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Lord Justice Jackson said last week that he was “not prepared to comment” when challenged about his commitment to his proposals for civil litigation costs if a financial review questioned their wisdom.

The government could face challenges under the Human Rights Act if it presses ahead with the Jackson reforms, a leading counsel’s opinion has warned. Nigel Pleming QC and Colin Thomann of 39 Essex Street said there are “real prospects” of a challenge because of the reforms’ impact on claimants with catastrophic injuries.

For legal aid and personal injury lawyers it’s not so much the hope that kills (because there isn’t much of that) but the uncertainty. Both are gearing up for the potentially radical changes in their practice areas brought about by the government’s green papers on legal aid reform/cuts and on implementing much of the Jackson report respectively. It is now a little over two weeks until the consultation period on both closes (on Valentine’s Day, no less) and lobbying activity is stepping up.

The crackdown on personal injury advertising started today as the Ministry of Justice unveiled plans to ban inducements to bring a claim. The current rules for claims management companies only ban the offer of “immediate” cash payments or similar benefits, but a consultation issued today proposes extending that to all inducements for making a claim.

A campaign to expose the Coalition government’s “hidden agenda” in pursuing Lord Justice Jackson’s reforms of personal injury (PI) costs was launched in London today. The Access to Justice Action Group – which is being co-ordinated by former Labour MP and claimant PI lawyer Andrew Dismore – highlights that the the reforms will cut the number of law firms in the field and thus reduce access to justice.