A YEAR TO REMEMBER (AND FORGET)

So much has happened in 2011. We at S J Edney have continued to act for a number of clients who have been injured and are entitled to compensation. Their claims vary from people who have been injured at hospital due to an error made by either a doctor or nurse and others injured at work, in a road accident or at a public place.

Mrs Janice Lawrence sought our advice about an independent report which was published in November 2011 following the death of her parents in 2007. This was a terrible case as her elderly parents were killed by their son (her brother) Mr Tim Crook in horrific circumstances. The independent inquiry acknowledged a number of failings on the part of two mental health services including Swindon which had resulted in the deterioration of Mr Crook’s medical condition which, in turn, led to these killings. Read more about this case.

2011 has also been a dreadful year for legal aid lawyers. Swingeing cuts of £350m will be made from the existing legal aid budget and are bound to impact on the most vulnerable people in our society and their ability to have access to justice. Personal injury lawyers are also smarting due to the proposed changes in the costs awarded from unsuccessful Defendants which are likely to make personal injury cases less profitable in the future.

In the new year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority will begin to regulate Alternative Business Structures which permit non lawyers to provide legal services direct to the public. It will be interesting to see how much competition the traditional law firm will face from these new market entrants.