Justice Secretary Chris Grayling Wikimedia / Work and Pensions Office
Mr Grayling made the comments after Ministry of Justice figures yesterday revealed the earnings of law firms through the taxpayer-funded system – with one firm earning close to £15 million.
The Telegraph reports that Mr Grayling added that lawyers are making ‘over the top claims’ in order to quash plans to cut £220m from the annual criminal legal aid budget in England and Wales.
Demonstration
The legal aid figures showed that London solcititors Duncan Lewis raked in £14.63m in civil legal aid for 2011/12 while Tuckers brought in £8.27m.
Meanwhile, 20 barristers made more than £300,000 each from legal aid cases.
Balbir Singh, an immigration, human rights and corporate fraud barrister, earned £493,022 for criminal cases, while Paul Storey, who deals with family law and personal injury cases earned £428,192 for civil cases.
The figures were released as protesters staged a demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice.
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