How much does High Court litigation really slow over summer?
August is typically the lowest-volume month of Q3 for new High Court claims, but it still accounts for nearly a third of quarterly activity. Our latest analysis explores seven years of new claims data to uncover the trends behind summer litigation.
As the summer holiday season gets underway, many legal professionals will be enjoying some well-deserved downtime. But while the courts may operate on a reduced schedule through August and September, High Court litigation activity does not stop and neither does the flow of new claims.
Historically, August records the lowest volume of new High Court claims in the third quarter and the third lowest monthly total of the year (with only January and February averaging fewer claims). Between 2021 and 2025, an average of 619 claims were issued in August, compared with 701 in July and 719 in September. Even so, August still accounts for nearly a third (30.7%) of all Q3 claims, demonstrating that significant volumes of new litigation continue to enter the courts throughout the summer period.
In fact, August claim volumes have proven remarkably resilient in recent years, with 2024 and 2025 jointly recording the highest August totals since before 2019, at 647 claims each.
Looking at the wider quarter, September appears to be the most volatile month, producing both the highest and lowest year-on-year swings, suggesting a release of activity as practitioners return from the summer break. Nevertheless, September is the second busiest month of the year on average, with only March recording a slightly higher average of 728 claims.
Looking specifically at August, and unlike a similar analysis we conducted for December, there is no clearly defined period where claim issuance slows materially. Activity remains relatively consistent throughout the month, underlining the importance of continuing to monitor new filings even during peak holiday season.
The chart highlights this as darker orange shows the days with the highest filings, while quieter days appear in grey or light yellow, which almost always coincide with weekends and the late summer bank holiday.
So while you might be heading off to sunnier climates and trading your desk for a beachside view, High Court litigation continues to move. As ever, Solomonic will be tracking every new filing to help ensure the summer lull does not become a missed development.
Before you pack your suitcase, make sure your daily or weekly new issued claims alerts are switched on, so you don't miss a filing while you're away.
If you would like to learn more about Solomonic’s award-winning litigation data and analytics, trusted by more than 10,000 practitioners and 60% of the UK’s top 50 litigation firms, please get in touch with us at info@solomonic.co.uk for a confidential introduction to the platform.