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A Bar Council snapshot survey of chambers around England and Wales has revealed that the proposed cuts to criminal legal aid fees
would force many barristers to leave publicly funded criminal work while several chambers said they would be unable to offer pupillages
and one chambers feared closure. The proposed cuts are contained in the Ministry of Justice Consultation Paper, “Legal Aid: Funding
Reforms”. The consultation period closed on 12 November and the Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association, young barristers and
regional Circuits have opposed the cuts, claiming they could drive barristers away from publicly funded criminal defence work, and create a potential risk of miscarriage of justice. Criminal Bar Association Chairman, Paul Mendelle QC said: “The cuts proposed in this paper are an unjustified and unprincipled attack on criminal legal aid. The government has gone back on the agreement made a mere two years ago following the Carter review.”
A Bar Council snapshot survey of chambers around England and Wales has revealed that the proposed cuts to criminal legal aid fees
would force many barristers to leave publicly funded criminal work while several chambers said they would be unable to offer pupillages
and one chambers feared closure. The proposed cuts are contained in the Ministry of Justice Consultation Paper, “Legal Aid: Funding
Reforms”. The consultation period closed on 12 November and the Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association, young barristers and
regional Circuits have opposed the cuts, claiming they could drive barristers away from publicly funded criminal defence work, and create a potential risk of miscarriage of justice. Criminal Bar Association Chairman, Paul Mendelle QC said: “The cuts proposed in this paper are an unjustified and unprincipled attack on criminal legal aid. The government has gone back on the agreement made a mere two years ago following the Carter review.”
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
