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Things would never improve with this attitude. We need defence lawyers , we need cleaners we need train drivers, doctors teachers. And they should all be paid well enough that those who want to do those jobs and are good at those jobs can afford to do them.

 

If only someone would promise us a high-wage, high-skilled economy!

 

You mean you really are married and don’t have her tied to the kitchen sink??????????

nice to see we have people on here with 18th century views, alive and kicking…

 

About 10 years ago I worked with a client on a strategic project which veered into futurology and i found it fascinating and frightening in equal measure.

The central tenet was what will people do when so much of what we do today is gone or done by AI/technology.

I can't remember the exact figures but I think the final output predicted around 30% of jobs were at risk of vanishing within 25 years. And over 50% within 50 years. Most of which were in low skilled jobs but also in traditional service sectors.

I find it curious and a little perverse that mankind is trying to make itself obsolete in many ways. But then we are never very good at looking beyond whats in front of our faces at that very moment.

 

Dont forget our armed forces personal . The wages for those people are appalling !
underfunded massively .

 

I have just spent the week prosecuting an 8 handed firearms job which struggled to get off the ground owing to the strike.

It only applies to publicly funded defence work which has long since been a source of complaint, particularly at the junior end of the profession.

I remember getting sent all over for peanuts and making significant losses on the day, including a trip to Canterbury Crown Court for a Leeds punter caught shop lifting in the duty free shop. Flat fee was about £45.

It did get better but it took many years to earn a decent living, working on average 60 + hours a week including weekends. 20% of it went to pay for Chambers rent and there were many other costs including Archbold, practicing certificate, circuit membership and insurance plus accountancy costs.
Cash flow issues were common when conducting longer cases which could last months but could only be billed upon conclusion of the case.
I was a terrible businessman and often had to spend that which I should have been putting aside for tax and VAT.
Things have got worse in recent times and much of the junior Bar have drifted away to either more lucrative areas of law or simply left the profession altogether - this at a time when there is a huge COVID backlog of cases.
Governments of all persuasions have underfunded the Bar for decades, hiding behind the cliched stereotype of well heeled fat cats to induce a negative public perception of the profession.
I now only prosecute serious crime - homicides, OCG jobs, death by dangerous driving and the like. Prosecution fees are different to publicly funded defence graduated fees and not subject to the current strike.I work most evenings and weekends and am often under heavy pressure which means working my home life around my caseload.
It’s not a life of luxury and if I had my time again I would not choose a career at the criminal Bar.
An uplift in fees is long overdue and I would suggest sceptics look past the stereotypes and towards the hard facts of a profession which has long since been underfunded and undervalued.

 

Good post.

My best mate is a criminal solicitor in Barnsley (40 years service - if you represent Barnsley villains you will know him) and he has to be on call at night in addition to suffering "legal aid" rates no matter what.

Compare and contrast the private stuff -it's a different world.

In my case for years - then as a family lawyer - the private subsidised the public, as long as the rest of the firm generally bailed us out too. Legal Aid never paid.

It was by far the most enjoyable work (apart from domestic injunctions). It's a younger man's calling though.

I got out of legal aid stuff more than 10 years ago, more due to the crushing admin requirements to be able to carry on, than anything else.

These days your mates privately charge extortionate fees just for a bit of advice. They need to understand that sometimes we just need a bit of weight behind our own advice to push things along (moan groan).

But you're on a labour of love with legal aid criminal bar work. And it's an admirable calling. Despite the fact that most of your clients really did the deed !!!

 

I’m Currently using a criminal defence barrister ! I can tell you it ain’t cheap .Luckily some of their fees Is being paid by legal aid snd insurance companies . Otherwise I would be selling my ar$e on the town hall steps

 

I know who you are, I live near your sister and your old house. Known both her and hubby for years, lovely people.

 

Having been there, done it and got the T-shirt, what would your opinion be to resolve?
Is it just pay more, subsidise from the top, salary the role A N Other?

 

Good question!

I joined the Bar just after the golden era of ‘red corner’ cases when astronomical fees were paid, those days long gone and replaced by the graduated fees system - fixed amounts paid for certain types of hearings/categories of cases.

Maybe having more salaried practitioners would help as opposed to self-employed counsel chambers - there is a publicly funded defence service but there aren’t many of them.
Increase fees for juniors, reduce/freeze QC publicly funded rates, better distribute what is available across the independent Bar.
There will never be a shortage of work and it should not be beyond the powers that be to devise a fairer and more equitable system of remuneration.

 

You must be an old towner!

It’s 8 years to the day since I left Barnsley and really miss it. Looking forward to getting down for a few more matches this season. And a few pints in the Miners!!

 

I just hope this is a genuine comment and not a veiled threat from someone he/she put away...

 

Aye, 15 years or so now. Courts at Sheffield 29 yrs 11 months, been criminal fees clerking since 2012. If J can’t tell you who I am now then she must be daft lol Up the reds!!!

 

Worker's rights? Don't be stupid you bloody serf. You'll be paid what we tell you and that's that.

Can't you see that's how it is and always has been, and that's the proper way for things to be run?

You lot attempting to collectively bargain. Honestly.

Anyone would think you were from an area that prides itself on a history of an industry with strong union action and still violently retrospectively hates the memory of a former prime minister because of her actions along these lines.

Solidarity? No lad, divide and rule, that's how you do it.

 

I am sure beyond a reasonable doubt that you must be Phil. J & I send regards.