I am writing following your report about the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers withdrawing from the fixed-fee mediations run by the Civil Justice Council (see [2009] Gazette, 17 September, 3).

The Law Society understands entirely why APIL is taking this approach. As we made clear in our response to Lord Justice Jackson’s review, we are very concerned about the pace at which his work is going. We think it is unlikely that it will be possible to produce an acceptable and appropriate rate for civil costs at the speed with which this review is taking place.

The Law Society has, for the moment, decided to continue to have a presence at these discussions. We will however be keeping this under review if in fact it appears that our views are being ignored or if there is little helpful arising out of the meetings.

Mark Stobbs, Director of legal policy, the Law Societyhttp://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/apil-walks-out-fixed-fee-talks-0