The Minister Justice, Equality & Law Reform, Michael McDowell, has announced a major reform in the area of legal costs.
Mr McDowell announced today that he would implement the recommendations of a working group chaired by accountant Desmond Millar.
The group recommended that a separate Assessment Office be set up to take over the functions of the Taxing Master.
The Taxing Master currently overseas legal costs, but he is a judicial figure who will only refuse costs if he deems them to be unreasonable.
It also called for the establishment of a Legal Cost Regulatory Body which will draw up guidelines and will move to abolish the system of lawyers charging a global fee for cases.
Transparent fees and charges will be invoiced on an hourly or daily rate.
Mr McDowell said work had already begun on drafting the relevant legislation. He also disclosed that as part of an effort to clear costly backlogs in the courts the government would shortly be appointing up to 14 new judges.
The package of proposals has been broadly welcomed by the Law Society.
