New research from Express Solicitors and the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) has revealed that it is still a “postcode lottery” with the time it takes for your case to get through the court system.
Data from The Civil Justice Statistics show that small claims on average take 40.6 weeks to go to trial which is down on the same period last year. However our regional break down shows that London is the only area to have improved compared to last year, with delays down to 341 days in 2024-25 from 411 days in 2023-24.
Damian Bradley, Partner and Head of Legal Operations said: “A postcode lottery still applies to our civil courts, with the data showing a wide variance in delays from 1004 days in Hastings, Kent, to 82 days in St. Helens. If a Claimant’s case is transferred to Hastings, they may have to wait almost three years for their case to be heard by a judge, which is simply untenable.
“Overall, and once again, the worst performing courts are those in the Southeast. Alongside the appalling picture in Hastings, Canterbury and Medway Court saw delays of more than 800 days each.”
Read more:
Law Gazette (September 4, 2025) ‘Promising progress’: Minister hails fall in civil justice delays
Legal Futures (September 5, 2025) County court delays falling – but still a long way to go
Insurance Edge (September 5, 2025) Still a Postcode Lottery on Small/PI Claims, Says ACSO