An end to justice for all?

Posted By: james

Tuesday 10th March 2015

In a letter to the Telegraph, Andrew Caplen, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, says that a rise of 600% in the cost of some civil court fees means that Britain is now essentially selling justice, contradicting the Magna Carta edict: “To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.” Mr Caplen asks what the cost of linking fees to claim values will be. SMEs are likely to be the big losers as they will be discouraged from bringing claims against debtors. He adds that previously just the act of bringing proceedings was enough to bring settlement – at minimal costs to the court. Court fees will in the long run prove disastrous, he says. “Treating access to justice as a number on a balance sheet in this way is clearly a false economy.” Mr Caplen’s views are echoed by Diane Parker, partner and head of personal injury at Atherton Godfrey Solicitors, in a letter to the Yorkshire Post.

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