Reforming Civil Justice - England and Wales

Fifteen years after Lord Woolf published his recommendations for civil justice reform in England and Wales with his 'Access to Justice' report, the government is in the process of reviewing the civil justice system from different angles and making proposals for further reforms.

In 2009, Lord Young released a report entitled 'Common Sense - Common Safety', a review of health and safety, which was prompted by the growth in the litigation driven compensation culture in England and Wales. In 2010, Lord Justice Jackson's 'Review of Civil Litigation Costs' also made a number of recommendations for reform, and more recently the Ministry of Justice consulted on legal aid and civil funding and costs reform. The consultations on the latter closed in February 2011 and a response is expected in Spring 2011.