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Fall in the Number of Small Claims: A Trend Set to Continue? - Thomas Crockett, 1 Chancery Lane

19/04/14. It was widely reported last week that the number of small claims hearings has dropped by over 50 per cent in the last five years. Figures have been reported showing there were 29,577 hearings in 2013 compared to 53,248 in 2007.

A well-known consortium of about 100 solicitors’ firms has suggested that the reason for the drop in claims is due to the process becoming more expensive and much lengthier.

The average wait from submitting a claim form and final hearing took about thirty one weeks. This is not far off the target timescale for a...

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