Lawyers begin legal aid pay protest
Press Association
Monday October 3, 2005 7:58 PM
Criminal law barristers were accused by the Government of "irresponsible" behaviour as they started a protest action over legal aid pay rates.
Courts in England and Wales were expected to be disrupted by the action in which some barristers refuse to take on new legal aid cases.
The action stems from an eight-year pay freeze of legal aid rates in criminal trials lasting up to 10 days. Further cuts mean defence QCs and those in longer trials will also receive less money.
It was expected that the action would be taken by many barristers, particularly in the North of England, the Midlands and South Wales.
The protest comes in spite of a review of the legal aid pay system by Lord Carter of Coles.
Legal Aid Minister Bridget Prentice told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the criminal legal aid budget was overspent by £130 million. She said: "I am deeply disappointed that they have chosen to go down this road.
"I think it is irresponsible for barristers to take action like this when they have the opportunity to make their grievances known through the Carter review."
Andrew Hall QC, chairman of the Bar's remuneration committee, warned of unprecedented anger among lawyers at the cuts. He told Today: "The junior bar does work in 99% of cases at fixed fee. Those fees have not gone up a penny since 1996 and accordingly have lost, we calculate, about 23% of their value. Some individual rates are shockingly poor, as little as £46 a day for a hearing."
Bar chairman Guy Mansfield QC said: "Barristers are angry and I share their anger.
"For some, their treatment at the hands of Government, who imposed unilateral cuts without prior consultation, has been simply too much.
"Many individual barristers may decide on an individual basis not to do publicly-funded criminal work. This is a most unfortunate state of affairs."
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Any bets on whether totty below supports the strike?
Press Association
Monday October 3, 2005 7:58 PM
Criminal law barristers were accused by the Government of "irresponsible" behaviour as they started a protest action over legal aid pay rates.
Courts in England and Wales were expected to be disrupted by the action in which some barristers refuse to take on new legal aid cases.
The action stems from an eight-year pay freeze of legal aid rates in criminal trials lasting up to 10 days. Further cuts mean defence QCs and those in longer trials will also receive less money.
It was expected that the action would be taken by many barristers, particularly in the North of England, the Midlands and South Wales.
The protest comes in spite of a review of the legal aid pay system by Lord Carter of Coles.
Legal Aid Minister Bridget Prentice told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the criminal legal aid budget was overspent by £130 million. She said: "I am deeply disappointed that they have chosen to go down this road.
"I think it is irresponsible for barristers to take action like this when they have the opportunity to make their grievances known through the Carter review."
Andrew Hall QC, chairman of the Bar's remuneration committee, warned of unprecedented anger among lawyers at the cuts. He told Today: "The junior bar does work in 99% of cases at fixed fee. Those fees have not gone up a penny since 1996 and accordingly have lost, we calculate, about 23% of their value. Some individual rates are shockingly poor, as little as £46 a day for a hearing."
Bar chairman Guy Mansfield QC said: "Barristers are angry and I share their anger.
"For some, their treatment at the hands of Government, who imposed unilateral cuts without prior consultation, has been simply too much.
"Many individual barristers may decide on an individual basis not to do publicly-funded criminal work. This is a most unfortunate state of affairs."
--
Any bets on whether totty below supports the strike?
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