Criminal barristers can earn less than £20 per day and are striking to protest at further proposed cuts to their wages. 

The move comes as the Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) says barristers cannot pay their mortgages due to the cuts, putting a questionmark over  the future of representation for those accused of crimes. 

The CBA  has announced its members will refuse to attend court on the morning of 6th January as a protest against proposed legal aid cuts which would see a further 30 per cent lobbed off their earnings for trials next year. 

 

Misconceptions

 

The barristers are angry at misconception that legal aid is seen as a gravy train for barristers who earn a fortune and come from privileged backgrounds. In reality, two in three criminal barristers earn less than £40,000 per year and many earn less than £20 per day when their  time preparing a case,  time in court and tax and clerks’ fees are factored in. 

Last month the barristers had a major anti-cuts demonstration at Lincoln’s Inn and the strike next month is seen as a move to demonstrate the strength of feelings at the criminal bar. The CBA has spoken to the Lord Chief Justice, the Recorder of London and Common Serjeant and the Director of Public Prosecutions and cooperate with courts to ensure nobody’s liberty will be compromised as a result of this non-attendance.

 

Barristers can't pay mortgages 

 

Nigel Lithman, QC Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association said: “Who can blame anybody for wishing to protest against swingeing cuts that mean they can’t pay their mortgages or afford to come back to work after being on maternity leave. The government says it is tough on crime, but is stripping the criminal justice system of anyone able to adequately prosecute serious criminals or defend those falsely accused. We merely seek a pay freeze. Who could be more reasonable than that?”