Consultations

Increased jurisdiction, increased fees, cutbacks and closures.  The report, commissioned by the PLA and based on feedback from PLA members on the state of the county courts, highlights declining service standards in an increasingly difficult operating environment.  The results suggest there is real cause for concern.

The Civil Courts Structure Review was commissioned by the Lord Chief Justice and the Master of the Rollsin July 2015.

This report has been compiled by the Property Litigation Association (“PLA”) in order to detail and comment upon its members’ concerns about significantly declining standards of service provided by the County Courts. The PLA consists of approximately 1,200 members 1 who spend a substantial amount of their time engaged in property related dispute resolution. Much of this dispute resolution is conducted in the County Courts.

Do you agree with the proposal to raise the maximum fee for starting proceedings for the recovery of money from £10,000?

The Property Litigation Association (PLA) responds to the consultation on the Shorter and Earlier Trial Procedures Initiative as set out below in our comments in red on the draft Practice Direction. PLA members specialise in all aspects of property litigation including commercial, residential and agricultural property law. We are (approximately 1200) lawyers who come from a variety of firms in terms of size and location.

The definition of land and ownership of property

Completed on behalf of the Property Litigation Association (PLA).

As our members do not routinely have cases before these courts we do not consider it appropriate to comment upon whether the blanket exception to costs budgeting and costs management in such cases may be unnecessary.

The Property Litigation Association (“PLA”) represents 1,200 members. Members spend at least 50% of their time working on Property Litigation matters.

This optional response form is provided for consultees’ convenience in responding to our Consultation Paper on Rights to Light.