Propose a change

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

Write the words of this act the way you think they should read. Solon shows your change as a redline against the published text and pins it to that exact text, so it can never be applied to wording you did not see.

Change 1

What to do with it
As published

45 Damages-based agreements

(1) Section 58AA of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (damages-based agreements) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1) omit “relates to an employment matter and”. (3) In subsection (2)— (a) after “But” insert “ (subject to subsection (9)) ”, and (b) omit “relates to an employment matter and”. (4) Omit subsection (3)(b). (5) After subsection (4)(a) insert— (aa) must not relate to proceedings which by virtue of section 58A(1) and (2) cannot be the subject of an enforceable conditional fee agreement or to proceedings of a description prescribed by the Lord Chancellor; . (6) In subsection (4)(b), at the beginning insert “ if regulations so provide, ”. (7) In subsection (4)(d) for “has provided prescribed information” substitute “ has complied with such requirements (if any) as may be prescribed as to the provision of information ”. (8) After subsection (6) insert— (6A) Rules of court may make provision with respect to the assessment of costs in proceedings where a party in whose favour a costs order is made has entered into a damages-based agreement in connection with the proceedings. (9) After subsection (7) insert— (7A) In this section (and in the definitions of “advocacy services” and “litigation services” as they apply for the purposes of this section) “proceedings” includes any sort of proceedings for resolving disputes (and not just proceedings in a court), whether commenced or contemplated. (10) After subsection (8) insert— (9) Where section 57 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (non-contentious business agreements between solicitor and client) applies to a damages-based agreement other than one relating to an employment matter, subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not make it unenforceable. (10) For the purposes of subsection (9) a damages-based agreement relates to an employment matter if the matter in relation to which the services are provided is a matter that is, or could become, the subject of proceedings before an employment tribunal. (11) In the heading of that section omit “relating to employment matters”. (12) In section 120(4) of that Act (regulations and orders subject to parliamentary approval) for “58AA” substitute “ 58AA(4) ”. (13) The amendments made by subsections (1) to (11) do not apply in relation to an agreement entered into before this section comes into force.

Your change, as a redline

45 Damages-based agreements

(1) Section 58AA of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (damages-based agreements) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1) omit “relates to an employment matter and”. (3) In subsection (2)— (a) after “But” insert “ (subject to subsection (9)) ”, and (b) omit “relates to an employment matter and”. (4) Omit subsection (3)(b). (5) After subsection (4)(a) insert— (aa) must not relate to proceedings which by virtue of section 58A(1) and (2) cannot be the subject of an enforceable conditional fee agreement or to proceedings of a description prescribed by the Lord Chancellor; . (6) In subsection (4)(b), at the beginning insert “ if regulations so provide, ”. (7) In subsection (4)(d) for “has provided prescribed information” substitute “ has complied with such requirements (if any) as may be prescribed as to the provision of information ”. (8) After subsection (6) insert— (6A) Rules of court may make provision with respect to the assessment of costs in proceedings where a party in whose favour a costs order is made has entered into a damages-based agreement in connection with the proceedings. (9) After subsection (7) insert— (7A) In this section (and in the definitions of “advocacy services” and “litigation services” as they apply for the purposes of this section) “proceedings” includes any sort of proceedings for resolving disputes (and not just proceedings in a court), whether commenced or contemplated. (10) After subsection (8) insert— (9) Where section 57 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (non-contentious business agreements between solicitor and client) applies to a damages-based agreement other than one relating to an employment matter, subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not make it unenforceable. (10) For the purposes of subsection (9) a damages-based agreement relates to an employment matter if the matter in relation to which the services are provided is a matter that is, or could become, the subject of proceedings before an employment tribunal. (11) In the heading of that section omit “relating to employment matters”. (12) In section 120(4) of that Act (regulations and orders subject to parliamentary approval) for “58AA” substitute “ 58AA(4) ”. (13) The amendments made by subsections (1) to (11) do not apply in relation to an agreement entered into before this section comes into force.

One line that says what changes, such as "Halve the dog tax".

Who it helps, what it costs, what it fixes. It is what persuades people to support it.

A proposal here is not law. Support on Solon is evidence that people want the change; the official route says what it takes to make it law.

Sign in to file your proposal. What you have written stays on this page.

Sign in to file it

Think it through

Ask what your change would do, who would gain and who would bear a cost, and where something like it is already law. The assistant reads your draft as it stands, cites the law and the studies it finds, and takes no side. What you file stays yours.

Questions to start with
Think it through
Legal information from the published text, not advice for your case. Check the sources. Find a law · What the register holds