Bulletguy Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 Criminal barristers have become the latest group to vote for strike action as the government comes under intensifying pressure over pay demands. The Criminal Bar Association, which represents lawyers prosecuting and defending those accused of crimes in England and Wales, said members had backed a plan for 14 days of action between 27 June and 22 July. They join rail staff, teachers and civil servants in backing or considering industrial action over the coming months at a time when pay awards are lagging behind the four-decade high rate of inflation. The CBA says its members have suffered an average decrease in earnings of 28% since 2006 - when taking inflation into account - and accused the government of refusing to engage in negotiations "aimed at finding a fair settlement" to demands, which include the call for an immediate 15% increase in fees. https://news.sky.com/story/barristers-become-latest-group-to-vote-for-strike-action-as-disruption-looms-12637273 https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/legal-aid/bar-strike-what-you-need-to-know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtainRaiser Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 Except the 15% figure is based on them taking on more work, more work means more overheads due to the way Barristers work so 15% won't end up in their pockets. You are also wrong on the average pay, which is why 40% of juniors are leaving the profession every year. The criminal justice system is already on its knees and even before the pandemic rape cases were taking over two years to get to court. The Tories have done the same to the courts as they have with the NHS, defunded it until it fails. But you keep believing the lies and propaganda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtainRaiser Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 And from the BBC How much do criminal lawyers earn? The Legal Aid rules set limits on fees For 13 hours, a solicitor would earn around £250 - an hourly rate of almost £20 When it comes to court, some barristers say the time they spend preparing cases means their hourly earnings are below minimum wage The Law Society has mapped the loss of criminal solicitors nationwide In comparison, the website Checkatrade says the average day rate of a plumber is now almost £350 - although there are obviously regional differences Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted June 25, 2022 Author Share Posted June 25, 2022 Bulletguy - 2022-06-23 8:19 PM Criminal barristers have become the latest group to vote for strike action as the government comes under intensifying pressure over pay demands. The CBA says its members have suffered an average decrease in earnings of 28% since 2006 - when taking inflation into account - and accused the government of refusing to engage in negotiations "aimed at finding a fair settlement" to demands, which include the call for an immediate 15% increase in fees. Go for it.....seems you aren't 'left wing' enough for our resident neo-fascists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtainRaiser Posted June 25, 2022 Share Posted June 25, 2022 Gremlin - 2022-06-24 8:49 AM CurtainRaiser - 2022-06-24 8:45 AM And from the BBC How much do criminal lawyers earn? The Legal Aid rules set limits on fees For 13 hours, a solicitor would earn around £250 - an hourly rate of almost £20 When it comes to court, some barristers say the time they spend preparing cases means their hourly earnings are below minimum wage The Law Society has mapped the loss of criminal solicitors nationwide In comparison, the website Checkatrade says the average day rate of a plumber is now almost £350 - although there are obviously regional differences Are you saying this is lies and propaganda? Because a bit further down is the bit about the £7000 increase being 15%…… Just asking……..,. Yes, because it's from a government minister "Justice minister James Cartlidge: "The Crown Court backlog is now falling thanks to our decisive action and the hard work of legal professionals and as a result of our reforms the typical criminal barrister will earn nearly £7,000 extra per year." A bit like when their glorious leader referred to train drivers striking when they are not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtainRaiser Posted June 25, 2022 Share Posted June 25, 2022 From a junior barrister on Twitter Criminal barristers voted to strike by 8 to 10 in favour in an escalating dispute with the government over the fees paid for criminal legal aid work. Barristers are self employed and are paid by the state to represent people charged with criminal offences to help ensure trials are fair and that the police and prosecution follow the proper rules. Criminal legal aid pays barristers different fees for the work they do, but these rates haven't increased for two decades. In real terms that amounts to a 28% cut. Eg: Bail application = £91 Plea & trial prep hearing = £126 a day Sentencing hearing = £125 per day Pre-trial review hearing = £101 a day Hearings can require 10-12 hours prep + travel to court, waiting & advocacy, so often barristers work for less than minimum wage. The work is stressful and can be distressing, dealing with harrowing evidence & traumatised people. Someone could end up in prison, so there is a great deal at stake. Underfunding + pandemic means there's a backlog of 60,000 cases waiting to be heard in crown courts, which means cases are delayed for months & years. This leads to years of misery for complainants, defendants & witnesses. Barristers aren't paid until the end of trials, so also have to wait months or years to be paid. Often because the way that cases are listed, a barrister may not be able to do a trial they have prepared, so they won't be paid for the work. The fees paid from legal aid is not the amount that the barrister takes home -- they have to pay expenses like chambers' rent and clerks fees. Training to become barrister is expensive and many start their career with large debts. In their first two years of practice, in 2019/20, the @thebarcouncil estimates that criminal legal aid lawyers less than £13,000. As a result of the poor pay, many criminal legal aid lawyers cannot afford to continue and move to others areas of law that are more lucrative, or joint the @CPSUK -- the body that prosecutes. (Is it fair that the prosecutor is paid more than the defence? -- That's a hard no.) In the last five years a quarter of specialist criminal barristers have left -- 300 left last year alone -- 40% of junior barristers & half of all QCs, or silks -- the most senior and experienced barristers. Because of the lack of criminal barristers trials have to be adjourned -- prolonging the agony for complainants, witnesses & defendants. Last year almost 600 trials had to be postponed because there was barrister to defend or prosecute. Criminal barristers are asking for the fees, which have fallen in real terms by 28% over last 20 years, to be increased by 25%. That's about £40 or £50 per hearing. But, the government thinks that's too high a pride to pay for justice. Criminal barristers are striking because if they don't, in a few years time there will be none left. The are striking in the hope that the government will understand the value of the work they do, so that now & in the future people will continue to have fair trials. [Ends] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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