Annual Report 2022
The strong work of the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators continued throughout 2022, with major credit due to the Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator, Paul Behan and Adjudicator Barry Magee.
In 2022, 902 applications for adjudication issued in the Office, an increase on the 2021 figure of 874. 227 cases were determined throughout 2022.
240 Certificates of Determination issued by the end 2022. The average waiting from application for Adjudication to initial hearing date stands at 7 weeks, maintaining the high standard set in 2021.
Download the Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
The Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators continues apace, with great credit due to the Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator, Paul Behan and Adjudicator Barry Magee in their efforts to keep up with demand. In 2021, a record 874 applications for adjudication issued in the Office, a considerable increase on the 2019 figure of 313.
In 2021, there were 226 cases determined, over twice the 2020 figure. Data collated to the end of Q2 2022 suggests that this figure will be exceeded in 2022, with 145 cases determined by end June 2022. 164 Certificates of Determination issued by the end of Q2 2022 compared with 191 for the entirety of 2021. Of particular note is the average waiting from application for Adjudication to initial hearing date is currently 6 weeks, compared to 11 weeks in 2021.
Download the Annual Report 2021
Annual Report 2020
The Annual Report of the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators, for 2020 was presented to Minister of State at the Department of Justice, with special responsibility for Civil and Criminal Justice, Ms. Hildegarde Naughton T.D. at a small socially distanced event in Phoenix House, Smithfield, Dublin on July 28th 2021.
The Annual Report, submitted to the Minister pursuant to the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, details the work undertaken in the Office during 2020, which represents the first full calendar year of operation since the Office was established in October 2019.
Read the full Press Release
Download the Annual Report 2020
Strategic Plan 2020 - 2023
This Strategic Plan, has been prepared taking due cognisance of the current reform environment within the Public Sector and by extension the Courts Service. The plan outlines the proposed strategic direction of the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators for the period 2020-2023. It identifies the office’s mission and vision for the future and sets out the key strategic objectives for performance of the functions of both the Chief Legal Costs Adjudicator and Legal Costs Adjudicators. The plan, while focusing on the
objectives of the office, is also allied to ensuring the most effective and efficient use of resources.
Furthermore, it describes the key values that will inform the culture of the Office as it grows and develops its capacity to support access to Justice, by delivering effective and efficient access to independent, impartial and objective resolution of disputes on legal costs.
Download the Strategic Plan 2020 - 2023
Annual Report 2019
The first annual report of the Office of the Legal Cost Adjudicator was published on 29th October 2020. The report shows a big investment of time and effort in modernising the approach and procedures adopted in assessing disputed costs following court cases. The report also provides interesting statistics regarding the areas of law and litigation where these assessments of costs are typically sought.
Download the Annual Report 2019
Guidelines on Functional Performance
Download the Guidelines on Functional Performance