*/
Barristers and solicitors suspended their protest action over fee cuts and contracting reforms without securing any settlement offer from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
After surveying their members in August, the Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association (CLSA) and the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA) announced the cessation of the 52-day action.
The practitioner groups said the move was a “gesture of goodwill” in recognition of the importance of the engagement they had had with the MoJ over the previous weeks.
In a joint statement, the CLSA and LCCSA said: ‘We firmly believe that the time is right to suspend the action with immediate effect. By doing so we hope the relationship which has now been established will continue into the future.
“There are many challenges ahead and the engagement to date is a sign that those challenges can be debated constructively in a receptive atmosphere.”
The statement added: “We recognise that this has been a very difficult time for those participating in the action and we are grateful to those who have stood firm in support of their principles.” They thanked the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) for its support in the action: “and in doing so recognise the immense sacrifice made by many on both sides of the profession.” The CBA also suspended its boycott and “no returns” policy. Its Chairman, at the time Chairman-Elect, Mark Fenhalls QC, said: “There is no reason why barristers should not accept any fresh instructions.”
The nationwide boycott began on 1 July, the date that the second tranche of 8.75% fee cuts for solicitors was introduced. Barristers joined in with the action on 27 July, following a vote by the CBA membership.
Despite the MoJ stating that the courts had continued to sit as usual throughout the boycott, there were widespread reports that it had caused chaos at courts and police stations, with cases adjourned as defendants were left unrepresented.
The Public Defender Service was called in to assist, with Silks deployed to cover a small number of Crown court trials that would normally have been done by juniors.
Many criminal lawyers were unhappy with the move as they felt that the MoJ was starting to come under pressure.
The MoJ however welcomed the development and said it would “look forward to continuing to work constructively with the professions”.
Solicitor groups have consulted members on whether firms should withdraw the bids that they made back in the spring for the new contracts for police station work that are due to start next January, under the controversial two-tier system.
Fenhalls said the two-tier scheme represents an “existential threat to the quality of the justice system”.
“Solicitors and barristers must continue, even at this late stage, to try to persuade officials and politicians that there are viable alternatives,” he said.
Barristers and solicitors suspended their protest action over fee cuts and contracting reforms without securing any settlement offer from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
After surveying their members in August, the Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association (CLSA) and the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA) announced the cessation of the 52-day action.
The practitioner groups said the move was a “gesture of goodwill” in recognition of the importance of the engagement they had had with the MoJ over the previous weeks.
In a joint statement, the CLSA and LCCSA said: ‘We firmly believe that the time is right to suspend the action with immediate effect. By doing so we hope the relationship which has now been established will continue into the future.
“There are many challenges ahead and the engagement to date is a sign that those challenges can be debated constructively in a receptive atmosphere.”
The statement added: “We recognise that this has been a very difficult time for those participating in the action and we are grateful to those who have stood firm in support of their principles.” They thanked the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) for its support in the action: “and in doing so recognise the immense sacrifice made by many on both sides of the profession.” The CBA also suspended its boycott and “no returns” policy. Its Chairman, at the time Chairman-Elect, Mark Fenhalls QC, said: “There is no reason why barristers should not accept any fresh instructions.”
The nationwide boycott began on 1 July, the date that the second tranche of 8.75% fee cuts for solicitors was introduced. Barristers joined in with the action on 27 July, following a vote by the CBA membership.
Despite the MoJ stating that the courts had continued to sit as usual throughout the boycott, there were widespread reports that it had caused chaos at courts and police stations, with cases adjourned as defendants were left unrepresented.
The Public Defender Service was called in to assist, with Silks deployed to cover a small number of Crown court trials that would normally have been done by juniors.
Many criminal lawyers were unhappy with the move as they felt that the MoJ was starting to come under pressure.
The MoJ however welcomed the development and said it would “look forward to continuing to work constructively with the professions”.
Solicitor groups have consulted members on whether firms should withdraw the bids that they made back in the spring for the new contracts for police station work that are due to start next January, under the controversial two-tier system.
Fenhalls said the two-tier scheme represents an “existential threat to the quality of the justice system”.
“Solicitors and barristers must continue, even at this late stage, to try to persuade officials and politicians that there are viable alternatives,” he said.
Now is the time to tackle inappropriate behaviour at the Bar as well as extend our reach and collaboration with organisations and individuals at home and abroad
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
And if not, why not? asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the many benefits of oral fluid drug testing for child welfare and protection matters
To mark International Women’s Day, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management looks at how financial planning can help bridge the gap
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs answers some of the most common questions regarding relationship DNA testing for court
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier