Association of Costs Lawyers

The ACL is governed by a Council, consisting of a Chairman and seven members, all elected for three year terms. The Legal Services Act 2007 resulted in the creation of an autonomous regulatory arm, the Costs Lawyer Standards Board, which began operating in October 2011. The ACL also has an educational arm, ACL Training, which is the only provider of the qualifications needed to become a costs lawyer. == Challenges ==

Costs lawyers face several challenges, due in part to their profession being less well known than other types of lawyers such as solicitors and barristers. The ACL has spoken out on several occasions in support of costs lawyers. An example is the lack of recognition by other lawyers, something that was criticised by a judge in October 2018. Another serious threat comes from the possibility of fixed costs in litigation following the Jackson reforms. This might eliminate the need for costs budgets and cost management conferences, which form the mainstay of the work of costs lawyers. == See also ==