Law and Rights
Nigel Lithman QC is the present Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association. In his 'Monday Message' he reports about a Rally at Lincoln's Inn last Saturday. The meeting was attended by barristers from all over the country. They are united in opposition to the government's plans for legal aid as revealed in two consultations - (discussed previously on this blog - First consultation 4th June and Second consultation 1st November). Lithman makes the point that the Ministry of Justice is not listening to the many voices raised in opposition to their savage proposals (e.g. the first consultation received around 16000 responses) and he goes on to set out the resolutions agreed by the meeting.
The issues raised are immensely serious ones for the future of a fair system of criminal justice in England and Wales. One of the most serious effects of the government proposals is that the junior bar will cease to be financially viable for the vast majority of junior barristers. Already, the point may now have been reached where a career at the criminal bar is out of the question for many talented young people of modest means. This will impact on the diversity of the legal profession and, in the longer term, on the quality of legal representation available to accused persons and, of course, on the eventual quality of the judiciary.
Please read the 'Monday Message' fully. The resolutions are also set out here. They include this:
The calling of a day or days of action on which no members of the criminal bar will undertake work in either the magistrates or crown courts. We will ask for the support of the representative bodies of the solicitor?s profession in standing by us on that (those) day (s). The purpose will be to demand that the government stays all its current proposals for legal aid and that the justice secretary engages with us meaningfully.
Other links:
Legal Voice - Barristers threaten to 'strike' over legal aid cuts - Hundreds of criminal barristers from across the country have unanimously voted in favour of strike action if the government does not back down on its proposed further cuts to legal aid. The vote took place at Saturday?s Criminal Bar Association (CBA) national delegates? conference at Lincoln?s Inn in London, where barristers from each of the six circuits turned out to make a stand against the government?s reform proposals for legal aid, including the proposal to cut defence barristers? fees in criminal legal aid cases by a further 17.5%.
Justice Alliance is seeking to persuade the Liberal Democrats to oppose the cuts put forward by the Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition. See the Justice Alliance website.
The government's attack on barristers is a looming disaster - Telegraph 19th November.
Bar Council
- Putting Off The Evil Day Or A Viable Pathway For The Criminal Justice System?
Update - Monday 31st March - Solicitors and Probation Staff are to commence action against Ministry of Justice plans for cuts to criminal legal aid and plans to "outsource" probation services - BBC News 31st March. Also, further links of interest...
- The (second) Legal Aid Consultation ~ Some Responses
Earlier post - 5th September 2013 - Transforming legal aid ~ a new consultation ~ the fight for fairness is not over. Following on from the first consultation (here), the Ministry of Justice consulted on modified proposals which may be read HERE. ...
- Fight The Good Fight ... Defending Legal Aid
The fight for the future of legal aid continues. Please read this superb item on the website of 1 Pump Court - Defending Legal Aid. A couple of quotes from the article: 'The latest round of consultation, due to end on 1st November 2013,...
- The Justice Committee ~ Hearing Of 3rd July 2013 ~ Legal Aid
Update - 3rd July: The session is over - Watch it Here. Update 4th July: Solicitors Journal Fresh consultation to be launched in September after 'detailed talks' with Law Society Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, put...
- Act Now To Try To Stop 'justice' Being Only For The Rich And Powerful
*** Please sign the e-petition on Legal Aid - the aim is to try to persuade Parliament to debate the Ministry of Justice plans to slash legal aid. Why should any Minister be allowed to seriously alter the rights of the British citizen just by stroke...
Law and Rights
The Lincoln's Inn 'Legal Aid Rally'
The issues raised are immensely serious ones for the future of a fair system of criminal justice in England and Wales. One of the most serious effects of the government proposals is that the junior bar will cease to be financially viable for the vast majority of junior barristers. Already, the point may now have been reached where a career at the criminal bar is out of the question for many talented young people of modest means. This will impact on the diversity of the legal profession and, in the longer term, on the quality of legal representation available to accused persons and, of course, on the eventual quality of the judiciary.
Please read the 'Monday Message' fully. The resolutions are also set out here. They include this:
The calling of a day or days of action on which no members of the criminal bar will undertake work in either the magistrates or crown courts. We will ask for the support of the representative bodies of the solicitor?s profession in standing by us on that (those) day (s). The purpose will be to demand that the government stays all its current proposals for legal aid and that the justice secretary engages with us meaningfully.
Other links:
Legal Voice - Barristers threaten to 'strike' over legal aid cuts - Hundreds of criminal barristers from across the country have unanimously voted in favour of strike action if the government does not back down on its proposed further cuts to legal aid. The vote took place at Saturday?s Criminal Bar Association (CBA) national delegates? conference at Lincoln?s Inn in London, where barristers from each of the six circuits turned out to make a stand against the government?s reform proposals for legal aid, including the proposal to cut defence barristers? fees in criminal legal aid cases by a further 17.5%.
Justice Alliance is seeking to persuade the Liberal Democrats to oppose the cuts put forward by the Conservative / Liberal Democrat coalition. See the Justice Alliance website.
The government's attack on barristers is a looming disaster - Telegraph 19th November.
Bar Council
.@mojgovuk response to Saturdays conference as predictable, and wrong, as ever. STILL using false figures http://t.co/3dySQrsOjU
? The CBA (@TheCriminalBar) November 18, 2013
MoJ is working through the latest consultation responses - have put one man on it - promise he will read them all... pic.twitter.com/ZO9fqBQEcp
? Chris Grayling (@FailingGrayling) November 18, 2013
- Putting Off The Evil Day Or A Viable Pathway For The Criminal Justice System?
Update - Monday 31st March - Solicitors and Probation Staff are to commence action against Ministry of Justice plans for cuts to criminal legal aid and plans to "outsource" probation services - BBC News 31st March. Also, further links of interest...
- The (second) Legal Aid Consultation ~ Some Responses
Earlier post - 5th September 2013 - Transforming legal aid ~ a new consultation ~ the fight for fairness is not over. Following on from the first consultation (here), the Ministry of Justice consulted on modified proposals which may be read HERE. ...
- Fight The Good Fight ... Defending Legal Aid
The fight for the future of legal aid continues. Please read this superb item on the website of 1 Pump Court - Defending Legal Aid. A couple of quotes from the article: 'The latest round of consultation, due to end on 1st November 2013,...
- The Justice Committee ~ Hearing Of 3rd July 2013 ~ Legal Aid
Update - 3rd July: The session is over - Watch it Here. Update 4th July: Solicitors Journal Fresh consultation to be launched in September after 'detailed talks' with Law Society Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, put...
- Act Now To Try To Stop 'justice' Being Only For The Rich And Powerful
*** Please sign the e-petition on Legal Aid - the aim is to try to persuade Parliament to debate the Ministry of Justice plans to slash legal aid. Why should any Minister be allowed to seriously alter the rights of the British citizen just by stroke...