*/
A Bar Council “think tank” has proposed a self-funding scheme to help those ineligible for civil legal aid but without the means to mount a legal claim.
The Contingent Legal Aid Fund (CLAF) has been developed by the Bar Council’s Policy Advisory Group, led by Guy Mansfield QC, and is set out in his report “The Merits of a Contingent Legal Aid Fund”. It would be managed by financial professionals who would determine whether claims should be supported. Successful claims would pay a reasonable proportion of their winnings back into the CLAF pool to fund future claims. A consultation will begin in May.
Commenting on the report Guy Mansfield QC said: “The funding of litigation has changed fundamentally in the past ten years, and the CLAF now looks like an idea whose time has come.”
The Contingent Legal Aid Fund (CLAF) has been developed by the Bar Council’s Policy Advisory Group, led by Guy Mansfield QC, and is set out in his report “The Merits of a Contingent Legal Aid Fund”. It would be managed by financial professionals who would determine whether claims should be supported. Successful claims would pay a reasonable proportion of their winnings back into the CLAF pool to fund future claims. A consultation will begin in May.
Commenting on the report Guy Mansfield QC said: “The funding of litigation has changed fundamentally in the past ten years, and the CLAF now looks like an idea whose time has come.”
A Bar Council “think tank” has proposed a self-funding scheme to help those ineligible for civil legal aid but without the means to mount a legal claim.
Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar, sets our course for 2026
What meaningful steps can you take in 2026 to advance your legal career? asks Thomas Cowan of St Pauls Chambers
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, explains why drugs may appear in test results, despite the donor denying use of them
Asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
AlphaBiolabs has donated £500 to The Christie Charity through its Giving Back initiative, helping to support cancer care, treatment and research across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and further afield
Q and A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
The appointments of 96 new King’s Counsel (also known as silk) are announced today
With pupillage application season under way, Laura Wright reflects on her route to ‘tech barrister’ and offers advice for those aiming at a career at the Bar
Jury-less trial proposals threaten fairness, legitimacy and democracy without ending the backlog, writes Professor Cheryl Thomas KC (Hon), the UK’s leading expert on juries, judges and courts
Are you ready for the new way to do tax returns? David Southern KC explains the biggest change since HMRC launched self-assessment more than 30 years ago... and its impact on the Bar
Marking one year since a Bar disciplinary tribunal dismissed all charges against her, Dr Charlotte Proudman discusses the experience, her formative years and next steps. Interview by Anthony Inglese CB