Author(s)
Lee
Collishaw
Almost all practitioners will know that the GHR have remained unchanged since 2010. These rates are set out in the following table:
In 2014 the Master of the Rolls refused to implement the recommendations of the Civil Justice Council’s costs committee as to increases to the GHR due to lack of sufficient evidence.
| Pay band | Fee earner | London grade 1 | London grade 2 | London grade 3 | National grade 1 | National grade 2 | National grade 3 |
| A | Solicitors and legal executives with over 8 years’ experience | £409 | £317 | £229–£267 | £217 | £201 | £201 |
| B | Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years’ experience | £296 | £242 | £172–£229 | £192 | £177 | £177 |
| C | Other solicitors or legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience | £226 | £196 | £165 | £161 | £146 | £146 |
| D | Trainee solicitors, paralegals and other fee earners | £138 | £126 | £121 | £118 | £111 | £111 |
In a highly-anticipated report published on 11 January 2021 a CJC Working Group has now recommended the following increases to the GHR:
| Pay band | Fee earner | London grade 1 | London grade 2 | London grade 3 | National grade 1 | National grade 2 (National Grade 3 abolished) |
| A | Solicitors and legal executives with over 8 years’ experience | £512 (25.2% increase) | £373 (17.8% increase) | £282 (13.7% increase) | £261 (20.2% increase) | £255 (26.78% increase) |
| B | Solicitors and legal executives with over 4 years’ experience | £348 (17.6% increase) | £289 (19.5% increase) | £232 (15.8% increase) | £218 (13.5% increase) | £218 (13.5% increase) |
| C | Other solicitors or legal executives and fee earners of equivalent experience | £270 (19.5% increase) | £244 (25 % increase) | £185 (11.9% increase) | £178 (10.7% increase) | £177 (21.3% increase) |
| D | Trainee solicitors, paralegals and other fee earners | £186 (34.8% increase) | £139 (10.4% increase) | £129 (7% increase) | £126 (6.8% increase) | £126 (13.5% increase) |
The proposals would mean the difference in the GHR between National Grade 1 and National Grade 2 would be extremely modest.
There are also proposals to change the definition of London 1 and London 2, abolish National Grade 3, and to recategorise certain regions in National Grade 1 and 2.
The Working Group are now seeking to consult on their recommendations.
The consultation period will close at 4 pm on Wednesday 31 March 2021.
To view the Working Group’s report, click here.
To view the Consultation Form, click here.
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