MEN ANNUAL LAW REVIEW

Published: 8th May 2006

It has been said 'Like the Ritz Hotel the legal system is open to all'. The problem with both is how to pay for what you consume. The reforms to the Civil Justice System by Lord Woolfe, at the close of the last century produced undoubted improvements in procedure and administration. What is fast emerging is that they have driven up costs enormously as cases now have to be 'front loaded'.

Private individuals, with the exception of the very rich cannot seriously contemplate litigation unless backed by an insurance company or with a lawyer taking on the case on a Conditional Fee Arrangement basis. In reality the access to justice for the individual is in my view pretty limited. Braver souls are attempting to litigate in person. I think this should be encouraged as a matter of basic human rights but it certainly will slow down the course of a case and the time it may take to resolve.

I don't see companies being in a much better position, certainly the small to medium ones. Litigation ties up management time enormously, apart from direct costs consideration.

The use of mediation to resolve disputes is still widely overlooked in my view despite the huge efforts of the centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. There needs to be more focus on this method which is cost effective, time efficient and, statistically has a high rate of success.

2. National Market. 'How far does the Manchester legal marketplace really exist - has it become a more national scene in the last 5 years, with Manchester law firms operating as part of nation-wide groups?'

There is no doubt in my mind that there remains a distinct Manchester legal marketplace. I am sure the same can be said about Leeds, Birmingham and the like. The local marketplace is simply a function of local businesses requiring a range of professional advice and the professionals needing to know and work with each other to service the local needs of these businesses.

Outside of this feature it is evident that the national firms who have offices here contribute to supporting national operations and national clients of those firms. Although Manchester is becoming increasingly expensive in which to site an office - lets not forget it is considerably less expensive than London!