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Protest action by junior barristers over legal aid fees has been postponed after the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) organised a second round of meetings to discuss the way forward.
Around 200 barristers of 0-12 years’ Call signed an open letter to CBA Chair, Chris Henley QC just before Christmas. The letter stated that they are in favour of direct action in protest over the recent amended reforms to the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), which they said is ‘not fit for purpose’.
‘We are haemorrhaging talent… Junior juniors are voting with their feet,’ and ceasing legal aid work or quitting the Bar because of the poor fees, they warned.
The barrister behind the Twitter account @AbusedLawyer had organised a ‘day of action’ in January for barristers to protest outside the Ministry of Justice instead of attending court.
All proposed action was suspended after the CBA issued a statement telling members that further meetings will take place to discuss the way ahead. ‘At present we have no mandate for further action but the clear signs are that we need to consult the membership again,’ said Henley.
‘We do not rule out days of action to demonstrate just how frustrated the Bar is,’ he said, stressing that ‘unity is imperative’.
‘We need a clear objective and a strategy to deliver it. Fragmented action with no plan, as a small group seem to be advocating, will undermine us and takes us nowhere.’
Henley said the ‘unhappiness’ being publicly expressed by juniors was ‘unsurprising’ given the ‘fundamental flaw’ in the AGFS scheme. The cuts, he said, must be reversed to protect for the future a high quality, diverse and independent Bar.
Protest action by junior barristers over legal aid fees has been postponed after the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) organised a second round of meetings to discuss the way forward.
Around 200 barristers of 0-12 years’ Call signed an open letter to CBA Chair, Chris Henley QC just before Christmas. The letter stated that they are in favour of direct action in protest over the recent amended reforms to the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), which they said is ‘not fit for purpose’.
‘We are haemorrhaging talent… Junior juniors are voting with their feet,’ and ceasing legal aid work or quitting the Bar because of the poor fees, they warned.
The barrister behind the Twitter account @AbusedLawyer had organised a ‘day of action’ in January for barristers to protest outside the Ministry of Justice instead of attending court.
All proposed action was suspended after the CBA issued a statement telling members that further meetings will take place to discuss the way ahead. ‘At present we have no mandate for further action but the clear signs are that we need to consult the membership again,’ said Henley.
‘We do not rule out days of action to demonstrate just how frustrated the Bar is,’ he said, stressing that ‘unity is imperative’.
‘We need a clear objective and a strategy to deliver it. Fragmented action with no plan, as a small group seem to be advocating, will undermine us and takes us nowhere.’
Henley said the ‘unhappiness’ being publicly expressed by juniors was ‘unsurprising’ given the ‘fundamental flaw’ in the AGFS scheme. The cuts, he said, must be reversed to protect for the future a high quality, diverse and independent Bar.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
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
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
