NEWS IN BRIEF

It is an understatement to say that no win, no fee arrangements have been contentious. The government has now admitted as much by announcing recently that it has set up an academic review to look at whether they “are still operating in the best interests of giving people access to justice” in England and Wales.

The academics undertaking the review will consider how best to:

• identify representative samples of claims data in personal injury, employment and defamation/privacy cases
• examine the nature of funding arrangements in these cases and the outcome
• identify random samples of clients and legal advisers that may help provide more detailed data about the understanding of quality and change within the legal services sector
• analyse the unmet legal needs in the areas of personal injury, employment and defamation/privacy.

The academics are expected to report to ministers in the autumn. The report will help determine what specific aspects ought to be pursued in more detail and the feasibility of doing so.

For more details, go to: www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/162562