up by other costs caused by the reforms. The House of Lords approved the amendments to the bill made in the House of Commons without a vote, meaning that it will now head for Royal Assent.

Civil Liability Bill heads for Royal Assent amid savings doubts - Legal Futures The Civil Liability Bill overcame its final parliamentary hurdle yesterday as a leading insurer admitted that the £35 reduction in motor premiums might be swallowed up by other costs.

Following a successful campaign by A2J and others, the government has confirmed that all vulnerable road users (VRUs) – pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders – will be excluded from the scope of the controversial Civil Liability Act and its associated legislative changes.

All vulnerable road users to be exempt from government whiplash reforms Following a successful campaign by A2J and others, the government has confirmed that all vulnerable road users (VRUs) – pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders – will be exclude…

The Civil Liability Bill returns to the House of Lords this afternoon. Keep up with the latest news by following our live-tweets (https://twitter.com/ccesstojustice). You can also watch it live here:

Parliamentlive.tv House of Lords

The House of Lords constitution committee described the government’s use of delegated powers as “increasing and constitutionally objectionable” and warned it that the “constitutional restraint” shown by peers towards challenging secondary legislation could be undermined.

Peers question government’s approach to Civil Liability Bill - Legal Futures The government should only reject peers’ advice about the use of secondary legislation to enact key parts of legislation like the Civil Liability Bill if there are “clear and compelling reasons”.

On Tuesday, the civil liability bill is expected to complete its passage through parliament. The government say that the bill will tackle a whiplash “epidemic”, but it hides a £1.3bn annual gift to the insurers, a loss to government coffers of £146m a year, and an assault on access to justice that will impact hundreds of thousands of people whose claims have nothing to do with whiplash. Please read & share

Whiplash bill is ruse to harm workers’ rights | Letters Letters: Increasing the small claims limit to £2,000 would mean that workers suffering injuries that include a collapsed lung, a fractured wrist or elbow and loss of front teeth, are denied access to justice, write five trade union general secretaries