Outside of our main areas of law, but might be of interest:
Ministers have published a blueprint for major reforms to the civil justice system which seeks to save people the cost, time and stress of lengthy courtroom battles.
It will see mediation made compulsory for small claims of up to £10,000, such as disputes over goods and services. People would be referred automatically to a free hour-long telephone session with a professional mediator provided by HM Courts and Tribunals Service before their case can be progressed to a hearing.
… especially because they also say that they’re wanting to “lay the groundwork for embedding mediation as an integral step in the court process more widely across the civil justice system” … so definitely one to keep an eye on.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-reveals-plans-to-divert-thousands-of-civil-legal-disputes-away-from-court
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/increasing-the-use-of-mediation-in-the-civil-justice-system