The Law Society has criticised government proposals to increase fees in the high court and court of appeal civil division. It is essential that litigants are not deterred from accessing the civil justice system by inappropriate fee levels.
We strongly oppose the government's policy of seeking to recover the full cost of progressing cases through civil court fees because in our view this undermines access to justice, particularly for people on low incomes. Higher court fees represent significant barriers to justice for both individuals and small businesses.
The Society believes that a greater share of the cost of the civil justice system should be borne by the public purse rather than wholly or mainly by litigants. Provision by the State of access to redress through the courts for its citizens has been the hallmark of a civilised society. It is regrettably now a diminishing asset in England and Wales.