Friday 15 February 2013 by Michael Cross

The president of an organisation representing more than 1,000 civil litigators has added her voice to a growing chorus of alarm about the rushed implementation of the Jackson reforms.

Francesca Kaye (pictured), president of the London Solicitors Litigation Association, described the Ministry of Justice's handling of new rules to support the reforms as 'shambolic' and 'deeply concerning'.

A copy of the statutory instrument setting out rule changes was this week posted on an unofficial website. However the profession is still awaiting new practice directions.

'It's been a complete shambles,' Kaye said. 'There is a limit to how much lawyers can prepare for change without seeing the detailed practice directions. The legal profession is a huge business.

'We now have 29 working days (or less) to train everyone for major changes upon which the success of major pieces of litigation may turn. I can't think that in the private sector or even the public sector such a significant change would be implemented in 29 days.'

The Law Society last month called on the government to consider delaying the implementation of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, saying that rushed and ill-judged implementation will damage public confidence in the justice system.