Civil Justice Council

Civil Justice Council
source
Name	Civil Justice Council
Formation	1998
Type	Advisory body
Headquarters	London
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	Sir Geoffrey Vos
Parent organisation	Ministry of Justice

Civil Justice Council

The Civil Justice Council is an advisory body in England and Wales established to provide independent recommendations on civil procedure and access to justice issues, advising the Lord Chancellor, the Ministry of Justice, and the Judicial Office. It conducts research, consultation, and policy analysis to influence reforms affecting Court of Appeal practice, High Court case management, and procedural rules under the Civil Procedure Rules. The council interacts with stakeholders including the Law Society, the Bar Council, the Citizens Advice Bureau, and representative groups from the Bar Standards Board and Solicitors Regulation Authority.

History

The council was established in 1998 following recommendations linked to the Woolf Reforms and the work of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee to address concerns raised after the Access to Justice Act 1999 and debates connected to the Civil Procedure Rules Committee. Early membership included figures drawn from the Judicial Studies Board, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Legal Aid Board, and academic contributors from institutions such as Oxford University and Cambridge University. Its development ran parallel to reforms pursued by the Lord Chancellor and initiatives taken in response to reports from the Civil Justice Commission and reviews led by senior judges such as Lord Woolf and Lord Justice Jackson.

Role and Functions

The council provides independent advice on the operation of civil justice, producing reports, recommendations, and practice guidance directed at entities like the Ministry of Justice, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Civil Procedure Rule Committee. Its remit covers procedural rule-making, alternative dispute resolution linked to bodies such as the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), the promotion of access aligned with LASPO, and the evaluation of reforms influenced by the Supreme Court jurisprudence. The council commissions research from universities including University College London, London School of Economics, and the University of Manchester and liaises with professional bodies such as the Bar Council and the Law Society of Scotland on comparative matters.

Organisation and Membership

Membership comprises judges drawn from the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Justice, legal practitioners nominated by the Bar Council and the Law Society, academics from institutions including King's College London and the University of Glasgow, and lay members representing organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and consumer groups like Which?. Chairs have included senior judiciary and figures with combined legal and policy experience connected to the Ministry of Justice and the Judicial Appointments Commission. Secretariat support is provided by staff seconded from the Judicial Office and administrative units linked to HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

Key Initiatives and Reports

Notable outputs include reports on Alternative dispute resolution integration with the Civil Procedure Rules, recommendations following review of costs reform arising from the Jackson Review, and guidance on case management reflecting precedents from the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The council has produced workstreams addressing digitalisation in tribunals influenced by projects at the Tribunal Procedure Committee, proposals responding to findings in the Public Law Project and studies on expert evidence practices informed by rulings in the House of Lords and subsequent Supreme Court decisions. It has issued advice concerning reforms linked to the Legal Services Act 2007 and best practice models exemplified by the Civil Procedure Rules Committee and international comparisons involving the European Court of Human Rights.

Relationship with the Judiciary and Government

The council operates as an independent advisory non-departmental entity reporting to the Lord Chancellor and engaging with the judiciary through formal channels including the Judicial Office and consultation with senior judges such as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. It informs statutory rule-making by the Civil Procedure Rules Committee and provides evidence to parliamentary committees including the Justice Select Committee and inquiries commissioned by the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Its independence enables dialogue with the Ministry of Justice while maintaining connections to regulatory bodies like the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board to influence implementation of reforms affecting civil litigation, tribunals, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Category:Civil law in England and Wales