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NLJ this week: Fast and efficient summary judgment or slow path to trial?

23 February 2024
Issue: 8060 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice
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Does the slow route deliver better justice, asks Dr Anil Balan in this week’s NLJ

Balan is referring to summary judgment under Pt 24 of the Civil Procedure Rules, a ‘legal procedure that allows judges to rule on cases without a full trial if one party’s claim has no real prospect of success and there is no other compelling reason to have a trial, saving time and money for all involved’.

‘But like any shortcut,’ Balan notes, ‘it raises concerns: does it trample on the fundamental right to a fair trial?’

Balan sets out recent case law illustrating the pitfalls and safeguards at play. He highlights the advantages of a ‘robust appeal system’ and of judges working within a well-defined framework to ensure clarity and transparency. He writes that, with clear guidelines in place, the ‘crucial balance’ can be maintained.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
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