[UK] Barristers continue to strike over pay and conditions

Barristers across England and Wales are continuing their strike into a second week, with gatherings of lawyers expected at courts around the country, ITV reports.

The strike action began last week in a dispute over pay and conditions, leading to a three-day walkout of criminal defence barristers from all courts on July 4.

According to the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), barristers have suffered an average decrease in real earnings of 28 per cent since 2006 and juniors in their first three years earn a median income of £12,200, putting them below minimum wage.

Almost 40 per cent of junior criminal barristers left the profession in one year, the CBA said, with hundreds struggling with long hours and low pay.

A barrister on strike last week told ITV News that his pay for one trial had averaged out at just 49p per hour.

Barristers also gathered at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Liverpool Crown Court, Nottingham Crown Court and Birmingham Crown Court on July 4 to support the ongoing Criminal Bar Association (CBA) action over government-set fees for legal aid advocacy work.

The CBA said the action is aimed at redressing the shortfall in the supply of criminal barristers to help deal with the crisis in the country’s courts.

Criminal barristers will receive a 15 per cent fee rise from the end of September, meaning they will earn £7,000 more per year, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said on June 30, in a bid to stop the action.

The CBA reportedly said three days of action are planned this week, rising to four days the following week and all five days in the week beginning July 18.

Days of action will only be suspended for one week - beginning July 25 - before recommencing the week beginning August 1, for a full week.

Alternating weeks will then continue, with no end date, and remaining under review and subject to the response from Government, the CBA said.

CBA chair Jo Sidhu QC and vice-chair Kirsty Brimelow QC said, “Without immediate action to halt the exodus of criminal barristers from our ranks, the record backlog that has crippled our courts will continue to inflict misery upon victims and defendants alike, and the public will be betrayed.

“Our unity is our strength.”

A walkout on June 27 led to some courtrooms remaining empty, while others were able only to swear juries in before adjourning cases until later in the week when lawyers were available.

Barristers on picket lines accused the UK government of not listening to their concerns about the criminal justice system. They are angry that a proposed pay rise of 15 per cent would not be immediately effective or apply to backlogged cases.

Source: ITV

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

Barristers across England and Wales are continuing their strike into a second week, with gatherings of lawyers expected at courts around the country, ITV reports.

The strike action began last week in a dispute over pay and conditions, leading to a three-day walkout of criminal defence barristers from all courts on July 4.

According to the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), barristers have suffered an average decrease in real earnings of 28 per cent since 2006 and juniors in their first three years earn a median income of £12,200, putting them below minimum wage.

Almost 40 per cent of junior criminal barristers left the profession in one year, the CBA said, with hundreds struggling with long hours and low pay.

A barrister on strike last week told ITV News that his pay for one trial had averaged out at just 49p per hour.

Barristers also gathered at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Liverpool Crown Court, Nottingham Crown Court and Birmingham Crown Court on July 4 to support the ongoing Criminal Bar Association (CBA) action over government-set fees for legal aid advocacy work.

The CBA said the action is aimed at redressing the shortfall in the supply of criminal barristers to help deal with the crisis in the country’s courts.

Criminal barristers will receive a 15 per cent fee rise from the end of September, meaning they will earn £7,000 more per year, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said on June 30, in a bid to stop the action.

The CBA reportedly said three days of action are planned this week, rising to four days the following week and all five days in the week beginning July 18.

Days of action will only be suspended for one week - beginning July 25 - before recommencing the week beginning August 1, for a full week.

Alternating weeks will then continue, with no end date, and remaining under review and subject to the response from Government, the CBA said.

CBA chair Jo Sidhu QC and vice-chair Kirsty Brimelow QC said, “Without immediate action to halt the exodus of criminal barristers from our ranks, the record backlog that has crippled our courts will continue to inflict misery upon victims and defendants alike, and the public will be betrayed.

“Our unity is our strength.”

A walkout on June 27 led to some courtrooms remaining empty, while others were able only to swear juries in before adjourning cases until later in the week when lawyers were available.

Barristers on picket lines accused the UK government of not listening to their concerns about the criminal justice system. They are angry that a proposed pay rise of 15 per cent would not be immediately effective or apply to backlogged cases.

Source: ITV

(Links and quotes via original reporting)