ACL Annual Survey 2020

The ACL is carrying out its regular survey to gauge members’ views about a range of issues. The results will appear in the Costs Lawyer magazine/weekly eBulletin, and may also be used in our publicity.

Question Title

* 1. Over the past 12 months, have solicitors got better at sticking to their budgets? (tick one)

Yes

No – they always go over

No – they sometimes go over

Don’t know

Question Title

* 2. Is the number of applications to vary budgets… (tick one)

Increasing

Staying the same

Never seen one

Don’t know

Question Title

* 3. How are you getting on with the new bill format? (tick all that apply)

I’m getting used to it and it's a good thing

Covid-19 has accelerated the move to everything electronic

I'm used to it now and it's made no improvement

The ACL’s version is more user-friendly than alternatives

The problem is solicitors’ time recording

Solicitors have asked us to sort it all out

Solicitors are getting the hang of it now

Don’t know

Question Title

* 4. What has the judiciary’s reaction been? (tick one)

Keen to use the bill

They still haven’t had the training/technology required

They prefer to waive the use of the new bill for as long as they can

Don’t know

Question Title

* 5. Has the electronic bill increased the costs of detailed assessment? (tick one)

Yes

Don’t know

Question Title

* 6. What has been the impact of Covid-19 on your practice? (tick all that apply)

I am busier than ever

Work has dropped off

It hasn't made much difference

Clients are paying fees more slowly

We've had to recruit to keep up

I'm worried about losing my job

I'm considering having to make redundancies

I have lost my job

I worked from home so it's made little difference

Working from home has become permanent

Supervising colleagues at home has been a problem

Question Title

* 7. What has been the impact of Covid-19 on court work? (Tick all that apply)

The courts have tried hard but it’s not easy to conduct hearings online

The courts have responded superbly and it will be hard to go back

Opposing parties have co-operated well to make online hearings work

Some judges will do everything to avoid online hearings

It’s pushed clients towards ADR

Question Title

* 8. What one do you think will be the outcome of the Guideline Hourly Rates review?

A substantial increase

A slight increase

No increase

The Master of the Rolls will have insufficient evidence for a decision

Question Title

* 9. Are you seeing greater interest in mediation to resolve costs disputes? (please select one only)

Yes

About the same

Never been involved in one

Don’t know