New QOCS Rules Come Into Force This Week

Shortly before Christmas, I wrote an article drawing attention to imminent significant changes to the QOCS regime. It generated a surprising amount of interest (for an article on costs) and several people were kind enough to contact me to say they had found it helpful.

At the time of my article the changes had been discussed and approved by the Civil Procedure Rules Committee (CPRC) but not officially announced. They were duly implemented in February by the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023. Rule 24 thereof makes changes in line with what had been approved by the CPRC. I refer to my earlier article for the details of those changes.

Rule 1(3) states that the amendments made by rule 24 apply only to claims where proceedings are issued on of after 6 April 2023. The changes are therefore not retrospective and cases which have already been settled or issued fall to be treated under the old regime.