Criminal barristers across England and Wales will go on strike “on an indefinite basis” from Monday, September 5.
Lawyers represented by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) are the latest to strike over pay. They join teachers, civil servants, and rail staff whose pay is also falling behind the high rate of inflation. CBA members had been striking on alternate weeks and a vote was held whether to escalate the industrial action. Out of 2,273 votes cast, an overwhelming 79.5% voted to escalate the strike.
According to the Ministry of Justice, more than 6,000 court hearings, including 1,415 trials, have been disrupted as a result of the dispute over conditions and Government-set fees for legal-aid advocacy work.
But how much do barristers earn and what are their demands? Here’s everything we know.
How much do criminal barristers earn?
Salary depends on the area they work in. According to The Lawyer, across all areas of practice only two per cent of barristers make more than £1m per year, while 15 per cent earn less than £60,000, and 13 per cent earn less than £30,000.
The discrepancy is largely due to the different areas of practice. The most junior barristers at successful commercial chambers can earn up to £70,000, but their counterparts working in criminal and family law take home £20,000 or less at the start of their careers. According to an independent review, the median salary for a criminal barrister in the year 2019-2020 was £79,800. This is before deductions for travel costs, chambers’ rent, clerks’ fees, tax, and more. Lawyers are self-employed and therefore have to pay their own expenses.
Why are criminal barristers striking?
The CBA claims its members have suffered a decrease in their income of 28 per cent since 2006 and the Government is refusing to negotiate “a fair settlement”.
The Government is due to increase criminal-barrister wages by 15 per cent from the end of September, meaning they will earn £7,000 more per year. However, the proposed pay rise will only apply to new criminal cases, and not those already backlogged.
The CBA has rejected the offer because of this and are asking for a 25 per cent rise in pay for legal-aid work, which represents people who could not otherwise afford lawyers.
When are the strikes?
The walkout begins on Monday, September 5, and will last until the CBA comes to an agreement with the Government.
Delays are expected for thousands of cases, meaning victims and the accused have to wait longer for justice.
