COUNTY COURT: INCREASE IN THE SMALL CLAIMS JURISDICTIONIn June the Lord Chancellor announced, on the publication of Lord Woolf's report, that he intended to increase to £3000 the financial limit at which claims in the county court are automatically referred to the small claims procedure on receipt of a defence.

The Society has already expressed concern to the Lord Chancellor because the proposed increase, which was announced without formal consultation and without implementing simultaneously Lord Woolf's other proposals with regard to small claims.The County Court Rule committee has now issued a consultation paper on the consequential amendments to the County Court Rules.

Copies of this paper are available from, and comments on the amendments should be sent to, Richard Mortimer, Lord Chancellor's Department, Trevelyan House, 30 Great Peter St, London SW1P 2BY, by 30 September.The proposed amendments provide that claims for personal injuries which do not exceed £1000 will continue to be automatically referred to the small claims procedure while those above £1000 will not be referred.

Proceedings which include a claim for an injunction, an order for specific performance or similar relief will also not be automatically referred.

It is understood that this will apply to many housing disrepair and illegal eviction cases.The Society's civil litigation committee will be considering the amendments at their meeting in September.

Any practitioners with a view on the changes should write to Suzanne Burn, secretary of the civil litigation committee at 50 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1SX and also are encouraged to send comments to the Lord Chancellor's Department to the address given above.GUIDE TO SOLICITORS NETWORKS AND ASSOCIATIONS The practice advice service has compiled a summary of 15 solicitors networks and 48 specialist associations and groups.

Information is provided on:-- who to contact;-- the main objectives;-- the main achievements;-- fees charged;-- the number of members;-- the geographical spread of members;-- the services provided to members;-- publications produced for members.The publication does not not contain details of:-- solicitors recreational/sports groups; or -- international groups or associations -- details are available from the international section at the Law Society's professional and legal policy directorate.Practitioners interested in finding out more about solicitors networks and specialist associations can obtain a copy of this useful guide free of charge by writing to the practice advice service, 50 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1SX; DX 56 London/Chancery Lane.

Please send an A4 size self addressed envelope.CENTRAL FUND COSTS IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURTSThe Justices' Clerks Society (JCS) has recently published its 'Good practice guide' to the taxation of costs in magistrates' courts.

This is a practical guide to the approach justices' clerks should take in assessing claims for central funds costs.

The Law Society was consulted by the JCS in the course of preparation of the guide.

It contains useful suggestions about consultation with local law societies about expense of time surveys to inform decisions on hourly rates, and reflects the practice in civil taxations on starting points for care and conduct uplifts and payment for checking bills.The guide proposes a type of initial provisional assessment allowing further representations to be made, noting the absence of appeal mechanisms other than judicial review.

All justices' clerks have been supplied with a copy.

The JCS has indicated to the Law Society that practitioners can obtain copies directly from their local justices' clerks.

In the event of any difficulty, the JCS's honorary secretary, Laurence Cramp, can be contacted at the Law Courts, Petters Way, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 1SW.SOLICITORS ASSISTANCE SCHEME -- FEEDBACK NEEDED!Solicitors who advise under the scheme need feedback from people whom they have helped.

This will help ensure that, in a changing world, they continue to meet the needs of the profession.

If you have contacted the scheme and would be willing to talk, in confidence, about the assistance you received, please phone Susannah Lewis at the Law Society on 0171 320 5795.

You need not give your name.