*/
Falling pay rates could make it ‘unaffordable’ for young barristers to pursue criminal legal aid work, the Bar Council warned.
A report on the fees paid to junior barristers under the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme in criminal legal aid showed that the average annual earnings from Crown Court cases was £56,000, which the Bar Council said equates to £28,000 after the deduction of tax and expenses.
The figures, published by the Ministry of Justice, revealed that the median fee income had fallen by 8% from £61,000 in 2012-13 to £56,000 in 2014-15 (Composition and remuneration of junior barristers under the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme in criminal legal aid).
Immediate past Bar Chairman Alistair MacDonald QC said: ‘This report provides clear evidence that barristers’ fees for criminal legal aid work have fallen in recent years owing to fee cuts.’
He said the cuts meant that the net income of barristers doing this work was ‘way below’ that of professions which require similar levels of qualification and expertise, such as doctors.
Criminal barristers, he said, are frequently required to work during the evening and at weekends. But despite this, he said: ‘At the very junior end, it is not uncommon for a barrister to put in a hard day’s work at a magistrates’ court and still fail to make the minimum wage.’
MacDonald added: ‘This report also shows that the payment structure provides little scope for career progression for criminal barristers.
‘It takes many years of practice and training at the Bar to prosecute and defend complex criminal cases, but if it is unaffordable for young barristers to pursue this line of work, we will find cases collapsing due to a lack of experienced counsel.’
Sam Mercer, Head of Equality and Diversity at the Bar Council, warned of the impact that the low fees would have on the diversity of the junior criminal Bar.
‘A low, flat, pay structure exacerbates the difficulties faced by talented female barristers who have to pay for childcare and it is a disincentive to those from modest financial backgrounds struggling with student debt,’ she said.
Falling pay rates could make it ‘unaffordable’ for young barristers to pursue criminal legal aid work, the Bar Council warned.
A report on the fees paid to junior barristers under the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme in criminal legal aid showed that the average annual earnings from Crown Court cases was £56,000, which the Bar Council said equates to £28,000 after the deduction of tax and expenses.
The figures, published by the Ministry of Justice, revealed that the median fee income had fallen by 8% from £61,000 in 2012-13 to £56,000 in 2014-15 (Composition and remuneration of junior barristers under the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme in criminal legal aid).
Immediate past Bar Chairman Alistair MacDonald QC said: ‘This report provides clear evidence that barristers’ fees for criminal legal aid work have fallen in recent years owing to fee cuts.’
He said the cuts meant that the net income of barristers doing this work was ‘way below’ that of professions which require similar levels of qualification and expertise, such as doctors.
Criminal barristers, he said, are frequently required to work during the evening and at weekends. But despite this, he said: ‘At the very junior end, it is not uncommon for a barrister to put in a hard day’s work at a magistrates’ court and still fail to make the minimum wage.’
MacDonald added: ‘This report also shows that the payment structure provides little scope for career progression for criminal barristers.
‘It takes many years of practice and training at the Bar to prosecute and defend complex criminal cases, but if it is unaffordable for young barristers to pursue this line of work, we will find cases collapsing due to a lack of experienced counsel.’
Sam Mercer, Head of Equality and Diversity at the Bar Council, warned of the impact that the low fees would have on the diversity of the junior criminal Bar.
‘A low, flat, pay structure exacerbates the difficulties faced by talented female barristers who have to pay for childcare and it is a disincentive to those from modest financial backgrounds struggling with student debt,’ she said.
Chair of the Bar finds common ground on legal services between our two jurisdictions, plus an update on jury trials
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
An interview with Rob Wagg, CEO of New Park Court Chambers
With at least 31 reports of AI hallucinations in UK legal cases – over 800 worldwide – and judges using AI to assist in judicial decision-making, the risks and benefits are impossible to ignore. Matthew Lee examines how different jurisdictions are responding
What has changed, and why? Paul Secher unpacks the new standards aligning the recruiting, training and appraising of judges – the first major change to the system for ten years
The deprivation of liberty is the most significant power the state can exercise. Drawing on frontline experience, Chris Henley KC explains why replacing trial by jury with judge-only trials risks undermining justice
Ever wondered what a pupillage is like at the CPS? This Q and A provides an insight into the training, experience and next steps
The appointments of 96 new King’s Counsel (also known as silk) are announced today
